Latest Our Blog

Spotlight On Growth: CommonLit

In this “Spotlight On Growth,” Pete Lavorini talks with Michelle Brown, founder and CEO of CommonLit. Together, they delve into CommonLit’s growth trajectory, the role of AI in the organization’s future, and its approach to measuring impact on student learning and engagement.

Spotlight on Innovation: Reflections on GenAI Investments and Trends in Education

Over the last two years, we’ve made over $13 million in commitments to organizations building, scaling, or learning about AI-powered interventions in Pre-K-12 education. To inform how we pursue genAI investments in 2025 and beyond, we analyzed our grantmaking efforts and trends we’re seeing in the broader landscape. Jon Sotsky shares five reflections from this exercise focused on the progress, challenges, and dynamics we’re observing through the efforts of our grantees and others in the field.

Q1 2024 Funding Announcement

In Q1 2024, our foundation awarded 53 grants totaling over $14 million. Here, we highlight just some of the organizations we’re proud to support this quarter as we kick off our 2024 grantmaking.

Beyond the Numbers: Stories of Impact from Our Grantees

Each day, our grantee partners touch the lives of countless educators, students, and families across the country. Here, we’re thrilled to share four stories that illustrate how our grantee partners create meaningful change in the communities they serve.

Students work on computers with teacher support

When It Comes To Purchasing EdTech Solutions, Evidence-Based Decision-Making Is More Important Than Ever

In today’s K-12 education market, there is strong demand for technology-fueled solutions to close achievement gaps, but little to no guidance for educators on making decisions based on evidence of impact. Melanie Dukes and Lina Eroh outline the critical role philanthropy can play in strengthening evidence-based decision-making for edtech solutions, ultimately leading to better student outcomes.

Teacher stands in classroom with students raising their hands

Q2 2023 Research Update

Overdeck Family Foundation is committed to promoting transparent research practices by lifting up timely findings. Here we share the results of three grantee research studies that concluded in or prior to the second quarter of this year.

Q1 2023 Funding Announcement

In Q1 2023, our foundation awarded 31 grants totaling over $15.4 million. Of these, 10 grants were new, 15 were renewals, and six were disbursements for ongoing pledges. This post highlights just some of the many organizations we’re proud to support this quarter as we begin our 2023 grantmaking.

girl in yellow shirt raises her hand

2022 Bright Spots: Unlocking Innovation

In this blog post, we highlight stories of how Overdeck Family Foundation funding has helped CommonLit, Khan Academy, and LENA unlock innovation—developing and launching new approaches, interventions, or models that address unmet needs.