Collaborative funding model to advance learning innovation
Since October 2022, Laurel has built up the Catalyze Challenge, a $14 million funding collaborative aimed at expanding access and awareness of career pathways and economic mobility in the US. Catalyze is funded by American Student Assistance, Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Charles Koch Foundation, the Schultz Family Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation.
Designing an investment for early-stage innovation
Laurel partnered with Catalyze to establish a grantmaking fund that allocated $3 million to support early-stage career-connected learning initiatives across the United States. Working closely with prominent philanthropic organizations and investors, our team collaboratively led design strategy for this funding cycle.
Through our collective efforts, an innovation challenge framework was created to provide between $100,000 and $250,000 for up to 25 pilot projects. This funding powered crucial exploratory and implementation activities over the span of 6-12 months.
We crafted a user-friendly funding application using Submittable, generated applicant resources, and implemented a streamlined evaluation and selection procedure. We take pride in our role of advising and mentoring grant makers, empowering them to manage national and regional initiatives independently.
Catalyze Challenge received more than 850 applications. 15 organizations received $3.3 million to pilot innovative career-connected learning initiatives. These grants focus on increasing learner agency and employer-learner engagement and are expected to positively impact more than 25,000 learners ages 11 to 22 through career-connected learning.
Building funding infrastructure
To ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of Catalyze's investments, Laurel established essential infrastructure for gathering and analyzing grantee data. This infrastructure enables the measurement of progress toward specific goals and objectives, providing a comprehensive assessment of the effects of Catalyze's investments. Laurel also crafted real-time performance dashboards and data visualizations, putting sophisticated decision-making tools into the hands of funders.
Recognizing that financial support alone was insufficient, Laurel helped Catalyze tailor a comprehensive support program for grantees. This program addresses the unmet needs of grantees, ensuring they have the resources and guidance necessary to succeed. By fostering a supportive program, Catalyze aims to enhance the sustainability and scalability of the funded innovations.
Key Services for Catalyze
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Laurel led the design of a $3.3 million grant fund aimed at bolstering promising, early-stage approaches to career-connected learning. This funding opportunity garnered 850 applications and, in the end, granted risk-tolerant funding to 15 organizations to fuel their exploratory efforts.
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Laurel established essential infrastructure for gathering and analyzing grantee data, enabling the measurement of progress toward specific goals and objectives.
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Laurel crafted real-time performance dashboards and data visualizations to provide sophisticated analysis of funding applications.
15 organizations have received $3.3 million to pilot innovative career-connected learning initiatives across the United States.
A new standard for funding education innovation
Catalyze's collaborative approach, strategic funding, and comprehensive support have set a new standard for educational grantmaking.
Through Laurel's strategic design and implementation, Catalyze has not only funded promising innovations but also established a framework for measuring and enhancing their results.
By focusing on closing opportunity gaps, Catalyze is driving a broader movement towards equitable educational and career outcomes for students across the United States. The immediate success of awarding $3.3 million to 15 organizations is just the beginning of this transformative journey.