Advanced Education Research & Development Fund
The Advanced Education Research & Development Fund (AERDF) is a national nonprofit based in Oakland, California, that supports multi-year research and development to address pressing PreK–12 teaching and learning challenges. It combines research, educator and learner participation, and development of solutions intended to be tested and adopted at scale.
Advanced Education Research & Development Fund at a glance
In short: Advanced Education Research & Development Fund gave $297K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $25K), top state Mississippi. 100% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $297,367
- +205.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +200.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,781
- +1.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $19,500
- Total assets
- $51,592,457
- -7.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 100% first-time grantees (12 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (25% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Advanced Education Research & Development Fund
- How to Apply
-
AERDF’s website describes grant-supported opportunities for educators, school-system leaders, students, caregivers, and community organizations to share expertise, as well as a process for developing new programs. The website’s 2024 open call invited ideas and leaders for a proposed five-year initiative; that application cycle is closed.
- Review Cycle
- May 31, 2024, for the 2024 open call.
- Deadline
- May 31, 2024, for the 2024 open call.
- Contact
Mailing address: 66 Franklin St 300, Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 488-5746
Website: https://aerdf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Advanced Education Research & Development Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jackson Public School District ($74K). Together the top 10 received $281K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 24 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The funder is based in Oakland, California. In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states: Mississippi received 25% of the total, California 21%, Illinois 16%, Texas 16%, and Pennsylvania 9%. The listed grants also included recipients in New York, Washington, D.C., and Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Advanced Education Research & Development Fund open to new grantees?
100%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 12 grantees (100%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $25K. How we count
- 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $97K (2023) to $309K (2021). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $297K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Public School District Jackson, MS | Research Support | $74,000 |
| Tejano Center for Community Concerns Inc Houston, TX | Research Support | $48,000 |
| Distinctive Schools Chicago, IL | Research Support | $41,000 |
| Aliquippa School District Aliquippa, PA | Research Support | $25,600 |
| Change the Tune Inc Los Angeles, CA | Research Support | $20,000 |
| Diverse Charter Schools Coalition New York, NY | Research Support | $20,000 |
| Elite Public Schools Vallejo, CA | Research Support | $19,000 |
| Citizens of the World Charter Schools - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Research Support | $12,600 |
| The Urban Alliance Foundation Inc Washington, DC | Research Support | $10,500 |
| Good Tutors Los Angeles, CA | Research Support | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $51,592,457 | $29,286,831 | $37,419,289 | $297,367 | 12 | $1,809,545 |
| 2023 | $55,861,921 | $28,731,484 | $30,804,615 | $97,322 | 4 | $2,185,795 |
| 2022 | $57,411,486 | $42,576,164 | $22,843,519 | $206,411 | 5 | $966,164 |
| 2021 | $37,818,730 | $32,842,563 | $15,166,571 | $309,416 | 3 | $72,563 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
AERDF’s stated mission is to conduct inclusive research and development so diverse teams of educators, researchers, and developers can tackle intractable teaching and learning challenges that disproportionately affect Black and Latino students and students of all races experiencing poverty.
Its programs include Reading Reimagined, focused on foundational literacy for older elementary students who need reading support; EF+Math, exploring the relationship between executive-function skills and math learning; and Assessment for Good, developing assessments intended to provide timely, meaningful information to guide instruction. The website also describes AugmentED, which brings together teachers, researchers, and technologists to develop and test teaching approaches and AI-powered tools.
In 2024, AERDF’s listed grants all had the purpose “research support.” Among the grantees, Change the Tune describes its mission as creating extended learning experiences for youth in underserved communities; Diverse Charter Schools Coalition describes work supporting diverse public charter schools; and Elite Public Schools says it aims to provide culturally affirming, rigorous, and relevant learning spaces. Other grantees describe work in career pathways for high school students, student achievement, and youth design and skill-building programs. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not AERDF’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, AERDF reported 12 grants totaling $297,367. Grant amounts ranged from $8,000 to $74,000, with a median of $19,500.
The largest listed grants were $74,000 to Jackson Public School District in Mississippi, $48,000 to Tejano Center for Community Concerns in Texas, and $41,000 to Distinctive Schools in Illinois. Other listed awards included $25,600 to Aliquippa School District, $20,000 each to Change the Tune and Diverse Charter Schools Coalition, and $19,000 to Elite Public Schools.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jim Shelton and Nailah Nasir as board co-chairs. Other listed board members are Ana Ponce, Cassandra Herring, Bror Saxberg, Jeff Livingston, and Parag Pathak. Auditi Chakravarty is listed as chief executive officer; Elda Beki Bahar-Engler as COO, secretary, and treasurer; and Sasha Rabkin as chief program innovation and strategy.
