With the Best of Intentions

What role does philanthropy play in K-12 education? How much private funding is devoted to public education? What kinds of programs does this funding support? What roles have philanthropists played in advancing reform? What are the challenges facing foundations that want to contribute to K-12 education? With the Best of Intentions is a pioneering effort to address these questions, which until now have rarely been examined. Bringing together a mix of researchers and practitioners, it surveys the current landscape in philanthropic giving to education, examines the major goals of recent philanthropic efforts, and looks at some of the key lessons-for educators, philanthropists, policymakers, and community leaders-of philanthropic contributions to schools and school systems. An informative and multifaceted volume, With the Best of Intentions is a provocative first look at the issues of education philanthropy that will be of interest to anyone concerned with the present and future state of education. "Hess's compilation provides a thoughtful, reasoned, and frequently pointed examination of K-12 philanthropy, a sector accustomed to accolades and sheltered from the impulsiveness of the ballot box. This volume invites the sincere reflections and heated discussions that are urgently needed among policymakers, educators, and the philanthropic community as educational philanthropy increasingly seeks to improve our nation's schools." - Stefanie Sanford, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation "This is a groundbreaking volume for education reformers and philanthropists. The wealth of research presented here surveys the landscape, raises critical questions, and illuminates the challenges for us all to consider as we strive to change public education and provide all children with the schools they deserve." - Wendy Kopp, Founder, Teach for America Frederick M. Hess is Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and Executive Editor of Education Next. He is the editor of Urban School Reform: Lessons from San Diego and the coeditor of A Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom, both published by Harvard Education Press.