City Fund

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: Over $100 million in grants distributed annually
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only/strategic selection)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $7,500 - $21,000,000 (historically awarded)
Geographic Focus: National (currently operating in 23 U.S. cities)
Total Capital Raised: $225 million (primarily from Reed Hastings and John Arnold)
Founded: 2018
EIN: 82-4938743

Contact Details

Address: Beaverton, OR 97008-7105

Email: Contact through website

Note: City Fund does not have a public application process. Organizations interested in partnership may sign up for their newsletter to stay connected with their work.

Overview

City Fund, founded in 2018 by education reform leader Neerav Kingsland with founding capital from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and philanthropist John Arnold, is one of the largest K-12 education grantmakers in the United States. The organization has raised $225 million and distributed over $125 million to nearly 90 local education organizations across the country. City Fund's mission is to transform cities so that every child can attend a high-quality public school, with a strategic focus on supporting local education leaders who are expanding access to high-quality public schools through the "portfolio model" approach. This model emphasizes parental choice, school autonomy, and performance-based accountability. To date, City Fund has helped open more than 200 new urban public schools, create 112,500 new public charter school seats, and reach 1.4 million students across partner cities. The organization operates as a pass-through grantmaker, providing not only funding but also advisory support from education veterans and convening opportunities for peer-to-peer learning.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

City Fund provides funding through three primary grant mechanisms:

City Grants: Sustained, multi-year commitments supporting local education champions and advocacy organizations in cities on the path to citywide transformation. These are the largest grants, ranging from $7 million to $21 million for major "quarterback" organizations that serve as the nonprofit hub of a city's portfolio strategy.
State Grants: Supporting partners at the state level to ensure policies enable the growth of high-quality public schools. These grants focus on advocacy organizations working to change state-level education policy.
Opportunity Grants: Targeted investments in promising cities and states that may not yet meet criteria for sustained investment but align with City Fund's long-term vision. These tend to be smaller, exploratory grants (examples include grants as small as $7,500 for specific programs).

Examples of Recent Grants:

RootEd (Denver): $21 million
The Mind Trust (Indianapolis): $18 million
New Schools for Baton Rouge: $13.49 million
New Schools for New Orleans: $7 million
redefinED (Atlanta): $2.75 million
Oakland Reach (Oakland): Amount undisclosed
Education for Change (Oakland): Amount undisclosed
50CAN (National): $2 million
Center on Reinventing Public Education: $875,000

Priority Areas

City Fund actively funds organizations working on:

Charter School Development and Expansion: Growing high-performing charter schools and charter networks
School Choice Advocacy: Organizations promoting policies that expand parental choice and school options
"Quarterback" Organizations: City-based nonprofits that serve as hubs for portfolio strategy, doling out grants to grow successful schools and advocating for policy changes
Parent Engagement and Advocacy: Local parent groups working to improve school options in their communities
Teacher and Principal Professional Development: Organizations supporting educator quality
Curriculum Improvement: Programs enhancing instructional quality
Education Policy Reform: Advocacy for unified enrollment systems, charter-friendly policies, and performance-based accountability
HBCU-Charter School Partnerships: Recent $20 million commitment with Bloomberg Philanthropies to support partnerships between Historically Black Colleges and Universities and charter schools

Target Cities: City Fund currently operates in 23 cities including Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Camden, Denver, Indianapolis, Memphis, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, Oakland, Providence, San Antonio, St. Louis, and Washington D.C.

What They Don't Fund

Based on their strategic focus, City Fund does not fund:

Traditional district school operations (unless they operate with charter-like autonomy)
Individual schools directly (they fund intermediary organizations)
Organizations outside their target cities
Organizations not aligned with the portfolio model approach
Higher education institutions (except through HBCU partnership initiatives)
Organizations opposing school choice or charter schools

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Reed Hastings (Founder & Board Member) - Chairman and CEO of Netflix, provided $100 million in founding capital
John Arnold (Founder & Board Member) - Co-Chair of Arnold Ventures, provided $100 million in founding capital
Elisa Villanueva Beard - CEO of Teach For America
Romy Drucker - Director of K-12 Education Programs, Walton Family Foundation
Neerav Kingsland (Founder & Board Member) - Former Managing Partner, previously CEO of Hastings Fund and founder of New Schools for New Orleans

