Knowledgeworks Foundation
Knowledgeworks Foundation is a public charity based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It works with partners in states and schools to align education policy and practice, with a focus on personalized, competency-based learning and preparing students for a lifetime of learning.
Knowledgeworks Foundation at a glance
In short: Knowledgeworks Foundation gave $510K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $73K), top state Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $509,500
- -31.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -41.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $72,786
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $3,156,753
- -45.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Knowledgeworks Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 312 Plum Street Suite 950, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 929-4777
Website: https://knowledgeworks.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Knowledgeworks Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Building 21 ($230K). Together the top 7 received $510K.
Grant Size Distribution
81 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 81 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went to recipients in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. Pennsylvania received 45% of grant dollars and Kentucky 39%; Virginia received 6%, Maryland 5% and North Carolina 4%. One grant’s stated purpose concerned South Carolina’s PCBL platform pilot program.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Knowledgeworks Foundation gives
- Giving fell 55% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $510K (2025) to $3.2M (2020). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $510K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building 21 Plymouth meeting, PA | Support South Carolina's PCBL Platform Pilot Program | $230,000 |
| Kentucky chamber foundation Frankfort, KY | Support Public Will Building for KY K-12 Education | $75,000 |
| Prichard comm for academic excellence Lexington, KY | Support Public Will Building for KY K-12 Education | $75,000 |
| Kentucky student voice team Lexington, KY | Community Engagement in Kentucky on Assessment & Accountability | $50,000 |
| Aurora institute Arlington, VA | 2025 Symposium Sponsorship and Support Advancement of PCBL | $30,000 |
| Nat'l career technical education fnd Silver spring, MD | High-Quality College in High School Experiences | $27,000 |
| Nat'l all of concurrent enrollment Chapel hill, NC | High-Quality College in High School Experiences | $22,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,156,753 | $3,728,260 | $13,637,850 | $509,500 | 7 | $57,918 |
| 2024 | $5,801,464 | $6,420,403 | $16,002,848 | $745,308 | 12 | $182,608 |
| 2023 | $9,927,169 | $7,495,465 | $17,696,195 | $2,610,986 | 24 | $174,724 |
| 2022 | $30,256,752 | $3,680,614 | $12,247,634 | $1,137,754 | 17 | $18,918 |
| 2021 | $34,010,195 | $7,717,304 | $12,007,991 | $1,188,664 | 21 | $10,185 |
| 2020 | $33,319,038 | $6,852,398 | $17,137,967 | $3,173,317 | 22 | $56,490 |
| 2019 | $38,932,222 | $11,590,432 | $14,367,516 | $1,003,900 | 16 | $91,631 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
KnowledgeWorks’ mission is to help partners in states and schools align policy and practice through personalized, competency-based learning, and to prepare students for lifelong learning. Its work includes partnering with states, districts and schools on education transformation, supporting systemic alignment of policy and accountability systems, and providing research, guidance and technical assistance.
In its 2025 grants, the Foundation supported organizations working on education initiatives. Building 21 describes its mission as empowering networks of learners to connect with their passions and build agency to impact their world. The Kentucky Chamber Foundation says its purpose is to unlock the power of business, accelerate solutions and build opportunity in Kentucky.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported seven grants totaling $509,500. Grant amounts ranged from $22,500 to $230,000, with a median of $50,000. Its largest grant was $230,000 to Building 21 for support of South Carolina’s PCBL platform pilot program. Other notable grants included $75,000 each to the Kentucky Chamber Foundation and Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence for public will-building for Kentucky K-12 education, and $50,000 to the Kentucky Student Voice Team for community engagement in Kentucky on assessment and accountability.
The Foundation also awarded $30,000 to the Aurora Institute for symposium sponsorship and support for advancing PCBL, $27,000 to the National Career Technical Education Foundation for high-quality college-in-high-school experiences, and $22,500 to the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships for high-quality college-in-high-school experiences.
KnowledgeWorks issues requests for proposals and requests for qualifications for external partnerships throughout the year. Its website states that there are no open opportunities at this time. Applicants to an open opportunity must follow its stated submission requirements; questions during the open question period are answered through the opportunity page.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing were Victor Young, chair of the board; Brenda Shum, vice chair of the board; and directors Dale Erquiaga, Eileen Rudden, Juliana Wong, Lindsay Jones, Renee Foster, Robert Runcie, Sheri Chaney Jones and Thomas Fry.
