Foundation Grants for Private Schools: The Top 15 Funders You Should Know

The foundation funding landscape for private schools is vast and often opaque. Most private school administrators know they need money, but few have systematically mapped which foundations are actively funding schools like theirs.

The reality: there are hundreds of foundations funding K–12 education, and the majority welcome applications from private schools. The challenge is identifying which foundations align with your school's mission and needs, and then crafting proposals that resonate with their priorities.

This guide profiles 15 major foundations actively funding private and faith-based schools. For each, we provide the foundation's focus area, typical grant size, application process, and the best-fit school types. Use this to identify realistic funding prospects and prioritize your grant research.

The Foundation Funding Landscape: What You Need to Know

Before diving into specific foundations, understand how foundation funding works for private schools.

Types of Foundations

National Foundations

Large foundations with national reach and significant assets ($500M+). Examples: Lilly Endowment, Walton Family Foundation, Templeton Foundation. Typical grant size: $25,000–$500,000+. Competition is intense, but awards are substantial.

Regional Foundations

Foundations focused on a specific geographic region (state or multi-state). Examples: Community foundations in Dallas, Houston, New York, Los Angeles. Typical grant size: $5,000–$100,000. Less competitive than national foundations; easier to engage program officers.

Family Foundations

Foundations established by wealthy families, often with a focused mission. Examples: Koch Family Foundation, Marcus Foundation, Bradley Foundation. Typical grant size: varies widely ($10,000–$1M+). Often less public information available, but program officers can be very responsive if your proposal aligns.

Issue-Specific Foundations

Foundations focused on a specific issue (education, poverty, the environment, etc.). Examples: Gilder-Lehrman Institute (history education), Heritage Foundation (conservative education). Typical grant size: $5,000–$100,000. Highly competitive if the foundation aligns with your focus.

How Foundation Grants Work (For Private Schools)

1. Research: You identify a foundation whose mission aligns with your school's needs.
2. Inquiry: You contact the foundation (email or phone) to ask if your project is fundable.
3. Proposal: You submit a 5–20 page proposal (depending on the foundation) with a problem statement, project description, budget, and outcomes.
4. Review: The foundation's program officer reviews your proposal (4–8 weeks).
5. Decision: The foundation notifies you of approval or rejection (sometimes with feedback).
6. Award: If approved, you receive a grant agreement, sign it, and the foundation releases funds (usually in a lump sum or installments).
7. Reporting: You submit an annual or final report documenting how you used the funds and what outcomes you achieved.

Most foundations have annual deadlines (1–2 per year), with notification 6–8 weeks after the deadline. Some have rolling deadlines (no deadline; apply anytime).

Key Differences from Federal Grants

• No matching requirement (usually): Unlike federal grants, most foundations do not require you to match funds.
• More flexibility: Foundations are often more flexible about what they fund (program support, capital, operations).
• Relationship-based: Getting to know a program officer increases your chances of success.
• Smaller award amounts (generally): Foundation grants range from $5K–$500K+, whereas federal grants often start at $100K+.

15 Major Foundations Funding Private Schools

1. Lilly Endowment Inc.

Mission: Education, community development, and religion. One of the largest foundations in the United States ($14B+ in assets).

Focus on K–12 Education: Secondary and independent schools. Particular interest in faith-based education, leadership development for educators, and education in the Midwest (Indiana is a priority).

Typical Grant Size: $25,000–$500,000+ (very large foundation).

Focus Areas:

• Teacher leadership and professional development
• Faith-based education
• Independent schools (including Catholic, Christian, Islamic)
• Educational innovation and transformation

How to Apply: Lilly's education grants vary significantly. Visit lilly.org/grantmaking and navigate to education. Some programs have specific deadlines (often August–September); others are rolling. Pre-proposal conversations with program officers are strongly encouraged.

Best Fit: Faith-based schools, independent schools with robust teacher development programs, schools in Indiana or the Midwest.

Recent Example: A Catholic school in Indianapolis received $150,000 to develop a teacher leadership program.

2. Walton Family Foundation

Mission: Education, environment, and community development. Second-largest foundation in the United States ($10B+ in assets). Strongly committed to education reform, school choice, and charter/independent school expansion.

Focus on K–12 Education: School choice, independent schools, educational innovation, teacher effectiveness, STEM education.

Typical Grant Size: $50,000–$1,000,000+ (very large foundation).

