Edward E. Ford Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,989,511 (2024)
• Success Rate: 77% (November 2023 - June 2024)
• Decision Time: Days after board decision
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $250,000 (Traditional and Leadership); up to $2,000,000 (Collaborative Innovation)
• Geographic Focus: National (U.S. and territories)
• Assets: $86,034,980 (June 2024)

Contact Details

Address: 26 Court Street, Suite 2200, Brooklyn, NY 11242
Phone: (718) 596-1950
Email: office@eeford.org
Website: www.eeford.org
Pre-Application: Required introductory call between Head of School and Executive Director

Overview

Founded on December 12, 1957, by Edward E. Ford—a successful businessman involved in the early years of IBM and inspired by his own boarding school experience at Mercersburg Academy—the Edward E. Ford Foundation has become a leading supporter of U.S. independent secondary education. With assets of $86 million and annual giving of approximately $3 million, the Foundation has awarded nearly 2,600 grants totaling over $127 million to approximately 1,000 different schools and associations since inception. The Foundation's mission is to improve secondary education by supporting independent schools and encouraging promising practices, with a strategic emphasis on best practices for teaching and learning, sustainability, and institutional collaboration. The Foundation has also generated over $115 million in additional matching funds raised by recipient schools, amplifying its total impact to well over $200 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Traditional Grants: $25,000 - $100,000
Available to NAIS member schools and eligible associations for projects that help them grow and develop in pursuit of their own missions. Requires 1:1 match. Schools generally have just over one year to raise matching funds. Application through online portal after agenda placement call. Reviewed in June Agenda cycle.

Educational Leadership Grants: Up to $250,000
Larger awards to fewer recipients for transformational programs that promise significant impact on the independent school community nationwide. Must demonstrate "ripple effect" where benefits extend beyond a single school. Encourages bold, new ideas addressing challenges faced by independent schools. Requires 1:1 match (some schools pursue projects with 1:2 or higher matches). Schools generally have just over two years to raise matching funds. Reviewed in November Agenda cycle.

Collaborative Innovation Grants: Multi-year grants, up to $2,000,000
Awarded less frequently for projects with potential to influence secondary education more broadly and positively affect democratic society. Must be generative, transformational, and replicable, often involving partnerships. The Foundation's largest single grant ($2 million to Mastery Transcript Consortium in 2017) was awarded through this program.

Priority Areas

• Teaching and learning best practices
• Institutional sustainability models
• Collaborative projects between schools
• Educational innovation and experimentation
• Projects addressing the public purpose of private education
• Secondary education (grades 9-12) for both boarding and day schools
• Support for national, regional, state, and local independent school associations

What They Don't Fund

• Schools that are not full and active members of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
• Schools whose Head of School has served less than 2 full years
• Schools that have applied within the last 4 years
• Schools outside the U.S. and its protectorates
• Schools that have not demonstrated good stewardship of prior EE Ford Foundation grants
• Projects unrelated to secondary education

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: John Gulla (since 2013). Gulla has worked in and with independent schools since 1980, formerly served as head of The Blake School, and has visited more than 750 independent schools throughout his career. He has worked with the Foundation Board for over 13 years.

Honorary Board Member: Walter Burgin (noted in foundation materials)

Advisory Board: Reviews proposals from eligible schools and associations during the Foundation's grant-making cycles and makes final award decisions.

Leadership Perspective: John Gulla emphasizes that "there is no one right way to go about the work" of independent schools, reflecting the Foundation's philosophy that grants should be made "to schools for projects of their own design with an eye toward catalyzing improvement, by assisting schools to try something that they might not be able to pursue without financial assistance, especially if the initiative might be experimental in nature and therefore subject to failure." On collaboration, he has stated that "one of the most promising structural opportunities for the nation-wide network of independent schools is to harness a level of collaboration that doesn't exist now as fully as I think it could."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1 - Request Agenda Placement: Submit an Agenda Placement request through the Foundation's website (www.eeford.org/request-agenda-placement).

Step 2 - Introductory Call: The Foundation schedules a brief introductory call between your Head of School and Executive Director John Gulla. This informal conversation determines if agenda placement is appropriate and provides an opportunity to discuss questions about the application process.

Step 3 - Online Application: Once the call is completed and agenda placement is confirmed, the Foundation sends a link to access the online application form.

Step 4 - Submit Final Materials: Complete and submit all required materials by the deadline.

Deadlines:

• January 30: Final materials due for April Agenda
• April 1: Final materials due for June Agenda (Traditional Grants)
• Specific deadlines for November Agenda (Educational Leadership Grants) available on website

Decision Timeline

The Foundation operates on three annual grant-making cycles called "Agendas":

• April Agenda: Reviews select proposals
• June Agenda: Focuses on Traditional Grants
• November Agenda: Centers on Educational Leadership Grants

When the Advisory Board makes its decision about a proposal, the Executive Director communicates this decision within days. From the November 2023 - June 2024 period, 20 grants totaling $2,200,000 were awarded.

Success Rates

The Foundation has an impressive 77% success rate based on data from November 2023 - June 2024. During this period, the average grant size was $103,750. Since 1957, the Foundation has awarded nearly 2,600 grants to approximately 1,000 different schools and associations.

Reapplication Policy

Mandatory 4-Year Waiting Period: All applicants must wait 4 years between grant applications, regardless of whether the proposal was granted or denied. This applies even to unsuccessful applicants.

Late Withdrawal Penalty: A school that withdraws late in the application process without compelling reasons is required to wait a four-year period before seeking another place on an Agenda.

