The XQ Institute and New Forms of Education Philanthropy

• In Event: From Funding to Futures: How Philanthropy Constructs Educational Landscapes

Abstract

For the past twenty years, big names like Gates, Broad and Walton have dominated education philanthropy and scholarship on this field. But since the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act and the first election of Donald Trump in 2016, the biggest names in education philanthropy have downshifted their aggressive national agenda, new foundations have emerged, and AI has become the next innovative cure-all. This conference presentation outlines characteristics of an emerging style of education philanthropy exemplified by the non-profit organization the XQ Institute across three areas: structure, grantees, and narratives. I argue that XQ has adopted new methods that help them avoid public scrutiny while still prioritizing their own ideas about technology, individualization, and privatization over systemic change.

Author

• Brett Gardiner Murphy, Graduate Center - CUNY