Focus Areas:

• School choice initiatives and independent schools
• Educational innovation and curriculum development
• STEM and advanced academics
• Education in rural and underserved areas
• Teacher effectiveness and compensation

How to Apply: Walton accepts letters of inquiry and full proposals. Visit wff.org (navigate to education). Application process varies by program. Many programs have specific deadlines (typically rolling windows, e.g., "applications accepted February–April").

Best Fit: Schools focused on educational innovation, STEM, or serving underserved populations. Schools with a documented track record of strong outcomes.

Recent Example: A private school network in Texas received $300,000 for a STEM curriculum overhaul.

3. Kern Family Foundation

Mission: K–12 and higher education, with special emphasis on faith-based education.

Focus on K–12 Education: Faith-based schools (Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Islamic), educational leadership, teacher development, tuition assistance.

Typical Grant Size: $10,000–$100,000.

Focus Areas:

• Faith-based school leadership and professional development
• Tuition assistance and scholarships for low-income students
• Catholic school support (especially strong priority)
• Educational innovation in faith-based schools

How to Apply: Visit kernfamilyfoundation.org. Most grants are awarded through a letter of inquiry (LOI) process. Deadlines vary (typically October–November and April–May). The foundation actively encourages calls before submitting proposals.

Best Fit: Catholic, Christian, and other faith-based schools. Schools serving low-income students.

Recent Example: A Christian school in Indiana received $50,000 for teacher professional development and tuition assistance.

4. John Templeton Foundation

Mission: Religion, science, education, and social issues. Large foundation ($3.5B+ in assets) with a focus on exploring the intersection of faith and reason.

Focus on K–12 Education: Faith and values education, character development, STEM education, educational philosophy and leadership.

Typical Grant Size: $25,000–$500,000+.

Focus Areas:

• Faith-based education and character development
• Philosophy and ethics in education
• Science and religion (not in conflict)
• Educational leadership focused on values

How to Apply: Visit templeton.org. Some grants are by invitation only. Others accept letters of inquiry. Explore specific grant programs (e.g., "Supporting Children's Spiritual Development"). Deadlines vary. The foundation is highly responsive to initial inquiries.

Best Fit: Faith-based schools, schools emphasizing character development or ethics, schools exploring connections between faith and academic learning.

Recent Example: A faith-based school received $75,000 to develop a values-integrated curriculum.

5. Koch Family Foundation (Koch Foundation)

Mission: Education, charitable giving, and free-market principles. Private family foundation ($100M+ in assets).

Focus on K–12 Education: School choice, independent schools, educational leadership, STEM and technical education.

Typical Grant Size: $10,000–$100,000+ (varies).

Focus Areas:

• School choice and educational freedom
• Independent and private school support
• Educational leadership programs
• STEM and technical/vocational education

How to Apply: Visit kochfamily.org. The foundation has a streamlined application process. Letters of inquiry are the first step. Deadlines vary by program.

Best Fit: Schools emphasizing educational innovation, school choice advocacy, or STEM/technical education.

Recent Example: An independent school received $40,000 to fund a STEM lab expansion.

6. ACE Scholarships (American Scholarship Program, formerly American Education Scholarship Foundation)

Mission: Expand educational choice through scholarship funding. This is not a traditional foundation but operates similarly.

Focus on K–12 Education: Funding scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools. Emphasis on faith-based schools.

Typical Grant Size: Not a grant program. Instead, ACE provides scholarship funding directly to families ($1,500–$5,000+ per student per year), and schools benefit by having tuition-paying students.

How to Apply: Schools apply to become ACE-partner schools. Visit acesholars.org. The process is straightforward: complete the application, provide basic school information, and agree to transparency and reporting.

Best Fit: Faith-based and independent schools serving low-income students. Schools in states with robust ACE programs (Indiana, Louisiana, Florida, Arizona, etc.).

Recent Example: A Catholic school in Indiana partnered with ACE and enrolled 15 scholarship students, generating approximately $22,500 in annual tuition revenue.

7. Children's Scholarship Fund

Mission: Expand educational choice through scholarships for low-income families. Largest K–12 scholarship provider in the United States.

Focus on K–12 Education: Scholarships for low-income students to attend private and independent schools (up to $3,000–$4,000 per year per student).

How to Apply: Schools become scholarship partners. Visit scholarshipfund.org. Application is free and the process is simple. Schools agree to participate in CSF's scholarship program and serve participating families.

Best Fit: Any private school serving low-income students. Especially beneficial for schools in high-population areas (CSF has strong presence in urban areas).

Recent Example: A diverse private school in New York became a CSF partner and now serves 25 CSF-funded students (approximately $75,000 in annual tuition support).

