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Louis Calder Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.7M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.0M

Louis Calder Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,659,599 (fiscal year ending October 2024)
  • Total Assets: $194,177,460
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,000,000
  • Average Grant Size: $300,000
  • Geographic Focus: Continental United States (32 states)
  • Application Method: Invitation only / proactive grantmaking

Contact Details

Address: 1331 17th Street, Suite 602, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (720) 943-9865
Email: proposals@calderfdn.org
Website: https://www.louiscalderfoundation.org/

Overview

Established in 1951 by Louis Calder as a charitable trust, the Louis Calder Foundation has distributed over $317 million in grants since its inception. Originally supporting arts, culture, and youth programs in the New York City metropolitan area, the foundation underwent a strategic transformation in 2021 to focus exclusively on education reform. Now headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the foundation invests in organizations that "provide high-quality learning opportunities for children in under-resourced communities" across the continental United States. With total assets of approximately $194 million and annual giving of around $8.6 million distributed to more than 50 organizations annually, the foundation operates through a proactive philanthropy model, identifying and cultivating relationships with organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Funding Priorities

Investment Themes

The foundation focuses exclusively on three strategic areas within education reform:

1. Growth of Charter Schools
Supports early-stage charter schools and emerging charter school networks as they add grade levels, open new schools, or expand geographically. Recent grantees include Achievement First, KIPP Foundation, KIPP New York, KIPP North Carolina, Denver School of Science and Technology, Charter School Growth Fund, BRICK Education Network, and Gem Prep.

2. Science of Reading
Supports early literacy instruction grounded in evidence-based science of reading methodologies. The foundation recognizes that "literacy is the foundation that all learning builds upon – a necessary first step for every child to engage in an excellent education." Recent grantees include The Literacy Group (Lit), Magpie Literacy, Instruction Partners, and EL Education.

3. Two-Generation Family Learning
Invests in organizations supporting both parents and children during the critical early development years (birth through age five), recognizing this as "the most rapid period of human brain development." Programs help parents nurture healthy child development, enabling children to "develop a strong foundation for success as they enter school."

Grant Examples

Recent grants have included:

  • Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School: $50,000 for turnaround efforts
  • Excel Academy Charter School (Boston area): $100,000 for grade-level and new school expansion
  • New Schools for New Orleans: $100,000 toward implementation of school reform model
  • Jumoke Academy Charter Schools (Hartford, CT): $50,000 for new school expansion
  • Public Preparatory Network (NYC): $200,000 total ($100,000 for curriculum, $100,000 for boys preparatory school startup)
  • STRIVE Preparatory Schools: $100,000 for STRIVE Prep - Southwest Elementary

Geographic Focus

The foundation has funded projects across 32 states in the continental United States, including AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, LA, MA, MD, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, and WA.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • M. Alexander Calder - Trustee and Executive Director
  • Peter D. Calder - Trustee
  • Frank E. Shanley - Trustee

Leadership Team

  • M. Alexander Calder, Executive Director: Oversees all organizational operations and provides final approval of grant recommendations before presenting to Trustees
  • Claire Cohen, Finance & Operations: Manages financial, administrative, audit, tax, HR, and technology functions
  • Kristin Pazulski, Grants Administration: Former grant writer and executive director who manages deadlines and internal systems
  • Mara Rose, Program Officer
  • Sabrina Skinner, Program Officer

Foundation Philosophy

The foundation operates on core beliefs emphasizing education as "the most effective lever for creating a path to economic independence," with particular focus on rigorous curriculum, student engagement, inclusive community, and holistic character development across diverse communities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Louis Calder Foundation practices "proactive philanthropy" and does not accept unsolicited proposals, letters of inquiry, or funding requests. The foundation no longer operates on a traditional application model.

Instead, the foundation proactively identifies and cultivates relationships with nonprofit organizations, education leaders, schools, and other foundations whose programs and initiatives complement their strategic priorities. When the foundation identifies an organization that aligns with their investment themes, they actively invite that organization to submit a funding request.

Getting on Their Radar

According to Inside Philanthropy's analysis, "Networking will be key to getting on this funder's radar." To potentially be identified by the foundation:

  • Be active and visible in education reform spaces that align with the foundation's three investment themes (charter school growth, science of reading, two-generation family learning)
  • Build relationships within the charter school and education reform community, particularly with other education leaders, foundations, and charter school networks that the foundation already supports
  • Demonstrate alignment with the foundation's core beliefs about rigorous curriculum, student engagement, inclusive community, and holistic character development
  • Contact the foundation at proposals@calderfdn.org or (720) 943-9865 with questions, though this does not guarantee consideration for funding

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis rather than scheduled application cycles.

Application Success Factors

Since the Louis Calder Foundation operates through proactive identification of grantees, success depends on:

Alignment with Investment Themes
Organizations must clearly align with one of the three strategic priorities: charter school growth, science of reading, or two-generation family learning. The foundation underwent a strategic shift in 2021 to focus exclusively on these areas.

Focus on Under-Resourced Communities
The foundation's mission explicitly targets organizations providing "high-quality learning opportunities for children in under-resourced communities."

Evidence-Based Approaches
Particularly for science of reading initiatives, the foundation emphasizes instruction grounded in scientific evidence rather than unproven methodologies.

Organizational Development Stage
For charter schools, the foundation particularly supports "early-stage charter schools and emerging networks" during critical growth phases such as adding grade levels, opening new schools, or expanding geographically.

Network Connections
Given the proactive approach, organizations already connected to the education reform community and visible to foundation staff, trustees, or existing grantees have higher likelihood of being identified.

Geographic Eligibility
Organizations must operate within the continental United States.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted - The foundation operates entirely through proactive identification of potential grantees
  • Narrow focus area - Only organizations working in charter school growth, science of reading, or two-generation family learning will be considered
  • Substantial grant sizes - Average grant of $300,000 indicates the foundation prefers meaningful investments over small grants
  • Relationship-driven - Success depends on being visible and connected within the education reform community the foundation monitors
  • Continental U.S. only - Geographic restriction to 32 states within the continental United States
  • Evidence-based priority - The foundation emphasizes scientifically-grounded approaches, particularly for literacy instruction
  • Long-term commitment - Since 1951, the foundation has distributed over $317 million, demonstrating sustained commitment to education

References

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