Chiefs for Change
Chiefs for Change is a Washington, DC–based public charity that works to strengthen education leadership and systems, advance policy, and improve outcomes for students in public education. The organization says it has partnered with state education chiefs and superintendents across the country since 2015.
Chiefs for Change at a glance
- Total assets
- $5,901,202
- -58.6% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $7,363,593
- -45.7% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $98,264
- +75.6% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $9,485,864
- -41.9% vs 2023
- 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 Chiefs for Change
- Contact
Mailing address: 1455 Pennsylvania Ave Nw 400-311, Washington, DC 20004
Phone: (202) 681-7643
Website: https://chiefsforchange.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chiefs for Change funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 11 grants of 23 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization describes working with leaders across the country. Its 2022 grant records include recipients in Oakland, California; Burien, Washington; Phoenix, Arizona; and Nashville, Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is Chiefs for Change open to new grantees?
82%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 9 of 11 grantees (82%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $88K; repeat grants $121K. How we count
Medians: $53K first-time, $121K repeat.
- 18% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2022). 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 2020 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $250K (2021) to $1.0M (2022). In 2022 it made 11 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Oakland Public Education Fund Oakland, CA | School Safety Grant Award | $183,330 |
| Poudre School District R-1 Fort Collins, CO | School Safety Grant Award | $166,665 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $166,665 |
| Tulsa Public Schools District-1 Tulsa, OK | School Safety Grant Award | $166,665 |
| Highline Schools Foundation Burien, WA | School Safety Grant Award | $166,665 |
| Foundation for Orange County Public Schools Orlando, FL | CFC Players Coalition Grant | $75,000 |
| Indianapolis Public Education Foundation Indianapolis, IN | Rebuilding Stronger Initiative Grant | $52,928 |
| Henry County Schools McDonough, GA | CFC Players Coalition Grant | $30,000 |
| Nashville Prep Nashville, TN | CFC Players Coalition Grant | $10,000 |
| STEM Preparatory Academy Nashville, TN | CFC Players Coalition Grant | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Chiefs for Change?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The organization files Form 990 as a public charity.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,901,202 | $7,363,593 | $9,485,864 | — | — | $98,264 |
| 2023 | $14,262,015 | $13,559,778 | $16,316,033 | — | — | $55,974 |
| 2022 | $20,555,172 | $24,294,635 | $25,180,256 | $1,037,918 | 11 | $48,554 |
| 2021 | $30,000,112 | $22,072,365 | $20,983,699 | $250,000 | 3 | $17,906 |
| 2020 | $9,919,819 | $11,267,861 | $10,305,541 | $800,000 | 9 | $72,261 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Chiefs for Change’s mission is to accelerate progress in public education by building leaders and systems’ capacity to provide young people with 21st-century experiences that prepare them for economic and social mobility. Its website identifies five focus areas: early literacy, chronic absenteeism, human capital development, high school transformation, and postsecondary readiness.
The organization describes its work as including fellowships, executive coaching and peer mentorship for education leaders; customized system support and communities of practice; and policy work that brings education leaders’ implementation experience into policy discussions.
The 2022 grant records include education-related organizations. The Oakland Public Education Fund describes its mission as leading the development and investment of community resources in Oakland public schools so students can learn, grow, and thrive. Highline Schools Foundation says it helps bridge the gap between state funding and what its district needs for students, families, staff, and teachers. An individual recipient High School District Classroom Teach describes its work as advancing education and improving instructional opportunities, primarily through services for certified personnel in the district. STEM Preparatory Academy says it provides a college-preparatory education focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for students in grades five through twelve.
Grantmaking
IRS filing data reports 11 grants totaling $1,037,918 in 2022, an average of about $94,356 per grant. The filing data reports no grants in 2023 or 2024.
Notable 2022 grants included $183,330 to The Oakland Public Education Fund, $166,665 to Highline Schools Foundation, $166,665 to an individual recipient High School District Classroom Teach, and $10,000 to STEM Preparatory Academy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert Runcie as CEO; Kimberly Tang as Senior Director, MSHP & Future Chiefs; Shayla Faye Cannady as Chief Communications & EAO; Carlene Millen as Senior Director; Dale Schmidt as Chief of Technical Assistance Programs; and Alison Harris Welcher as Chief Strategy Officer.
The filing lists Pedro Martinez as board chair, Lewis Ferebee as board director and secretary, and Scott Muri and Aleesia Johnson as board directors.
Chiefs for Change is led by Robert Runcie, CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert Runcie
CEO
Director & Board Finance Chair → Interim CEO, 2022
Interim CEO → CEO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$209K (2022) → $328K (2024)
Pedro Martinez
Director & Board Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Tang
Senior Director, Mshp. & Future Chiefs
Director of Memberships & Future Chiefs → Senior Director, Membership & Future Chiefs, 2022
Senior Director, Membership & Future Chiefs → Senior Director, Mshp. & Future Chiefs, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$117K (2020) → $196K (2024)
Carlene Millen
Senior Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$177K (2024)
Lewis Ferebee
Board Director & Secretary
Director → Board Director, 2022
Board Director → Board Director & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aleesia Johnson
Board Director
Board Director A & O → Board Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gustavo Balderas
Board Director
Board Director A & O → Board Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Muri
Board Director
Board Director A & O → Board Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Latonya Goffney
Board Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale Schmidt
Chief of Technical Assistant Program
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$205K (2023) → $174K (2024)
Alison Harris Welcher
Chief Strategy Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$163K (2024)
Shayla Faye Cannady
Chief Communications & Eao
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$189K (2024)
Former officers (15)
- Former: Danielle Durbin (2020–2023) — Senior Director & Communications
- Former: Leila Walsh (2020–2023) — Ceao
- Former: Jamar Knox (2021–2023) — Senior Director, Finance & Ops.
- Former: Christina Grant (2022–2023) — Board Director
- Former: Stephanie Zamorano (2022–2023) — Senior Director & Development
- Former: Janice Jackson (2020–2022) — Board Director
- Former: Michael Magee (2020–2022) — CEO
- Former: Makese Motley (2022) — Director & Federal Policy
- Former: Carey Wright (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Julia Rafal-Baer (2020–2021) — COO
- Former: Amber Moore (2021) — Sen. Associate of Advocacy & Policy
- Former: Gabrielle Feltner (2021) — Senior Associate of Memberships
- Former: Cerena Parker (2020) — Director of Operations
- Former: Elsa Dure (2020) — Director of Strategic Partnerships & Development
- Former: John White (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $328K, to Robert Runcie (CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Chiefs for Change
How large is Chiefs for Change?
Chiefs for Change reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.4M.
What does Chiefs for Change fund?
Chiefs for Change’s mission is to accelerate progress in public education by building leaders and systems’ capacity to provide young people with 21st-century experiences that prepare them for economic and social mobility. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chiefs for Change?
Chiefs for Change has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check chiefsforchange.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Chiefs for Change make grants?
The organization describes working with leaders across the country. Its 2022 grant records include recipients in Oakland, California; Burien, Washington; Phoenix, Arizona; and Nashville, Tennessee.
What is Chiefs for Change's EIN?
Chiefs for Change's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2373903. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Chiefs for Change funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chiefs for Change's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Chiefs for Change'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.
Chiefs for Change down — hundreds of funders to go?