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NewSchools Venture Fund

Annual Giving
$32.1M
Grant Range
$150K - $0.3M
Decision Time
5mo
Success Rate
5%

NewSchools Venture Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $32,051,500 (2023)
  • Success Rate: ~5% (80 awards from 1,600 applicants)
  • Decision Time: 3-5 months (March update, June decision)
  • Grant Range: $150,000 - $250,000 (typically); up to $1,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States)
  • Founded: 1998

Contact Details

Website: https://www.newschools.org
Application Portal: https://www.newschools.org/apply-for-funding/
Location: Oakland, California
EIN: 94-3281780

For specific program questions, applicants can access support resources and a Funding Application Guide on their website.

Overview

NewSchools Venture Fund was founded in 1998 by entrepreneur Kim Smith and venture capitalists John Doerr and Brook Byers with a belief in entrepreneurship's power to drive educational change. Over 25 years, the organization has invested over $180 million in more than 200 nonprofit and for-profit educational organizations. NewSchools operates as a venture philanthropy, applying venture capital principles to education reform by seeking bold ideas that combine innovation with proven practices. In 2023, they awarded $32 million in grants to 156 ventures. The organization has undergone strategic evolution, expanding from charter school funding to education technology, diverse leadership, and expanded definitions of student success. Under CEO Frances Messano, the first woman of color to lead the organization, NewSchools prioritizes expanding access to who gets to be an education entrepreneur, with 76% of 2022 investments going to ventures led by people of color.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

2026 Funding Opportunity (Application deadline: January 8, 2026)

  • One-year unrestricted grants: $150,000 - $250,000
  • Application method: Online application following eligibility form completion
  • Rolling review with early submission benefits (submit by December 1 for January update)

School-Specific Grants

  • Design Grants: For schools opening in 2028
  • Planning Grants: $200,000 - $215,000 for schools opening in 2027 (14-month planning period)
  • Launch Grants: Brief interest form for schools opening in 2026

Investment Areas

NewSchools focuses on four primary areas:

Innovative Schools
New innovative public schools (charter and district) that emphasize academic foundations and essential life skills within positive learning environments. Schools must plan to serve multiple K-12 grade levels at full enrollment.

Learning Solutions
K-8 literacy and math programs that personalize instruction and improve student learning outcomes.

Teaching Reimagined
Solutions that make teaching more sustainable and effective, including AI-leveraged approaches to reduce teacher workload and improve instructional quality.

Learning Differences
Programs and initiatives serving students with learning disabilities, expanding access to quality education for this population.

Priority Areas

  • Early-stage ventures demonstrating commitment to serving historically underserved students
  • Diverse, mission-driven teams (strong preference for leaders of color)
  • Solutions grounded in evidence-based practices combined with innovation
  • Ventures with realistic plans for long-term financial sustainability
  • Initiatives that engage stakeholders—students, families, and educators—early in design
  • Organizations aspiring to expand impact beyond a single location

What They Don't Fund

  • Existing schools: No funding for turnarounds or restarts
  • Pre-K only centers: Must serve multiple K-12 grade levels at full enrollment
  • Private schools: Focus is exclusively on public education
  • Schools launching Fall 2029 or later: No current funding opportunity for distant launches
  • Late-stage or established organizations without new innovative initiatives

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Frances Messano, Chief Executive Officer
As the first woman of color to lead NewSchools, Messano articulates the central vision: "Every young person in the country deserves an excellent and equitable education." She emphasizes "expanding access to who gets to be an education entrepreneur and whose ideas get listened to, while recruiting more philanthropies to join us." Messano spearheaded the Diverse Leaders strategy in 2015 and in 2022 raised and invested more than $45 million in 141 ventures, 76% led by people of color. She describes the work as providing "dream capital to leaders of color with new ideas for achieving educational equity."