Flexibility Exception: There is some flexibility with regard to scaling up Traditional Grants to Educational Leadership Grants (i.e., a school that received a Traditional Grant may be able to apply for an Educational Leadership Grant before the full 4-year period).

Good Stewardship Required: Schools that have received a grant in the past must demonstrate good stewardship of prior philanthropy, including timely submission of stewardship reports and appropriate accounting for past grants, before being considered for future funding.

Application Success Factors

Relationship Building is Essential: The Foundation "likes to spend time getting to know its applicants before accepting proposals, and, consequently, grantseekers should not expect immediate access to funding." The required introductory call with the Executive Director is a critical first step in building this relationship.

Demonstrate Impact Beyond Your School: For Educational Leadership Grants especially, the Foundation wants proposals that "promise a significant impact on the practice and thinking in the independent school community throughout the country" with a "ripple effect where the benefits of the successful pursuit of an idea will not be limited to a single school."

Embrace Bold Ideas: The Foundation encourages "bold, new ideas that address challenges faced by independent schools" and has historically supported initiatives that might be "experimental in nature and therefore subject to failure." Executive Director John Gulla noted regarding the Mastery Transcript Consortium: "The MTC hopes to change how teachers teach and fundamentally to alter the relationship between preparation for college and college admission for the betterment of students."

Emphasize Collaboration: The Foundation "encourages collaboration with others in both grant cycles" and Gulla has emphasized harnessing "a level of collaboration that doesn't exist now as fully as I think it could." Multi-school partnerships are particularly valued for Educational Leadership and Collaborative Innovation Grants.

Secure Strong Matching Fund Commitments: All grants require at least a 1:1 match, and the Foundation has helped generate over $115 million in additional matching funds. Be prepared to demonstrate a realistic plan for raising these funds within the specified timeframe (just over 1 year for Traditional Grants, just over 2 years for Leadership Grants).

School Stability Matters: The requirement that Heads of School must have served 2 full years before applying reflects the Foundation's desire to fund stable institutions with established leadership. This suggests applications should demonstrate institutional stability and long-term commitment.

Recent Grant Examples:

• The Pennington School (June 2024): $100,000 for Student Assistance Fund with $200,000 match requirement
• Watershed School: $75,000 grant
• Augusta Preparatory Day School: Funding for Digital Landscape Lab using augmented, virtual, and extended reality
• Florida Council of Independent Schools (June 2023): $75,000 to research teacher challenges and opportunities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Start with relationship building: The required introductory call is your opportunity to make a strong first impression and demonstrate alignment with the Foundation's values—prepare thoroughly and involve your Head of School directly
• Exceptional success rate: At 77%, your odds are much better than most foundations, but the 4-year waiting period means you only get one shot every four years—make it count
• Think beyond your campus: Frame your proposal to show how your project will benefit the broader independent school community, especially for Educational Leadership Grants
• Matching funds are non-negotiable: Build relationships with potential donors before applying and have a concrete fundraising strategy in place
• Innovation is valued over safety: The Foundation explicitly supports experimental initiatives that might fail—don't be afraid to propose bold, transformative ideas
• NAIS membership is mandatory: If you're not a full and active NAIS member, address this before considering an application
• Rapid decision communication: Unlike many funders, the EE Ford Foundation communicates decisions within days of board meetings, allowing for faster planning
• Collaboration multiplies your chances: Projects involving partnerships with other schools or associations align strongly with the Foundation's strategic priorities

References

1. Edward E. Ford Foundation Official Website. (2024). "About the Foundation." Retrieved from https://www.eeford.org/about-the-foundation
2. Edward E. Ford Foundation. (2024). "Annual Grant Cycles." Retrieved from https://www.eeford.org/annual-grant-cycles
3. Edward E. Ford Foundation. (2024). "Eligibility." Retrieved from https://www.eeford.org/eligibility
4. Edward E. Ford Foundation. (2024). "FAQs." Retrieved from https://www.eeford.org/faqs
5. Edward E. Ford Foundation. (2024). "Traditional Grant for Schools." Retrieved from https://www.eeford.org/traditional-grant-for-schools
6. Edward E. Ford Foundation. (2024). "Educational Leadership Grant." Retrieved from https://www.eeford.org/educational-leadership-grant
7. Edward E. Ford Foundation. (2024). "Annual Report." Retrieved from https://www.eeford.org/annual-report
8. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. (2024). "Edward E Ford Foundation Mfgr." EIN: 136047243. Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136047243
9. Instrumentl. (2024). "Edward E. Ford Foundation | Chicago, IL | 990 Report." Retrieved from https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/edward-e-ford-foundation
10. Inside Philanthropy. "Edward E. Ford Foundation." Retrieved from https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-f/edward-e-ford-foundation
11. Edward E. Ford Foundation - Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_E._Ford_Foundation
12. The Pennington School. (June 2024). "The Pennington School Awarded Prestigious Edward E. Ford Grant." Retrieved from https://www.pennington.org/default-board-post-page/~board/homepage-news/post/the-pennington-school-awarded-prestigious-edward-e-ford-grant
13. NAIS Independent School Magazine. (Summer 2019). "Spreading Good Ideas Through the E.E. Ford Foundation." Retrieved from https://www.nais.org/magazine/independent-school/summer-2019/spreading-good-ideas-through-the-e-e-ford-foundation-name/
14. Mastery Transcript Consortium. "Edward E. Ford Grant." Retrieved from https://mastery.org/edward-e-ford-grant/
15. All sources accessed February 24, 2026