8. Catholic Extension

Mission: Support the Catholic Church and Catholic schools, particularly in underserved areas. Nonprofit affiliate of the Catholic Church.

Focus on K–12 Education: Catholic school support, tuition assistance, building and facility improvement, professional development for Catholic educators.

Typical Grant Size: $5,000–$50,000 (sometimes larger for capital projects).

Focus Areas:

• Catholic school sustainability and excellence
• Tuition assistance for low-income families
• Building and capital improvements (especially for rural Catholic schools)
• Catholic education leadership and professional development

How to Apply: Visit catholicextension.org. Navigate to grants. Catholic Extension has specific grant programs (e.g., "School Sustainability," "Building and Capital"). Deadlines vary. Direct contact with the grants team is encouraged.

Best Fit: Catholic schools serving low-income families, rural Catholic schools, Catholic schools facing sustainability challenges.

Recent Example: A Catholic school in rural Texas received $30,000 for facility improvements and tuition assistance.

9. Heritage Foundation (Education Programs)

Mission: Conservative thought, policy, and education advocacy. Large think tank with education initiatives.

Focus on K–12 Education: Educational excellence, curriculum development (with conservative values), school choice, teacher quality.

Typical Grant Size: Varies ($10,000–$200,000+, but not all programs are grant-based).

Focus Areas:

• Educational excellence and standards
• Curriculum development emphasizing American history, civics, and values
• Teacher effectiveness
• School choice advocacy

How to Apply: Heritage Foundation's education grants are offered through specific initiatives. Visit heritage.org/education and explore specific programs. Some are grants; others are partnerships or networking events. Application processes vary.

Best Fit: Conservative or faith-based schools, schools emphasizing civics and American history, schools aligned with Heritage Foundation's educational philosophy.

Recent Example: Information limited, but the foundation has supported curriculum initiatives and teacher training programs.

10. Gilder Lehrman Institute (American History)

Mission: Advance American history scholarship and education.

Focus on K–12 Education: History education, curriculum development, teacher professional development focused on American history.

Typical Grant Size: $5,000–$100,000.

Focus Areas:

• History curriculum development and resources
• Teacher professional development in American history
• Access to primary source materials and archives
• Diverse perspectives in American history education

How to Apply: Visit gilderlehrman.org. The foundation offers grants for school projects, teacher training, and curriculum development. Application deadlines vary (typically fall and spring). Specific grant programs are outlined on the website.

Best Fit: Schools committed to strong history education, schools developing innovative American history curricula, schools serving underrepresented student populations.

Recent Example: A private school received $25,000 to develop an integrated American history curriculum with primary sources.

11. Herbert Hoover Foundation

Mission: Education, environment, and governance. Medium-sized foundation ($200M+ in assets).

Focus on K–12 Education: Education in Iowa and the Upper Midwest, educational innovation, economic and government education.

Typical Grant Size: $10,000–$100,000.

Focus Areas:

• K–12 education in Iowa and the Midwest
• Educational innovation and leadership
• Economic education and financial literacy
• Governance and civic education

How to Apply: Visit hooverfoundation.org. The foundation accepts proposals. Deadlines vary (typically summer and fall). Initial inquiry with a short description of your project is encouraged.

Best Fit: Schools in Iowa and the Upper Midwest, schools emphasizing economic education or civic learning.

Recent Example: A Midwest independent school received $30,000 for an innovative economics and entrepreneurship program.

12. Bradley Foundation

Mission: Conservative thought, policy, and education. Large foundation ($1B+ in assets).

Focus on K–12 Education: Educational excellence, school choice, teacher quality, curriculum and standards.

Typical Grant Size: $25,000–$500,000+ (large foundation).

Focus Areas:

• Educational excellence and school choice
• Teacher effectiveness and leadership
• Conservative values in education
• Educational policy and advocacy

How to Apply: Visit bradleyfdn.org. The foundation accepts letters of inquiry. Explore specific grant programs. Application deadlines vary by program (typically rolling or seasonal).

Best Fit: Conservative-leaning schools, schools emphasizing educational excellence and choice, schools aligned with Bradley Foundation's educational philosophy.

Recent Example: Information limited, but the foundation has supported school choice initiatives and educational policy organizations.

13. Marcus Foundation

Mission: Education and Jewish philanthropy. Private family foundation ($500M+ in assets).

Focus on K–12 Education: Jewish education, leadership development, educational innovation, teacher professional development.

Typical Grant Size: $25,000–$500,000+.

