Overdeck Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $63.5 million (2024)
Total Assets: $768 million (2022)
Grant Range: $125,000 - $2,500,000+
Geographic Focus: United States only
Application Method: Invitation only / Open calls via newsletter
Accepts Unsolicited Applications: No

Contact Details

Address: 100 Avenue of the Americas, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10013

Contact Form: https://overdeck.org/contact-us/

Newsletter Sign-Up: Available on website to receive alerts about open calls and RFPs

Overview

The Overdeck Family Foundation was established in 2011 by hedge fund billionaire John Overdeck and his wife Laura Overdeck, who also founded Bedtime Math. With $768 million in assets as of 2022, the foundation focuses exclusively on PreK-12 education in the United States. Their mission is helping all kids achieve their greatest academic potential through evidence-based, data-driven grantmaking. In 2024, the foundation disbursed a record $63.5 million to 106 grantee partners, collectively reaching approximately 75 million children nationwide. The foundation has now distributed over $500 million in education-focused philanthropy since inception. They prioritize organizations engaged in rigorous research or implementation of evidence-based educational interventions, with a strong emphasis on scalable solutions that demonstrate measurable impact. The foundation's approach centers on unlocking innovation, evidence, and growth opportunities for organizations and researchers committed to accelerating key academic and socioemotional outcomes for all children.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates four core portfolios, each with distinct funding strategies:

Early Impact (Early Childhood)

Funding Range: Pilot grants $125,000-$250,000 (one year); Multi-year grants $400,000-$1,500,000 (two years)
Supports parent/family programs improving birth outcomes, relational health, and home learning environments
Funds high-quality early learning environments that increase kindergarten readiness
Application: Rolling basis through open calls announced via newsletter

Exceptional Educators (K-9)

Funding Range: $200,000-$2,000,000 over 1-3 years
Improves teacher engagement and instructional practice across K-9
Supports professional development and evidence-based teaching methods
Application: Invitation only or through specific RFPs

Innovative Schools (K-9 Student-Centered Learning)

Funding Range: $300,000-$3,000,000 over 2-3 years
Leverages technology to create student-centered, evidence-based learning environments
Increased focus on AI for teaching and learning
Funds curriculum-embedded solutions, formative assessment platforms, and personalized learning tools
Application: Mix of invitation and open calls

Inspired Minds (STEM Education)

Funding Range: $200,000-$2,500,000 over 1-3 years
Expands access to engaging, hands-on STEM learning experiences
Emphasizes self-directed learning and family involvement
Supports informal science education, STEM competitions, and maker programs
Application: Rolling opportunities announced via newsletter

Research Grants

Funding Range: $975,000-$1,250,000+ per year
Novel, methodologically sound research uncovering programs with potential to improve outcomes
Large-scale validation studies and randomized controlled trials
Indirect costs capped at 15% for independent research organizations, 10% for universities
Application: Specific research RFPs announced periodically

Priority Areas

The foundation actively funds organizations that:

Support measurably enhancing education inside or outside the classroom
Accelerate improvement in key academic and socioemotional outcomes for all children
Respond to local needs and contexts while committing to a culture of learning and improvement
Incorporate community voice in program design and implementation
Demonstrate proven, quantifiable, and compelling results
Show strong leadership, financial health, and potential to scale programs
Engage in evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement
Utilize technology and AI to enhance teaching and learning
Focus on literacy, mathematics, science, and STEM education from birth through grade 9

What They Don't Fund

Geographic Exclusion

No funding outside the United States

Educational Level Exclusion

No funding for grade 10+ / high school programs beyond grade 9
No higher education or post-secondary programs

Subject Area Exclusion

Programs outside of education (no health, environment, arts as primary focus unless integrated with core educational outcomes)

Structural Limitations

Indirect costs capped at 10% of annual direct costs (general grants)
Research grants limited to 15% indirect for independent organizations, 10% for universities
No funding through unsolicited proposals (must wait for open calls or invitation)

Governance and Leadership

Founders and Board

John Overdeck, co-founder of Two Sigma Investments hedge fund, and Laura Overdeck established the foundation in 2011. Laura Overdeck serves as Chair of Overdeck Family Foundation and Founder and President of Bedtime Math. She is a trustee of Khan Academy, Liberty Science Center, and The Pingry School, and serves on advisory boards for Princeton's Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY), and Governor's School of New Jersey.

