Philanthropic Foundation Investment in Preschool Programs, Policies, and Research

• In Event: 61.057 - The Politics and Landscapes of Philanthropic Involvement in Pre-K–20 Education

Abstract

The lasting benefits of high-quality pre-school programs are widely understood and yet, little is known regarding philanthropic foundation investment in these programs. To fill this gap, I conducted a comparative case study, specifically focusing on the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and George Kaiser Family Foundation, to understand how and why they have supported pre-school programs, policies, and research from the late 1990s through 2018. As pre-school programs are added to K-12 education and funding is cut from those same budgets, it is critical to understand how philanthropic foundations intend to support pre-school.

Author

• Kathryn P. Chapman, University of Kentucky