Focus Areas:

• Jewish education and day schools
• Jewish educational leadership
• Teacher professional development in Jewish schools
• Educational innovation

How to Apply: Visit marcusfdn.org. Navigate to education grants. The foundation accepts proposals for pre-K through high school education. Deadlines vary. Direct contact with program officers is encouraged.

Best Fit: Jewish schools, schools with strong educator development programs, schools serving diverse Jewish communities.

Recent Example: A Jewish day school received $150,000 for teacher professional development in Jewish studies and secular academics.

14. Gilder-Lehrman and Related History Education Funders

In addition to the Gilder-Lehrman Institute, several other foundations focus specifically on history education and humanities:

• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): Federal program (not a foundation) offering grants for education projects emphasizing humanities ($25,000–$300,000+). Highly competitive. Visit neh.gov.
• Andrew W. Mellon Foundation: Large foundation supporting education, particularly in humanities and arts. Typical grant size: $50,000–$500,000+. Visit mellon.org.
• Spencer Foundation: Focuses on educational research and improvement. Typical grant size: $10,000–$150,000. Visit spencer.org.

Best Fit for These: Schools with strong humanities/history/arts programs, schools committed to educational research and curriculum development.

15. [Regional or Community Foundations]

Beyond the major national foundations above, every region has strong community foundations funding local schools. Examples:

• Dallas Community Foundation: Funds schools in Dallas-Ft. Worth. Typical grant size: $5,000–$100,000.
• Houston Endowment: Funds schools in Houston area. Typical grant size: $25,000–$500,000+.
• California Community Foundation: Funds schools throughout California. Typical grant size: $10,000–$200,000.
• New York Community Trust: Funds schools throughout New York. Typical grant size: $10,000–$300,000.

Community foundations are often easier to engage than national foundations. Their program officers are locally based and deeply familiar with schools in the region.

How to Find Your Local Community Foundation: Visit cof.org (Council on Foundations) and search for community foundations in your area. Most have a website with grant information.

How to Research and Prioritize Foundations

Step 1: Create a Prospect List (10–15 Foundations)

Use these tools to identify foundations likely to fund your school:

• Foundation Center (foundationcenter.org): Search by keyword ("private schools," "faith-based education," etc.), geography, and grant size. This is the comprehensive database.

• GrantWatch (grantwatch.com) or Grants.gov (grants.gov): Both have foundation and education grant listings.

• Your State Community Foundation: Visit your state community foundation's website (e.g., "New York Community Trust," "San Francisco Foundation"). Many have grant databases specific to your region.

Search strategy:

1. Choose keywords relevant to your school (e.g., "faith-based education," "STEM," "independent schools," "tuition assistance").
2. Filter by geography (your state or region).
3. Filter by grant size (e.g., "grants $10,000–$100,000").
4. Review the list and identify 10–15 foundations that seem like good fits.

Step 2: Vet Each Foundation (Deep Dive)

For each foundation on your list:

1. Visit the foundation's website. Look for:

   • Recent grants (foundation websites typically list recent awards). Are they funding schools like yours?
   • Grant guidelines. What do they fund? What are the priorities?
   • Deadlines. Annual, semi-annual, rolling?
   • Application requirements. Letter of inquiry, full proposal, budget forms?

2. Check their recent grants. Most foundations publish a list of recent grants. If you see schools like yours receiving awards, it's a good sign.

3. Identify the program officer. If listed, note their name and email. This is valuable for a pre-proposal inquiry.

4. Screen for fit. Ask:

   • Does this foundation fund private schools or only public schools?
   • Does the foundation's mission align with my school's focus?
   • Is the typical grant size appropriate for my project ($25K? $100K? $500K)?
   • Does the foundation have geographic restrictions that exclude my school?

Step 3: Rank by Fit and Priority

Create a ranking of your 10–15 prospects:

Tier 1 (Best Fit): Foundations that have recently funded schools like yours, whose mission closely aligns with your project, and whose grant size matches your needs. Pursue these aggressively.

Tier 2 (Good Fit): Foundations with general education funding, appropriate grant size, but perhaps slightly less mission alignment. Pursue if Tier 1 opportunities are exhausted.

Tier 3 (Possible Fit): Foundations with broader missions or unclear recent grant history. Research further before investing proposal-writing time.

Step 4: Make Pre-Proposal Contact

Before writing a full proposal, contact the foundation:

Email template:

Subject: Inquiry — [Your School Name] Program

Dear [Program Officer Name or Grants Team]:

We are [School Name], a [faith-based/independent/private] school serving [describe student population: grade levels, demographics, mission]. We are launching [brief project description] to [specific goal].