Executive Leadership

Anu Malipatil, Executive Director, is a founding team member bringing 20 years of experience in K-12 education and the nonprofit sector. Anu's responsibilities include working with the trustees to set the foundation's vision, goals, and priorities while guiding the leadership team overseeing program, impact and learning, communications, and people/operations workstreams.

Other Key Staff

Elaine Marie Perez, SHRM-CP, serves as Director of People and Operations, leading HR, talent management, and internal operations functions. The foundation employs a team including educators, parents, academics, and data analysts working across the four portfolio areas.

Leadership Perspective on Grantmaking

The foundation's leadership emphasizes that they "invest for real-world impact, helping early-stage initiatives develop and validate their programs, and scaling evidence-based growth-stage programs looking to achieve greater impact." They are committed to the belief that "evidence matters" through support of novel, methodologically sound research.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

No Public Application Process

The Overdeck Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Organizations cannot submit applications without an invitation or open call from the foundation.

How Grants Are Awarded

The foundation uses two primary methods to identify potential grantees:

Invitation Only: Foundation staff proactively identify and reach out to organizations that align with their funding criteria and portfolio strategies
Open Calls and RFPs: The foundation periodically issues requests for proposals (RFPs) for specific focus areas or research topics. These are announced via their newsletter and website.

Contact Form for Expression of Interest

While unsolicited proposals are not accepted, the foundation invites relevant organizations to share information about their work via the foundation's contact form at https://overdeck.org/contact-us/. The foundation is especially interested in hearing about organizations and projects that have:

Strong leadership and financial health
Potential to scale programs and have broad impact on education
Alignment with one of the four portfolio areas
Evidence-based approaches or willingness to engage in rigorous evaluation

Newsletter Sign-Up

To be alerted to open calls or requests for proposals, organizations should sign up for the foundation's newsletter on their website at https://overdeck.org/

Getting on Their Radar

Annual Grantmaking & Impact Report Events

The foundation hosts public webinars and presentations of their annual Grantmaking & Impact Report, which offer opportunities to learn about their funding priorities and engage with foundation staff. Recent events have been promoted through their website and available for public registration.

Research Repository Engagement

The foundation maintains a public Research Repository at https://overdeck.org/research-repository/ featuring studies they've funded. Organizations conducting rigorous research in aligned areas may gain visibility by publishing findings that complement or build upon this existing body of work.

Portfolio-Specific Opportunities

The foundation has supported major competitions and ecosystem initiatives:

The Learning Engineering Tools Competition (which received almost 900 initial proposals) demonstrates the foundation's openness to competitive application processes when announced
Collaborative funding initiatives with other major foundations (Schmidt Futures, Walton Family Foundation) suggest opportunities for co-funding relationships

Direct Outreach Guidance

When using the contact form, the foundation's website indicates they look for organizations that "support the Foundation's mission by measurably enhancing education inside or outside the classroom" and are "committed to accelerating improvement in key academic and socioemotional outcomes for all children." Organizations should clearly articulate their evidence base, scale potential, and alignment with specific portfolio strategies when making contact.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publish specific decision timelines, as these vary depending on whether the grant comes through:

Invitation-only pathway: Timeline varies based on individual organizational discussions
Open RFP pathway: Specific timelines are provided in each RFP announcement

Quarterly Funding Announcements

The foundation publicly announces new grants quarterly (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), suggesting that grant decisions and processing occur on a rolling basis throughout the year. Based on 2025 quarterly announcements:

Q1 2025: $14.5 million to multiple grantees
Q2 2025: $32.7 million to multiple grantees
Q3 2025: $10.6 million to multiple grantees
Q4 2025: $17.2 million to multiple grantees

This quarterly announcement pattern indicates continuous grant processing rather than annual cycles.

Success Rates

Specific overall success rates are not publicly available. However, context from the Learning Engineering Tools Competition provides some insight: the competition drew almost 900 initial proposals in its first year for over $3 million in prize awards, suggesting highly competitive selection processes when open calls are issued.