Advanced Education Research & Development Fund is led by Auditi Chakravarty, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2023; 10 of 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Auditi Chakravarty
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$315K (2023) → $449K (2024)
Aubrey Francisco
Executive Director
Program Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$209K (2021) → $223K (2024)
Rebecca Kockler Easterling
Executive Director
Program Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$116K (2021) → $254K (2024)
Temple S. Lovelace
Executive Director
Program Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$249K (2021) → $257K (2024)
Michelle Tiu
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$205K (2024)
Yasmene Mumby
Director of Communications
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$201K (2024)
Bror Saxberg
Board Member
Secretary → Interim CEO & Board Member, 2023
Interim CEO & Board Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$72K (2023) → $0 (2024)
Christopher Liang-Vergara
Chief Learning Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$169K (2021) → $277K (2024)
Marvin Smith
Chief Public Affairs & Development Officer
Chief Public Affairs Officer → Chief Public Affairs & Development Officer, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$220K (2021) → $259K (2024)
Elda Beki Bahar-Engler
COO, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$279K (2023) → $241K (2024)
Sasha Rabkin Start
Chief Program Innovation & Strategy
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$198K (2024)
Jim Shelton
Board Member & Co-Chair
Board Member → Board Member & Co-Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ana Ponce
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cassandra Herring
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Livingston
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nailah Nasir
Board Member & Co-Chair
Board Member → Board Member & Co-Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Parag A. Pathak
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Lisette Nieves (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Melina Uncapher (2021–2023) — Chief of Research & Development
- Former: Stacey Childress (2021–2023) — CEO & Board President
- Former: Brandy Nelson (2022–2023) — Academic Director
- Former: Lauren Lan Ko Uyeshiro (2023) — Director of Product
- Former: Caleb Offley (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Daryl Peagler (2021–2022) — CIO & Board Treasurer
- Former: Enid Marie Rosario-Ramos (2021–2022) — Senior Manager & Program Engagement
- Former: Sara Allen (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Beki Bahar-Engler (2022) — COO & Treasurer
- Former: Adam Edward Smith (2021) — Designing for Equity Manager
- Former: Ana Vazquez (2021) — Senior Manager & Investment Ops
- Former: Karin Lange (2021) — Educator Co-Design Manager
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $449K, to Auditi Chakravarty (Chief Executive Officer). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Advanced Education Research & Development Fund
How much does Advanced Education Research & Development Fund give each year?
Advanced Education Research & Development Fund gave $297K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $97K across 4 grants.
What is Advanced Education Research & Development Fund's typical grant size?
Advanced Education Research & Development Fund's median grant in 2024 was $19,500, and its average grant was $24,781, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Advanced Education Research & Development Fund that year got $25K on average.
Where does Advanced Education Research & Development Fund give grants?
Advanced Education Research & Development Fund's top state is Mississippi, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (21%) and Illinois (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Advanced Education Research & Development Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Advanced Education Research & Development Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research Support" (12 grants).
Who are Advanced Education Research & Development Fund's largest grantees?
Advanced Education Research & Development Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Jackson Public School District ($74,000), Tejano Center for Community Concerns Inc ($48,000) and Distinctive Schools ($41,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Advanced Education Research & Development Fund?
Advanced Education Research & Development Fund reported $51.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $29.3M.
What does Advanced Education Research & Development Fund fund?
AERDF’s stated mission is to conduct inclusive research and development so diverse teams of educators, researchers, and developers can tackle intractable teaching and learning challenges that disproportionately affect Black and Latino students and students of all races experiencing poverty. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Advanced Education Research & Development Fund?
AERDF’s website describes grant-supported opportunities for educators, school-system leaders, students, caregivers, and community organizations to share expertise, as well as a process for developing new programs. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Advanced Education Research & Development Fund's EIN?
Advanced Education Research & Development Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3624930. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Advanced Education Research & Development Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/advanced-education-research-and-development-fund-morg_84c2d7f027584d159e01cfb69769bfcc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_853624930_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Advanced Education Research \& Development Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/advanced-education-research-and-development-fund-morg_84c2d7f027584d159e01cfb69769bfcc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Advanced Education Research & Development Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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