The Educational Foundation of America
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Educational Foundation of America, based in Bethesda, MD, paid $11,159,000 in grants in its most recent filing, funding work in the arts, environment, democracy, and reproductive health and justice, with its arts programme particularly focused on creative placemaking in Central Appalachia and the Alabama Black Belt; its geographic focus is given as the United States, North Carolina and Florida, with priority to Appalachia, Central Appalachia and the Black Belt of Alabama, so check your work matches one of these themes and places before approaching.
- Most grants are modest: around eight in ten of its 692 grants to organisations fall between $10,000 and $105,000, and the median grant across its recent filings is $26,000, so pitch a request in that range rather than the $520,000 largest grant on record.
- EFA only funds 501(c)(3) public charities, academic institutions or government entities, so organisations outside these categories should not apply.
- It accepts applications by invitation only and does not take unsolicited proposals, but it welcomes project or programme ideas of 250 words or less and may announce Requests for Proposals, so a short, clearly targeted idea is the best way to be noticed.
- With 72% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in the two previous filings, EFA looks relationship-led rather than broadly open to new applicants, so first approaches should be modest and patient.
Overview
The Educational Foundation of America is a US private foundation based in Bethesda, MD.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
EFA supports nonprofit organisations in the arts, the environment, democracy, and reproductive health and justice, funding innovative groups nationally, regionally and locally. Its arts programme backs creative placemaking through strategic partnerships with residents and community-led change, particularly in Central Appalachia and the Alabama Black Belt. Environment grants support greenhouse-gas reduction and the transition to a decarbonised electricity system, including affordable clean-energy solutions. Reproductive health and justice work improves access to abortion and contraception through national and state organisations. Its democracy programme supports a free, fair and transparent democratic system, with a focus on protecting and expanding voter access. Philanthropy is its primary tool for positive change, and it partners with grantees in advocacy, policy work, and community engagement.
Themes
- Creative placemaking
- Clean energy transition
- Abortion and contraception
- Democracy and voter access
Geographic Focus
United States; North Carolina; Florida. Priority: Appalachia; Central Appalachia; Black Belt of Alabama.
What They Don't Fund
- Organisations that are not a 501(c)(3) public charity, an academic institution, or a government entity
How to apply
EFA accepts applications by invitation only, may announce Requests for Proposals, and welcomes project or programme ideas in 250 words or less.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 72% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 692 grants to organisations were $26,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- EFA allocates resources to causes and projects most closely aligned with its grantmaking goals.
- EFA welcomes project or programme ideas of 250 words or less and contacts submitters if an idea gains traction.
- For arts work, EFA supports strategic partnerships with residents and community-led change through arts and culture.
- For reproductive-health work, EFA supports national organisations using litigation to protect abortion access and organisations directly supporting abortion providers.
- Most democracy grantee partners are state-based and work on redistricting, community power, and structural challenges.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 27%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 21%
- The largest single recipient received 3% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to organisations The Educational Foundation of America had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 13% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 217 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $35,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Psychedelic Safety Institute · General operating support$206,0002024 tax year
- Reproductive Health Investors Alliance · Corporate engagement program$200,0002024 tax year
- Kansas Common Sense Fund · Communications hub$200,0002024 tax year
- Clean Energy Buyers Institute · Building energy markets in the west and southeast$175,0002024 tax year
- William King Museum of Art · Artlab and sculpture trail/exhibition of appalachian artists$175,0002024 tax year
- Pike School of Art - Mississippi · Phase i build-out and capacity building$160,0002024 tax year
- Rise Chattanooga · Salary and benefits arts director, arts programming, and studio build-out$150,0002024 tax year
- Friends of the Children · Miami chapter$150,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- David W Stocks — Executive Director
- Lauren Zuskin — Director
- John Powers — Director
- Sven Huseby — Director
- Barbara Huseby — Director
- Matthew Hapgood — Director
- Matthew Ettinger — Director
- Heidi Ettinger — Director
- James Bohart Jr — Director
- Lynn Babicka — Director
- Christian Ettinger — Director, Treasurer
- Trevor Renner — Director, Secretary
- Wendy Ettinger — Director, Vice President
- Barbara Hapgood — Director, President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $15,952,006 | $13,842,000 | $211,936,532 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $16,519,310 | $10,419,000 | $231,113,758 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $13,993,232 | $11,159,000 | $251,241,022 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Educational Foundation of America?
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Contact
- Bethesda, MD
- theefa.org
Applying to The Educational Foundation of America?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Bethesda, MD
- theefa.org