Paula Sneed, Board President
President of the NewSchools Board of Directors

Board Member
Ime Archibong (additional board members listed on website)

Founders

  • Kim Smith, Entrepreneur
  • John Doerr, Venture Capitalist
  • Brook Byers, Venture Capitalist

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Complete Eligibility Form: First step to determine alignment with NewSchools strategy
  2. Review Application Guide: Preview questions and prepare materials
  3. Submit Full Application: Online portal by January 8, 2026, 11:59 PM PT
  4. Early Submission Advantage: Applications submitted by December 1, 2025 receive updates by end of January

Applications require high levels of detail including:

  • Organization background and track record
  • Proposed program design and expected outcomes
  • Key personnel and team composition
  • Demographic data demonstrating commitment to equity
  • Evaluation measures and success metrics
  • Long-term sustainability plan
  • Detailed budget narrative
  • References

School applicants complete different application types based on launch timeline (design grants, planning grants, or launch grants).

Decision Timeline

  • December 1, 2025: Early submission date for January feedback
  • January 8, 2026: Final application deadline (11:59 PM PT)
  • March 2026: All applicants receive status update
  • June 2026: Final funding decisions announced
  • Summer 2026: Funding disbursed

Typical timeline from submission to decision: 3-5 months

Success Rates

NewSchools is highly competitive, announcing approximately $23 million in investments to over 80 ventures from 1,600 applicants, representing approximately a 5% success rate. In 2023, the organization made 156 awards totaling $32,051,500.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Applicants should contact NewSchools directly for guidance on reapplying in future funding cycles.

Application Success Factors

What NewSchools Prioritizes

Bold Ideas Grounded in Evidence
NewSchools seeks ventures that "combine new approaches with proven practices to improve student learning and advance equitable outcomes." They value innovation that builds on what works rather than unproven experimentation.

Stakeholder Engagement
The organization expects "innovators to engage their stakeholders—students, families, and educators—early and often to inform solution design and implementation." This helps innovators design better solutions and build necessary relationships for growth.

Diverse Leadership
Strong preference for diverse teams, particularly leaders of color. In 2022, 76% of investments went to ventures led by people of color, reflecting NewSchools' commitment to expanding who gets to be an education entrepreneur.

Six Investment Criteria for Innovative Schools:

  1. Passionate, capable, and diverse teams
  2. Engage the communities they aim to serve
  3. Reimagine the student experience
  4. Demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  5. Plan appropriately and execute effectively
  6. Aspire to expand impact beyond a single school

Financial Sustainability
NewSchools looks for "organizations with long-term plans for achieving financial sustainability through a mix of revenue sources, such as philanthropy, earned revenue, and government grants." They invest in ventures planning for long-term viability.

Scalability
The organization "aims to have a catalytic impact nationally," investing in ventures that "seek to expand their impact significantly over time by growing their organizations, codifying and sharing best practices, or influencing the work of others."

Beyond Funding: Support Provided

Selected ventures receive:

  • One-on-one coaching from NewSchools staff
  • Access to national experts in education innovation
  • Participation in Communities of Practice with peer organizations
  • Resources in school/program design, inclusive design, fundraising, financial sustainability, and operations

Time Commitment Requirements

  • New organizations: Full-time commitment to the venture within three months of receiving grant
  • Initiatives within existing organizations: Leader must dedicate at least 50% of time to the work

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Submit early: December 1 deadline for expedited feedback beats January 8 final deadline
  • Demonstrate diversity and equity: 76% of recent investments went to ventures led by people of color; show diverse leadership and commitment to serving underserved students
  • Engage stakeholders early: Show evidence of community engagement with students, families, and educators in your design process
  • Articulate clear sustainability plan: NewSchools expects realistic long-term financial sustainability through mixed revenue (philanthropy, earned revenue, government funding)
  • Align precisely with investment areas: Clearly demonstrate fit within Innovative Schools, Learning Solutions, Teaching Reimagined, or Learning Differences
  • Show scalability: Articulate how your venture will expand impact beyond a single location through growth, best practice sharing, or influencing others
  • Be specific and detailed: Applications require comprehensive detail on outcomes, evaluation measures, budget narratives, and team qualifications
  • Prepare for competition: With ~5% success rate from 1,600 applicants, applications must be exceptional and precisely aligned with NewSchools' priorities

References

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