In 1995, New York City’s public education system was in disarray. It lacked stable leadership, funding was inadequate, and parents had no voice in the system and no effective vehicles for being heard.
Since that time, the Donors’ Education Collaborative (DEC)—a joint grantmaking effort that currently comprises fourteen private, family, corporate, and faith-based foundations and public charities—has invested more than $11 million to improve the system.
Housed at The New York Community Trust, DEC supports advocacy efforts to improve public education by providing long-term funding to community groups that empower parents, educators, and community leaders to achieve systemic reform in New York City public schools.
DEC has helped to shape policy discussions, promote the work of community groups, and raise awareness about the importance of education reform. Its continuing relevance has led members to extend DEC well beyond the originally planned lifespan of five years.
DEC members have found that working together enables them to leverage their funding, increase their impact, expand into new areas of work, and learn from colleagues, including veterans well-versed in school reform efforts. Its democratic structure and focus on educational equity have made it a model for other education reform collaboratives.
Today, the city’s public education system is being rebuilt, thanks in part to DEC grantees. They have played central roles in winning commitments of billions of dollars in state aid for New York City schools and assuring that the funds are allocated according to student need, not politics.
In the current economic downtown, DEC members are leading efforts to ensure that education funds continue to be targeted at students most in need and for programs that work. DEC’s most significant achievement may be the emergence of strong community voices that now participate actively—and influentially—in debates on education policy and practice.
The Donors’ Education Collaborative welcomes inquiries and participation by new funders who want to help sustain that movement.