In 2024, the foundation funded 106 grantee partners total, indicating selective grantmaking focused on strategic partnerships rather than broad distribution.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish a specific reapplication policy. However, their funding model includes:

Multi-Year Grant Renewals: Many grantees receive sequential year funding (e.g., "year two of three" or "year three of three" designations in funding announcements), indicating that successful grantees can receive continued support.

Examples of Continued Funding:

CommonLit: Received year three of three funding in Q1 2025 ($2 million)
TalkingPoints: Received year two of three funding in Q1 2025 ($1.5 million) after initial funding began in 2020
Khan Academy: Received year three of three funding in Q3 2025 ($2 million)

This pattern suggests that organizations demonstrating impact can receive multi-year commitments and potentially renewed partnerships beyond initial grant periods.

Application Success Factors

Evidence and Data Are Paramount

The foundation's emphasis on being "data-driven" and "evidence-based" is not rhetorical. They require organizations to "gather and analyze data to demonstrate impact and make evidence-informed decisions." Successful applicants must have:

Existing evidence of impact or willingness to participate in rigorous evaluation (including RCTs)
Systems for tracking measurable academic and socioemotional outcomes
Capacity to report on program fidelity and implementation quality

ESSA Tier Advancement Matters

The foundation tracks grantee advancement on Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) evidence tiers. In 2024, three grantees increased their ESSA tier levels, with 13 meeting Tier 1 and Tier 2 evidence standards. Organizations working toward or maintaining high ESSA tiers are strongly positioned.

Scale Potential Is Critical

The foundation's 2024 impact report emphasizes that 29 grantees increased reach year-over-year and 21 increased earned revenue. They explicitly look for "potential to scale programs and have broad impact on the field of education." Applications should clearly articulate:

Current reach (number of students, educators, or families served)
Realistic growth projections with supporting rationale
Business model sustainability (earned revenue, diversified funding)

Specific Recent Funding Examples

Study what the foundation has recently funded to understand their priorities:

Technology-Enabled Solutions:

CommonLit ($2M): Free online reading program for 8.5 million students incorporating machine learning and generative AI
TalkingPoints ($1.5M): AI-powered multilingual family-teacher communication platform reaching 16M students
Khan Academy ($2M): Districts platform for 996,000 students including Khanmigo AI tutor

High-Impact Tutoring:

New Jersey Tutoring Corps ($400K): Supporting 2,500+ students
OnYourMark ($1.5M): Early literacy virtual tutoring
Chapter One ($200K pilot): In-school literacy tutoring combining one-on-one support with technology

STEM and Hands-On Learning:

DiscoverE ($450K): Future City engineering competition for 88,000 middle school students
BioBus ($550K): Mobile lab programming reaching 45,000 students
Learn Fresh ($800K): Games using sports and entertainment to promote STEM

Portfolio Alignment Language

Use the foundation's specific terminology when describing your work:

"Evidence-based practices"
"Accelerating key academic and socioemotional outcomes"
"Student-centered learning environments"
"Supporting educators" (not just "teacher training")
"Community voice" and "local contexts"
"Culture of learning and improvement"

Research Grant Specific Requirements

For research-focused proposals:

Pre-analysis plan required within first two months, must be publicly posted
All research results must be openly and publicly available for free
Methodologically sound approaches that uncover programs with potential to improve outcomes
Willingness to register studies and share raw data when appropriate

Financial Health and Leadership

The foundation explicitly states they are interested in "organizations and projects that have strong leadership and financial health." Be prepared to demonstrate:

Sound financial management and diverse revenue streams
Experienced leadership team with relevant expertise
Organizational capacity for growth and adaptation

What Doesn't Work

Based on the foundation's stated priorities, avoid:

