Our Grantmaking Process
Successful education organizing results from the unique power of local groups to bring parent and community voices to the table, build relationships between people and institutions, and transform those relationships into democratic organizations that can exert influence on behalf of their members. Due to the place-based nature of education organizing, CPER is structured to assure that most of the fund's resources are directed toward local education-organizing campaigns. CPER is comprised of many partners, all of whom play a distinct role in achieving the collaborative fund's goals.
- CPER is supported at the national level by eight foundations. Representatives from each foundation serve on the Fund's National Steering Committee and advise PIP on policy-level decisions.
- Public Interest Projects, a public charity, manages CPER and its grantmaking. PIP has extensive project management experience in social justice and human rights work, and supports the development of the local CPER sites by:
- Providing due diligence and process management
- Coordinating communications and activity across local fund sites
- Developing and delivering knowledge-building activities
- Local funders leverage national CPER funds through a 1:1 dollar match. Local funders commit to raising at least $250,000 for at least three years, and these dollars are matched by the National Fund. Local sites may raise additional funds to increase the pool of money available for re-granting in their site. CPER's National Steering Committee helps set policies to inform the work of local funders with a national perspective while simultaneously infusing the grantmaking of national funders with an understanding of local context.
- Local funders advise PIP on local grantmaking. CPER offers a shared grantmaking and learning experience. Sites help determine the local grantmaking process, decision-making structure, funding criteria and the size and number of grants. Local funders are engaged with funder colleagues at their own and other sites, attend CPER meetings and other peer-learning and networking opportunities, and help conceive new initiatives or outreach areas to enhance CPER.
CPER accepts proposals by invitation only. We are not able to respond to unsolicited proposals at this time.
Philadelphia Student Union holds a press conference at West Philadelphia High School calling for small schools and fundamental change. Lawrence Jones is in the center speaking to the press.