Your foundation's commitment to [foundation's mission/recent grant area] aligns closely with our initiative. We believe a project like ours may be of interest to [Foundation Name].

Would your foundation consider a proposal for a grant in the range of $[amount]? If so, what is the best way for us to proceed?

I would welcome a brief conversation (15 minutes) to discuss fit before we invest time in a full proposal.

Thank you, [Your Name] [School Name] [Phone]

Most foundations will respond within 1–2 weeks. A "yes" means proceed with a proposal. A "no" or "low priority" means move on.

This pre-proposal contact saves time and increases your chances of success.

Common Foundation Application Mistakes

Mistake 1: Applying to Foundations That Don't Fund Private Schools

Many foundations specify: "We fund public schools only" or "We fund nonprofits (not schools)." Read the guidelines carefully before applying.

Mistake 2: Proposing Projects Misaligned with Foundation Mission

The foundation funds STEM, and you apply for an arts facility. You will be rejected.

Mistake 3: Proposing Vague or Unfocused Projects

"We need money for general school operations" will not be funded. Propose a specific project with clear outcomes.

Mistake 4: Not Differentiating Your School

Why should this foundation fund you instead of the school down the street? Explain your unique mission, student population, or approach.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Foundation Deadlines

Missing the deadline costs you an entire year.

Sample Foundation Grant Proposal (Outline)

Project: Expansion of STEM Lab at Grace Christian Academy

Foundation: Walton Family Foundation (hypothetical)

Proposal Structure:

1. Executive Summary (1 page): Project title, amount requested ($50,000), brief problem statement and solution.

2. Problem Statement (1–2 pages): Only 18% of Grace Christian's 200 students participate in STEM extracurriculars or higher-level math/science courses. This is below district average (35%) and lower than national averages. Barriers include: limited lab space, outdated equipment, and lack of teacher professional development in inquiry-based instruction.

3. Project Description (2–3 pages): Grace Christian will expand its STEM lab from one room to two dedicated spaces, purchase new equipment (computers, lab benches, specialized software), and provide 40 hours of teacher professional development focused on project-based STEM instruction.

4. Outcomes and Evaluation (1–2 pages):

   • By May 2027, 50% of students will participate in STEM activities (up from 18%).
   • By May 2027, student performance on science and advanced math courses will improve by 10 percentage points.
   • By May 2027, 80% of teachers will implement at least one project-based STEM unit.

5. Budget (1 page):

   • Lab equipment and furniture: $30,000
   • Computers and software: $12,000
   • Teacher professional development: $8,000
   • Total: $50,000

6. Organization Capacity (1 page): Grace Christian's history, board leadership, annual budget, prior grant management experience.

7. Sustainability (1 page): How the school will maintain the lab and continue professional development after the grant ends (school operating budget commitment, future grant opportunities, etc.).

The full proposal would be 8–12 pages, often with attachments (IRS 501(c)(3) letter, board list, financial statements, letters of support).

Timeline for Foundation Grants

January–February: Foundation research, prospect identification.

March–April: Pre-proposal contact with top 5–10 foundations.

May–June: Proposal writing and submission for foundations with May/June deadlines.

July–August: Follow-up inquiries, proposal writing for August/September deadlines.

September–October: Submission for fall deadlines.

November–December: Notification of awards, begin grant management.

January–December (Year 2+): Reporting to foundations, planning for year 2 grant cycle, or pursuing new opportunities.

Next Steps

1. Create a foundation prospect list: Use Foundation Center to identify 10–15 foundations aligned with your school's needs. Start with the 15 listed above.

2. Vet each foundation: Visit their website, review recent grants, assess fit.

3. Rank by priority: Identify your top 5 prospects.

4. Make pre-proposal contact: Email program officers to gauge fit.

5. Invest in proposal writing: Once you have positive feedback, invest time in a strong proposal.

For a comprehensive overview of federal entitlements (Title I, E-Rate, IDEA, etc.) and a curated list of 20+ foundations by region, download GrantCrew's Funding Map. It includes application timelines, grant size ranges, and best-fit school types for each funder.

If your school is ready to systematically pursue foundation grants and unlock five- and six-figure awards, apply for a GrantCrew partnership. We research foundations aligned with your mission, help you prioritize opportunities, and draft compelling proposals.

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Meta Description (155 chars): Top 15 foundations funding private and faith-based schools: Lilly Endowment, Walton, Kern, Templeton, and more. Learn focus areas, grant sizes, how to apply.

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