Executive Leadership

Marlon Marshall - CEO (Previously served as Special Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Director in the Obama White House Office of Public Engagement)
Kevin Shafer - President
Sarah Eberhard - Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel
Natasha Williams - Chief Financial Officer

Vice Presidents

Jenny Paulk - Vice President of Grants & Contracts
Alina Hooper - Vice President of Strategy & Operations
Ambar Calvillo-Rivera - Vice President of Capacity Building
Kristen Forbriger - Vice President of External Engagement
Tara Marlovits - Vice President of Investor Relations
Noor Iqbal - Vice President of Research & Evaluation
Ranjana Reddy - Vice President of Schools & Strategy

Partners

City Fund employs a team of 11 Partners who each lead efforts in 2-3 cities, working closely with local organizations. Partners include former education leaders like Chris Barbic, Dorsey Hopson, Patrick Dobard, and others.

Leadership Quotes

Marlon Marshall (CEO) on the HBCU partnership initiative: "We're launching this fund with Bloomberg Philanthropies because we're hearing directly from these communities about the urgent demand for more high-quality public school options. HBCUs are natural partners in this work—they've been engines of excellence and innovation for generations, and these partnerships represent exactly the kind of bold, locally-driven solutions that can help improve entire city school systems."

Neerav Kingsland (Co-founder): "We were founded based on success in cities like Washington, D.C., Denver and New Orleans, where we saw the power of a great teacher and a great school." On student outcomes: "We're happy to see this progress, but these numbers show how deep the odds are stacked against our kids."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

City Fund does not have a public application process. The organization operates on a strategic, invitation-based model where they identify and approach city-based education organizations aligned with their portfolio model approach.

Grants are made through strategic selection based on:

City Fund's assessment of which cities are "on the path to citywide transformation"
Identification of local "quarterback" organizations already leading education reform efforts
Alignment with the portfolio model of school governance
Demonstrated track record of education leadership in target cities

Getting on Their Radar

City Fund's approach involves proactive identification of partners rather than solicited applications. Based on available information, organizations that have received funding typically:

Have established local presence: City Fund partners with organizations already operating in their target cities with demonstrated community leadership. Many grantees are established "quarterback" organizations like The Mind Trust (Indianapolis), RootEd (Denver), or New Schools for New Orleans.

Participate in City Fund's network: The organization convenes education leaders through Communities of Practice and the City Leadership Fellowship for senior education leaders. Participation in these convenings can build relationships with City Fund staff and partners.

Align with portfolio model cities: City Fund targets specific cities based on their education policy environment. Being located in and working within one of their 23 target cities significantly increases potential for partnership.

Engage with City Fund Partners: Each of City Fund's 11 Partners leads efforts in 2-3 specific cities and works closely with local organizations. Understanding which Partner covers your city and building relationships within the local education reform community may create visibility.

Demonstrate results: City Fund seeks organizations with proven track records of expanding access to high-quality schools and improving student outcomes, particularly for students of color and low-income populations.

Stay Connected: Organizations can sign up for City Fund's newsletter through their website to stay informed about their work, priorities, and potential opportunities for engagement.

Decision Timeline

City Fund has not publicly disclosed specific timelines for their grant decision-making process. Given that they operate on an invitation-based model with strategic selection of partners, the timeline likely varies significantly based on individual circumstances and city-specific strategies.

Success Rates

Not applicable - City Fund operates on an invitation-only basis rather than accepting applications, so traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. However, City Fund emphasizes "sustainable funding over extended periods," suggesting they make multi-year commitments to partner organizations rather than requiring annual reapplication.

