Public School Education Foundations

Michael J. Worth is a Professor of Nonprofit Management and former Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs at the George Washington University. While vice president, he planned and directed two comprehensive campaigns. He was previously Director of Development at the University of Maryland. He has written other books, including Leading the Campaign (2017) and, with co-editor Matthew T. Lambert, Advancing Higher Education: New Strategies for Fundraising, Philanthropy, and Engagement (2019).Sanjay K. Pandey is Shapiro Professor of Public Policy and Public Administration in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at the George Washington University. Professor Pandey’s scholarship focuses on public policy and public administration, and deals with questions central to leading and managing public organizations. Professor Pandey’s scholarship has been recognized with numerous awards.Holly Kamm Wahl, MBA was appointed by the Commissioners as the Town Manager of the Town of Oxford, Maryland and provides direct oversight of the town's day-to-day operations, including all governmental functions and services, carrying out legislative actions of the Commissioners. As of 2025, Ms. Wahl was in the final dissertation phase of obtaining her Doctorate in Public Administration & Public Policy at the George Washington University.

• IntroductionChapter 1 Providing a MarginChapter 2 Knox Education FoundationChapter 3 DC Public Education FundChapter 4 Greater Los Angeles Education FoundationChapter 5 Jacksonville Public Education FundChapter 6 Denver Public Schools FoundationChapter 7 Austin Ed FundChapter 8 Indianapolis Public Schools FoundationChapter 9 Fund for the School District of PhiladelphiaChapter 10 Children First Fund: The Chicago Public Schools FoundationChapter 11 Special Education FoundationChapter 12 Advancing Opportunity, Excellence, and InnovationAuthor BackgroundsSuggestions for Additional Reading

In a time when public school districts face chronic underfunding and significant budget reductions, the authors provide a vital roadmap for utilizing philanthropy to bridge critical resource gaps. Through real life case studies, they showcase how foundations can serve as essential partners, raising money to fund early literacy, STEM education, career pathways, and more that might otherwise remain out of reach for many students. It is an indispensable resource that demonstrates how strategic community investment can disrupt inequity and ensure that every child, regardless of their zip code, has access to amazing opportunities.