Why The Fund
The Chicago Public Education Fund aims to be the best vehicle for private sector investment in public education. It is the only firm of its kind dedicated to one urban school system – Chicago, America’s third largest district.
The Fund’s investors represent a broad cross section of Chicago’s business, civic and philanthropic leaders. They have thus far committed nearly $50 million to The Fund, attracted by our track record of results and our mission and values.
They also see in us a set of very unique traits in the marketplace of philanthropy that work to generate significant social returns on investments.
The Fund is a pioneering force: we are defining venture capital for public education, the next generation in school improvement.
The Fund is an assertive catalyst: we collaborate with the mayor and the school system to set ambitious, measurable goals.
The Fund is a focused partner: we are relentlessly concentrated on talent as the greatest lever for accelerating student achievement.
The Fund is a disciplined investor: we seek only the highest-leveraged opportunities that will help us meet our goals.
The Fund is a manager of risk: we bet on strong management teams to execute on ideas and tie investment outlays to performance benchmarks.
The Fund is a necessary nudge: we are the critical friend pushing the system to think and act smarter.
The Fund’s investors represent a broad cross section of Chicago’s business, civic and philanthropic leaders. They have thus far committed nearly $50 million to The Fund, attracted by our track record of results and our mission and values.
They also see in us a set of very unique traits in the marketplace of philanthropy that work to generate significant social returns on investments.
The Fund is a pioneering force: we are defining venture capital for public education, the next generation in school improvement.
The Fund is an assertive catalyst: we collaborate with the mayor and the school system to set ambitious, measurable goals.
The Fund is a focused partner: we are relentlessly concentrated on talent as the greatest lever for accelerating student achievement.
The Fund is a disciplined investor: we seek only the highest-leveraged opportunities that will help us meet our goals.
The Fund is a manager of risk: we bet on strong management teams to execute on ideas and tie investment outlays to performance benchmarks.
The Fund is a necessary nudge: we are the critical friend pushing the system to think and act smarter.
Why Venture Capital
The Chicago Public Education Fund strictly applies core principles of venture capital to education investments. That Chicago is home to great traditional and new philanthropies already making sizeable impact frees The Fund to do something different. We’ve seized that opportunity to define and refine what venture capital for public education really means, how it works, and what it can bring about.
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Why Human Capital
The Chicago Public Education Fund was one of the first to identify human capital as the greatest lever to accelerate student achievement. Research shows that students are most impacted by the people closest to them – teachers and principals. They are The Fund’s core concern and our core business.
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Why We Do What We Do
The mission of The Chicago Public Education Fund is to accelerate achievement for all Chicago public school students, especially our neediest, by building talented teams of principals and teachers. The Fund serves as a catalyst and strategic investment partner to invest dollars and ideas in high-impact programs that improve school leadership and student achievement system-wide.
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The Chicago Public Education Fund has been a catalyst for improving leadership and student achievement. Their work is an impressive display of what an effective public-private partnership can do for our city.The Honora. Richard M. Daley Mayor, City of Chicago
The Chicago Public Education Fund has been a catalyst for improving leadership and student achievement. Their work is an impressive display of what an effective public-private partnership can do for our city.The Honora. Richard M. Daley
Results The Fund is Achieving
Teachers hired through alternate routes stay teaching in Chicago
Seventy percent of teachers hired through Alternate Routes stay in Chicago for at least 5 years, significantly greater than the national average