Application Success Factors

While City Fund does not accept applications, understanding what they value in partners can inform strategy for organizations seeking to align with their work:

What City Fund Values in Partners

1. Commitment to the Portfolio Model

City Fund explicitly supports the portfolio model approach, which emphasizes:

Parental choice among diverse school options
School autonomy in operations and staffing
Performance-based accountability (largely based on test scores)
Growth of successful schools and closure of low-performing ones
Charter schools and district schools with charter-like autonomy

Organizations opposing charter schools or advocating for traditional district-only approaches would not align with City Fund's mission.

2. Local Leadership and Community Roots

According to their impact materials: "Local leaders from across the country are proving that when you expand quality public school options, entire communities benefit." City Fund partners with locally-led organizations rather than national groups parachuting into communities. They seek organizations with:

Deep community relationships and trust
Local founders and leadership teams
Understanding of city-specific political and educational contexts
Ability to serve as the "quarterback" coordinating multiple reform efforts

3. Focus on Equity and Historically Underserved Students

City Fund prioritizes work serving students of color and low-income populations in high-poverty urban areas. Their research highlights that "African American and low-income students experienced the most significant improvements" from charter school expansion.

4. Multi-Faceted Organizational Capacity

Successful partners typically operate across several functions:

Direct school development (opening and supporting new schools)
Grantmaking to other local education organizations
Policy advocacy (state and local level)
Parent engagement and organizing
Political engagement (including school board elections)

The Mind Trust, RootEd, and New Schools for New Orleans exemplify this comprehensive approach.

5. Data-Driven Results Orientation

City Fund emphasizes research and evaluation. Their partnerships with organizations like the Progressive Policy Institute and Center on Reinventing Public Education demonstrate commitment to evidence-based approaches. Partners should be able to demonstrate measurable improvements in student outcomes.

6. Citywide Transformation Potential

City Fund seeks partners positioned to transform entire city school systems, not just operate individual schools. They look for organizations that can:

Scale successful school models
Influence district and state policy
Build coalitions across stakeholder groups
Create lasting systemic change

Examples of Funded Approaches

Denver (RootEd - $21M): Comprehensive approach including school incubation, policy advocacy, and community engagement that contributed to Denver's rise from bottom 5% to outperforming two-thirds of Colorado districts
Indianapolis (The Mind Trust - $18M): "Quarterback" organization coordinating charter growth, district innovation, and policy reform
New Orleans (New Schools for New Orleans - $7M): Post-Katrina education transformation through charter school expansion
Oakland (Multiple Organizations): Diversified support including parent advocacy (Oakland Reach), charter networks (Education for Change), and education nonprofits (Educate78)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

City Fund does not accept unsolicited applications - They operate through strategic selection and invitation. Traditional grant writing and application processes do not apply.
Focus on building local education reform credentials - City Fund partners with established organizations already leading education transformation in their cities. Organizations should focus on building local track record, demonstrating results, and establishing community leadership before seeking City Fund partnership.
Geographic alignment is critical - City Fund operates in 23 specific cities. Organizations outside these target cities are unlikely to receive funding unless their city demonstrates characteristics City Fund seeks (education policy environment supporting school choice, local leadership ready for transformation, etc.).
Portfolio model alignment is non-negotiable - Organizations opposing charter schools or advocating against school choice would not fit City Fund's strategic direction. Philosophical alignment with parental choice, school autonomy, and performance-based accountability is essential.
Think citywide transformation, not individual programs - City Fund invests in organizations positioned to transform entire education systems. Grants are large ($7M-$21M for major partners) and support comprehensive strategies, not single programs or individual schools.
Multi-year sustained support is the model - City Fund emphasizes "sustainable funding over extended periods." Successful partners receive ongoing support rather than one-time grants, suggesting they value long-term relationships with proven organizations.
Leverage the City Fund network - While direct application isn't possible, participating in City Fund convenings, Communities of Practice, and the City Leadership Fellowship can build relationships and visibility. Connecting with the City Fund Partner assigned to your city (each covers 2-3 cities) may create opportunities for engagement.
Demonstrate results with data - City Fund's commitment to research and evaluation means partners must show measurable student outcomes. Organizations should have robust data systems and ability to document impact on student achievement, particularly for students of color and low-income populations.

References

Accessed: December 22, 2025