Knowledgeworks Foundation is led by William Hite, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; 11 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William Hite
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
39 hrs/week
$187K (2023) → $378K (2025)
Victor Young
Chair of the Board
Director → Interim Chair of the Board, 2023
Interim Chair of the Board → Chair of the Board, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chaneal Wilkins
Senior Director & Human Resources
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$147K (2025)
Kendra Gentry
Senior Director, Impact & Improvement
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$151K (2025)
Eileen Rudden
Director
Director → Vice Chair of the Board, 2021
Vice Chair of the Board → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Fry
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee Foster
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Juliana Wong
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Runcie
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Najera
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dale Erquiaga
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsay Jones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sheri Chaney Jones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holly Brinkman
Executive Vice President, COO & Treasurer
Inter President, CEO, COO & Vice President Finance → COO, Vice President of Finance & Treasurer, 2023
COO, Vice President of Finance & Treasurer → Executive Vice President, COO & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
37 hrs/week
$254K (2019) → $248K (2025)
Lillian Pace
Vice President, Policy & Strategic Advisor
Vice President Policy & Advocacy → Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, 2020
Vice President, Policy & Advocacy → Vice President, Policy & Strategic Advisor, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$176K (2019) → $242K (2025)
Michael Dimaggio
Vice President & Development
Vice President, Partnerships & Development → Vice President, Strategic Ptr & Development, 2023
Vice President, Strategic Ptr & Development → Vice President & Development, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$244K (2019) → $240K (2025)
Katherine Prince
Vice President, Foresight & Strategy
Vice President Strategic Foresight → Vice President & Strategic Foresight, 2022
Vice President & Strategic Foresight → Vice President, Foresight & Strategy, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$177K (2020) → $210K (2025)
Matthew Williams
Executive Vice President, Chief Program Offr & Secretary
Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer → Executive Vice President, Chief Strat Officer & Secretary, 2023
Executive Vice President, Chief Strat Officer & Secretary → Executive Vice President, Chief Program Offr & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
39 hrs/week
$250K (2020) → $257K (2025)
Kate Westrich
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Vice President, Mkt & Comms → Vice President, Mktg & Comms, 2022
Vice President, Mktg & Comms → Vice President, Marketing & Communications, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$166K (2021) → $186K (2025)
Rebecca Wolfe
Vice President, Impact & Improvement
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$180K (2021) → $205K (2025)
Lauren McCauley
Vice President, Teaching & Learning
Senior Director, Teaching & Learning → Vice President, Teaching & Learning, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$137K (2022) → $184K (2025)
Brenda Shum
Vice Chair of the Board
Director → Vice Chair of the Board, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (26)
- Former: Sean Decatur (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Virgel Hammonds (2019–2024) — Chief Learning Officer
- Former: Gregory Seaton (2023–2024) — Senior Director, Impact & Improvement
- Former: Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds (2020–2023) — Chair of Board -
- Former: Becky Van Der Bogert (2019–2022) — Director -
- Former: Charles Ambrose (2019–2022) — President & CEO -
- Former: Lillian Lowery (2019–2022) — Director -
- Former: Lucie Lapovsky (2019–2022) — Director -
- Former: Stephen Myers (2019–2022) — Senior Director & Info Tech
- Former: Robyn Minter Smyers (2021–2022) — Director -
- Former: Tony Smith (2021–2022) — Director -
- Former: Byron White (2019–2021) — Vice President & Executive Director Strivepartnership
- Former: John E Dean (2019–2021) — Former Director
- Former: Joseph P. Tomain (2019–2021) — Former Director
- Former: Cris Charbonneau (2019–2020) — Vice President, Mkt & Comms
- Former: Jorge Perez (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Penny Friedman (2019–2020) — Former Director
- Former: Richard Riley (2019–2020) — Former Director
- Former: Steven Minter (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jesse Moyer (2020) — Senior Director & School Development
- Former: Judith A Peppler (2019) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Lizzette Gonzalez-Reynolds (2019) — Vice Chair of the Board
- Former: Mark Brown (2019) — Director
- Former: Matt Williams Start (2019) — Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Offr
- Former: Stephen Dackin (2019) — Director
- Former: Whayne Herriford (2019) — Senior Director & Talent Management
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $378K, to William Hite (President & CEO). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Knowledgeworks Foundation
How much does Knowledgeworks Foundation give each year?
Knowledgeworks Foundation gave $510K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $745K across 12 grants.
What is Knowledgeworks Foundation's typical grant size?
Knowledgeworks Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $72,786, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Knowledgeworks Foundation give grants?
Knowledgeworks Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Kentucky (39%) and Virginia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lexington, KY (2 grants).
Does Knowledgeworks Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Knowledgeworks Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Knowledgeworks Foundation's largest grantees?
Knowledgeworks Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Building 21 ($230,000), Kentucky chamber foundation ($75,000) and Prichard comm for academic excellence ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Knowledgeworks Foundation?
Knowledgeworks Foundation reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.7M.
What does Knowledgeworks Foundation fund?
KnowledgeWorks’ mission is to help partners in states and schools align policy and practice through personalized, competency-based learning, and to prepare students for lifelong learning. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Knowledgeworks Foundation?
Knowledgeworks Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check knowledgeworks.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Knowledgeworks Foundation's EIN?
Knowledgeworks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1321973. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Knowledgeworks Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?