Vela Education Fund
The Vela Education Fund exists to accelerate education innovation and opportunity for every learner by: supporting everyday entrepreneurs building custom education programs to meet families learners' needs, increasing awareness of nontraditional education, and accelerating adoption by more families and communities.
Vela Education Fund at a glance
In short: Vela Education Fund gave $4.7M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $4.7M), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,742,250
- -47.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,742,250
- -47.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,742,250
- Total assets
- $21,403,298
- +58.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Vela Education Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 4 grants of 15 (27%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Vela Education Fund gives
- Giving fell 22% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2020) to $10.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $4.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Attached Deerfield, IL | Support | $4,742,250 |
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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 | $21,403,298 | $18,940,669 | $11,450,200 | $4,742,250 | 1 | $716,828 |
| 2023 | $13,520,815 | $18,518,008 | $13,589,002 | $9,031,084 | 1 | $465,263 |
| 2022 | $8,295,380 | $16,079,595 | $14,996,723 | $10,880,332 | 1 | $4,217 |
| 2021 | $4,855,969 | $13,247,569 | $9,974,271 | $6,041,275 | 1 | $2,709 |
| 2020 | $1,305,580 | $4,570,982 | $3,418,383 | $2,720,500 | 11 | $4,415 |
About Vela Education Fund
Based on IRS filings
Vela Education Fund is a public charity, based in Deerfield, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $21.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $4.7M. Net investment income was $717K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Vela Education Fund is led by Meredith Olson, Board Member & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 5 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Meredith Olson
Board Member & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Grevel
Director of Programs
Manager-Issue Education → Director of Programs, 2023
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$119K (2022) → $171K (2024)
Shaina Belton
Director of Community
Director-Issue Education → Director of Community, 2023
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$128K (2022) → $113K (2024)
Lindsay Kelly
Director-Brand & Communications
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$181K (2023) → $206K (2024)
Ashley Ho
Director of Product Strategy
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$139K (2024)
Elizabeth Seling
Chief of Operations
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$367K (2024)
Caleb Offley
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derek Johnson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Rose
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Hui
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henrich Heuer
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Weston Edwards
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Brian Menkes (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Beth Seling (2021–2023) — Chief of Operations
- Former: Kara Hartnett (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Larry Todd Rose (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Natalie Laraque (2023) — Director of External Affairs
- Former: Marc Sternberg (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Adam Ewing (2022) — Senior Director of Strategic Advancement
- Former: Robert Heaton (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Susan Motiff (2020) — Treasurer
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 $367K, to Elizabeth Seling (Chief of Operations). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Vela Education Fund
How much does Vela Education Fund give each year?
Vela Education Fund gave $4.7M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $9.0M across 1 grant.
How large is Vela Education Fund?
Vela Education Fund reported $21.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $18.9M.
Where does Vela Education Fund operate?
Vela Education Fund has awarded grants in Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Virginia, Wyoming.
What is Vela Education Fund's EIN?
Vela Education Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4185046. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Vela Education Fund funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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