24 Impact Report - Partners Speak

SCHOTT FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT 2024

Partners Speak

Hear from our philanthropic and grantee partners across the nation.

The John Rex Endowment is reimagining philanthropy and shifting power back to the community. The Schott Foundation is helping us do this more effectively by serving as an intermediary and leveraging the trusted relationships and networks they've built locally. It's a true partnership where community members lead, where lived experiences are valued, and where the power lies where it should be—with the community.

The work the Schott Foundation is doing across New England to increase grantee effectiveness in advocating for the resources and policies their communities need is essential. We’re proud to fund work that is supercharging grassroots efforts to ensure all our children—and all our families—have the resources, supports, and opportunities they need to learn and thrive.

Schott’s partnerships highlight the transformative power of trust and collaboration. Gates’ investments reflect a shared belief in the power of people, showing that lifting up the voices of those most affected leads to lasting, positive impact.

The Schott Foundation has not just provided Californians for Justice with invaluable resources for our organization and program but has opened doors to relationships with other funders and decision-makers in the public education space. Our partnership is one rooted in trust, mutuality, and shared commitments.

The Schott Foundation has been very supportive of our work at Step Up Louisiana since our founding in 2017. We appreciate Schott’s program officer in New Orleans, whose wisdom, strategic thinking, and established relationships have benefitted us greatly. He has supported Step Up Louisiana by connecting us to new and potential funders, increasing our visibility, and offering a listening ear when we are struggling with a challenge.

Support from Schott meant that our young people could activate their campaign for wellness dollars by traveling back and forth to the Capital and advocating directly to legislators.

As AROS’ fiscal sponsor, the Schott Foundation has provided a nurturing and compassionate home for our organization. From navigating the funder landscape, to daily operations, to thought partnership—the team at Schott excels at leading by example, promoting growth, and assuring wellness not only for our team, but for organizers on the ground.

In 2024, Schott pooled funds for Black- and Brown-led grassroots organizing in critical investment areas like building our multiracial democracy and the health and welfare of children and families.

Donor partners invest in Schott’s movement-building nationally as well as in the Northeast, South, and West through grantmaking, technical assistance, and the National Opportunity to Learn (OTL) Network.

The National Opportunity to Learn Network is Schott’s flagship grantmaking program, comprising four national alliances and more than 40 grantee organizations, which encompass 306 local organizations across 32 states and 54 cities, actively coordinating 120,000 people and impacting more than 800,000.

Schott engages directly with movement organizations to fill gaps in infrastructure, working to co-design campaigns and support programs informed by our frontline partners. Schott links funding, resources, and organizations to strengthen and sustain movement infrastructure.

An example is the growing evolution of organizing partners like the Equal Justice Alliance (EJA) of North Carolina. Schott’s sustained support helped EJA gain the stability necessary to make critical pivots that are key to its growth and efficacy. One pivot was responding to their constituencies by hiring a Spanish-speaking program co-director. Another pivot was setting up a multi-entity structure to accommodate its growth throughout the state better.

Stay tuned for the OTL Network Convening in May 2025.

By The Numbers

Donor Thanks