Generic proposals not clearly aligned to one of the four portfolios
Programs without measurable outcomes or evaluation plans
Initiatives that cannot articulate scale potential
Organizations operating outside the U.S.
Programs for grade 10+ students
Proposals focused on facilities, general operating support without clear programmatic outcomes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Wait for the invitation: This is not a funder you can approach with an unsolicited proposal. Sign up for their newsletter and use the contact form strategically to share compelling information about your evidence-based work, but expect a potentially long timeline before any funding opportunity.
Evidence is the price of entry: You must have existing data demonstrating impact or a clear plan to generate rigorous evidence through evaluation. The foundation tracks ESSA tiers and prioritizes organizations moving up the evidence ladder. Consider whether your organization is ready for RCT-level evaluation.
Scale matters as much as impact: The foundation funded only 106 grantee partners in 2024 despite distributing $63.5 million. They're looking for organizations that can reach hundreds of thousands or millions of children, not hyperlocal programs. Articulate how your model can scale while maintaining fidelity.
Know your portfolio and stay current: The foundation updates its portfolio strategies annually. What they funded in 2023 may not align with 2025 priorities. Recent announcements show increasing focus on AI in education, high-impact tutoring, and early literacy—study their quarterly funding announcements to spot emerging themes.
Multi-year thinking: Successful partnerships often extend beyond initial grants. TalkingPoints was first funded in 2020 and received year two of three funding in 2025, with the foundation noting the organization grew its reach tenfold. Demonstrate how you'll use initial funding to build toward sustained, scaled impact.
Technology and innovation are central: Review the 2025 grants—nearly every major award involves technology platforms, AI integration, or digital tools. Traditional face-to-face-only programs may be less competitive unless they incorporate tech-enabled components or generate research useful to the broader field.
Revenue diversification signals sustainability: The foundation's 2024 report celebrated that 21 grantees increased earned revenue. They want to fund organizations building sustainable business models, not creating perpetual grant dependence. Be clear about your path to financial sustainability through earned revenue, diversified philanthropy, or public funding.

References

Overdeck Family Foundation official website: https://overdeck.org/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Grantmaking | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/grantmaking/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Funding Criteria | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/grantmaking/funding-criteria/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Overdeck Family Foundation's 2024 Grantmaking & Impact Report": https://impactreport.overdeck.org/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Our Grantmaking & Impact in 2024 | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/news-and-resources/article/our-grantmaking-impact-in-2024/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Overdeck Family Foundation Awards $14.5 Million in Grants in Q1 2025": https://overdeck.org/news-and-resources/article/overdeck-family-foundation-awards-14-5-million-in-grants-in-q1-2025/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Overdeck Family Foundation Awards $32.7 Million in Grants in Q2 2025": https://overdeck.org/news-and-resources/article/overdeck-family-foundation-awards-32-7-million-in-grants-in-q2-2025/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Overdeck Family Foundation Awards $10.6 Million in Grants in Q3 2025": https://overdeck.org/news-and-resources/article/overdeck-family-foundation-awards-10-6-million-in-grants-in-q3-2025/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Overdeck Family Foundation Awards $17.2 Million in Grants in Q4 2025": https://overdeck.org/news-and-resources/article/overdeck-family-foundation-awards-17-2-million-in-grants-in-q4-2025/ (Accessed December 2025)
"2024 Funding Strategy Updates Across Portfolios | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/news-and-resources/article/2024-funding-strategy-updates-across-portfolios/ (Accessed December 2025)
"2023 Funding Strategy Updates Across Portfolios | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/news-and-resources/article/2023-funding-strategy-updates-across-portfolios/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Foundation Leadership | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/about-us/foundation-leadership/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Our Board | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/about-us/board/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Our Team | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/about-us/team/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Laura Overdeck | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/about-us/team/profile/laura-overdeck/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Contact Us | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/contact-us/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Early Impact | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/portfolios/early-impact/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Research Repository | Overdeck Family Foundation": https://overdeck.org/research-repository/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Overdeck Family Foundation | Inside Philanthropy": https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-o/overdeck-family-foundation (Accessed December 2025)
"A Closer Look at the Data-Driven Ed Philanthropy of John and Laura Overdeck | Inside Philanthropy": https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2024-7-23-a-closer-look-at-the-philanthropy-of-hedge-fund-billionaire-couple-john-and-laura-overdeck (Accessed December 2025)
"Overdeck Family Foundation | Cause IQ": https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/overdeck-family-foundation,264377643/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Overdeck Family Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica": https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/264377643 (Accessed December 2025)
"$32 million in new grants; Overdeck family's giving tops $500 million in education-focused philanthropy – Lifestyles Magazine": https://lifestylesmagazine.com/latest-news/32-million-in-new-grants-overdeck-familys-giving-tops-500-million-in-education-focused-philanthropy/ (Accessed December 2025)