The Center for Education Reform
The Center for Education Reform (CER) is a public charity based in Washington, DC, formed in 1993. It works to expand educational opportunities and promote innovation, freedom, and flexibility in U.S. education through grantmaking, communications, policy work, events, and connections among education innovators and other stakeholders.
The Center for Education Reform at a glance
In short: The Center for Education Reform gave $8.6M across 29 grants in 2024 (avg $297K), top state Louisiana. 87% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,615,500
- -41.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- -44.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $297,086
- +4.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $5,733,799
- -75.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 87% first-time grantees (20 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (12% 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 The Center for Education Reform
- Contact
Mailing address: 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue Nw 540, Washington, DC 20004
Phone: (202) 750-0016
Website: https://edreform.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Center for Education Reform
Who The Center for Education Reform funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Arizona Autism Charter Schools Inc ($975K). Together the top 10 received $4.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 7 grants to individuals ($1,975,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
216 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 146 grants of 216 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Center for Education Reform open to new grantees?
87%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 23 grantees (87%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $245K; repeat grants $1.2M. How we count
Medians: $200K first-time, $975K repeat.
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 $3.5M (2021) to $26.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 29 grants totaling $8.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Autism Charter Schools Inc Phoenix, AZ | Yass Prize Alumni Awards in 2024 | $975,000 |
| Sailfuture St Petersburg, FL | Yass Prize Alumni Awards in 2024 | $770,500 |
| 7 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,975,000 |
| Rapunzl Chicago, IL | Yass Prize Alumni Awards in 2024 | $580,000 |
| Primer Microschools Foundation San Franscisco, CA | Yass Prize 2024 - Winner | $500,000 |
| St Marys Academy New Orleans, LA | Yass Prize 2024 - Finalist | $250,000 |
| Rural Schools Innovation Zone Premont, TX | Yass Prize 2024 - Finalist | $250,000 |
| Boddle Learning Tulsa, OK | Yass Prize 2024 - Finalist | $250,000 |
| The Big Picture Company Providence, RI | Yass Prize 2024 - Finalist | $250,000 |
| Cafe Momentum Academy Dallas, TX | Yass prize 2024 - semifinalist and stop award prize 2024 | $210,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Center for Education Reform?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,733,799 | $11,749,219 | $22,559,312 | $8,615,500 | 29 | $32,803 |
| 2023 | $23,095,278 | $45,087,867 | $32,087,026 | $14,758,000 | 52 | $7,471 |
| 2022 | $14,753,313 | $30,674,796 | $30,411,654 | $26,110,053 | 114 | $7,754 |
| 2021 | $1,738,343 | $7,208,228 | $6,013,763 | $3,493,250 | 21 | $816 |
| 2020 | $442,643 | $1,593,507 | $1,869,383 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CER’s stated mission is to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans, particularly children, while ensuring conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom, and flexibility throughout U.S. education.
Its grantmaking includes the Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless (STOP) education. The 2022 grantees listed include organizations with varied missions. For example, AERA Foundation Inc. says it assists charter public schools in providing high-quality pre-K–12 education and alternative programs; Khan Academy Inc. describes its mission as providing “a free world-class education for anyone, anywhere”; and Arizona Autism Charter Schools Inc. says it educates students with autism and related disorders. Other listed recipients include organizations focused on constitutional education, workforce preparation, innovative school models, and support for teens transitioning back into society.
Grantmaking
In 2022, CER reported $26,110,053 in grants across 114 grants. Its filings reported zero grants in both 2023 and 2024. Notable 2022 recipients included AERA Foundation Inc. and the National Constitution Center, each receiving $1,500,000; Khan Academy Inc., also receiving $1,500,000; Arizona Autism Charter Schools Inc. and Neurodiversity Education Research Center, each receiving $1,000,000; and unCommon Construction Inc., Capital Preparatory Schools Inc., and SailFuture Inc., each receiving $500,000. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 29 grants totaling $8.6 million.
The Yass Prize STOP for Education Accelerator is listed as active. It offers education leaders a chance to participate in an accelerator and vie for a $1,000,000 prize. The program description mentions learning, personalized feedback, mentorship, and a peer network. It says applicants can apply, but does not specify application materials, eligibility restrictions, or a deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jeanne Allen as Founder and CEO; Donald Hense and Michael Moe as Chairman and Secretary; Maggie Zulueta as Director and Interim Treasurer; Kevin Chavous, Chris Whittle, and Janine Yass as directors; Michael Musante as Executive VP; Robert Blevins as COO; and Caroline Allen as Chief Program Officer.
The Center for Education Reform is led by Jeanne Allen, Founder & CEO on every filing since 2020; 8 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jeanne Allen
Founder & CEO
On filings since 2020
65 hrs/week
$325K (2020) → $548K (2024)
Donald Hense
Chairman & Secretary
Secretary → Chairman & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Moe
Chairman & Secretary
Chairman → Director, 2023
Director → Chairman & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Audet
Director of Data & Technology
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$126K (2024)
Katherine Nelligan
Director of External Affairs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$138K (2024)
Theodore Allen
Creative Director
New on the 2024 filing
30 hrs/week
$105K (2024)
Chris Whittle
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Chavous
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janine Yass
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maggie Zulueta
Director & Interim Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Dosky Allen
Chief Program Officer
Vice President → Chief Program Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$126K (2022) → $146K (2024)
Michael Musante
Executive Vice President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$399K (2023) → $370K (2024)
Josephina Rago
Senior Partnership Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$115K (2024)
Robert Blevins
COO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$411K (2024)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Richard Harmon (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Christa Keel (2022) — Vice President
- Former: David Hardy (2020) — Director
- Former: Nick Paradiso (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 $548K, to Jeanne Allen (Founder and CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Center for Education Reform
How much does The Center for Education Reform give each year?
The Center for Education Reform gave $8.6M across 29 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $14.8M across 52 grants.
What is The Center for Education Reform's typical grant size?
The Center for Education Reform's median grant in 2024 was $200,000, and its average grant was $297,086, across 29 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Center for Education Reform that year got $245K on average.
Where does The Center for Education Reform give grants?
The Center for Education Reform's top state is Louisiana, with 12% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Arizona (11%) and Florida (11%).
Does The Center for Education Reform give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on The Center for Education Reform's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Yass Prize 2024 - Semifinalist" (17 grants), "Yass Prize Alumni Awards in 2024" (4 grants) and "Yass Prize 2024 - Finalist" (4 grants).
Who are The Center for Education Reform's largest grantees?
The Center for Education Reform's largest 2024 grantees include Arizona Autism Charter Schools Inc ($975,000), Sailfuture ($770,500) and Rapunzl ($580,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 7 grants to individuals ($1,975,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Center for Education Reform?
The Center for Education Reform reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.7M.
What does The Center for Education Reform fund?
CER’s stated mission is to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans, particularly children, while ensuring conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom, and flexibility throughout U.S. education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Center for Education Reform?
The Center for Education Reform has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check edreform.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Center for Education Reform's EIN?
The Center for Education Reform's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1847187. 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
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Center for Education Reform funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Center for Education Reform's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Center for Education Reform funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-center-for-education-reform-morg_ee60d30e89374465aba9bd58979e1805
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521847187_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Center for Education Reform funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-center-for-education-reform-morg_ee60d30e89374465aba9bd58979e1805},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 The Center for Education Reform'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.
The Center for Education Reform down — hundreds of funders to go?