Budget cuts, talent shortages, declining public trust and rapid advances in AI are forcing education funders to make difficult choices about what they support and how they operate. To understand how the field is responding, Education First partnered with the Place-based Funders Network to survey 63 grantmakers whose foundations collectively invest an estimated $1.5 billion to $2 billion in education each year.

The results show a field in the middle of a major reset. Three-quarters of respondents have refreshed or reprioritized their strategies in the past 18 months. Many funders are increasing support for state-level capacity, yet only 16% are building direct partnerships with districts. On AI, funders see the clearest near-term value in helping districts run more efficiently and supporting teachers, rather than in student-facing tools. On equity, many report keeping their commitments while changing how they describe them, a shift that 58% of national funders say they have made.

The report examines what these choices mean for grantees, public systems and students, and offers six practical actions funders can take now to ensure their investments reinforce one another instead of adding to fragmentation.

Download the full report to see the findings, hear directly from funders and explore what comes next for education philanthropy.