Brown v. Board Beyond 70: A Call to Defend, Advance, and Secure the Legacy

As we mark the 70^th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision this May, we stand at a pivotal junction in our nation’s history.

The outcome of the next six months will shape the future of our country and profoundly affect the nation’s 55 million public school students, their families, and the communities where they live. This presents a critical opportunity and great responsibility for funders and donors. Key races will be decided, from school board commissioners and state board members to senators and a president.

Philanthropy can fund and empower grassroots organizations to redouble their efforts and mobilize their communities to advance equity and justice NOW. The moment is upon us to act decisively.

Contribute to Schott’s “Brown Beyond 70” fund to build capacity for our grassroots partners, engage in voter education, and turnout strategic communications efforts to defend equity and justice.

The gains of the past are under siege – we must be relentless in our pursuit of an equitable and just present and future. We invite you to join this campaign, whether it is by investing $10,000, $25,000, or $50,000.

Schott’s deep experience and relationships with community-rooted grantees and allies means these resources will go immediately to the frontline advocates and groups that can make the most of them.

A resource commitment from your organization is a true affirmation of the ideals of equity and justice upon which Brown v. Board was decided.

Your generous contributions will enable us to:

As we stand at a pivotal juncture in our nation’s history, it is incumbent upon champions of justice and equity to rise to the challenge and safeguard the legacy of this landmark decision. With your support, we can ensure a different legacy for Brown that extends far beyond its 70^th anniversary. Join our campaign today!

For more information or to join our campaign, contact Michael Wotorson at msw@schottfoundation.org or Melissa Wiggins at maw@schottfoundation.org.

1. Educate Voters: Communities centered around public schools are fertile ground for voter education and engagement. Our grantees have the local knowledge to tailor strategies that inspire active civic engagement to defend equity, justice, and democracy from sustained attacks.
2. Elevate Narrative Power: Schott’s decades of experience building and supporting narrative campaigns means we can provide the needed technical assistance and resourcing to mobilize the public will-building in targeted regions, with our grantee partners centering positive narratives that strengthen public schools and a shared civic responsibility to support them.
3. Expand Capacity: Schott’s network of grantee partners — our National Opportunity to Learn Network — are a dynamic mix of local, state, and nationwide organizations with the expertise, strategy, and track record to shift the landscape toward equity. All they need is the resources to build capacity and shape how decisions are made at the state, local, and national level.