Past Investment: 2001 - 2004
The issue…
As schools and districts across the country struggle to find high-quality, well-prepared leadership capable of improving learning, there is a clear need to identify and support home-grown, innovative ideas generated by local nonprofit and community organizations, and to create new learning networks through which knowledge about improving leadership can spread to others in the field.
The response…
In April 2001, The Wallace Foundation created Ventures in Leadership. The program, which ended in December 2002, provided a relatively quick means to help nonprofit organizations, colleges, public schools and districts around the country test innovative ideas and build on successful experiences for improving school and district leadership. Together, these projects have encouraged grassroots thinking about leadership, expanded the kinds of organizations addressing this issue, and raised public awareness about the importance of leadership to improve student learning.
The strategies…
Over two years, Ventures in Leadership provided nearly 130 grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to organizations in 44 states and the District of Columbia. The awards helped to advance projects that offered promising solutions to practical problems related to attracting, training and supporting principals and superintendents.
The Accomplishments…
Ventures in Leadership supported a wide variety of projects including professional development for leaders and leader-mentors; data management to track and improve student performance; online networking to reduce isolation among rural districts; recruitment strategies including media campaigns; and innovative leadership models.