Mission and Values
What defines us and guides our work
Foundation 65 strengthens Evanston public education by investing in educators to address racialized disparities and create schools where justice and humanity may be experienced by all.
Our Mission:
Our Values:
We pursue educational justice, addressing racial inequities through important conversations. By centering marginalized needs, we uplift and strengthen the entire District 65 community.
We believe curiosity drives learning. We support educators in fostering student imagination, engagement, and critical thinking, promoting understanding and openness within the District 65 community.
We believe all students, families, and educators deserve respect, inclusion, and a sense of belonging. Educators should center student needs and experiences, welcoming families as essential education partners.
We provide educators with resources to eliminate opportunity gaps and inequities, enhancing student support, confidence, and voices to help students achieve their full potential.
We focus on targeted grants to have an outsized impact:
While we are aligned with Evanston/Skokie District 65, we have found that our grantmaking is most impactful at the grassroots level. This means providing funding outside of and independent of District resources, along with the support to incubate promising new programs until the District can adopt them.
Why Education?
Public education holds different meanings for each of us, whether as a path to success, an equalizer, or a foundation for democracy. In Evanston, known as the "Lighthouse District," public education has always been at the forefront of innovation, reflecting the community's commitment to progressive education.
Despite Evanston's progressive reputation, BIPOC children have long faced educational disparities, affecting their success and identity. Foundation 65 aims to strengthen public education, address these inequities, and empower educators to positively impact the community's children.
