Through the generosity of our partners, DFI empowers future teachers, teacher-educators, and leaders to strengthen educator preparation and help all students thrive.
Your support helps us advance our mission of ensuring all students to be taught by well-prepared teachers.
National Philanthropy
National philanthropic organizations invest in our work to convene teacher-preparation programs across the country in instructional improvement efforts, building communities of learning that deepen understanding and collaboration for ensuring new teachers are equipped to serve students across all backgrounds and contexts.
Spotlights:
State, Regional, & Local Philanthropy
We receive support from state, regional, and local philanthropy, including family foundations, community foundations, and corporate giving programs, to hone in on locally-responsive efforts to strengthen new teachers' readiness and efficacy for the classroom.
Spotlights:
Impactful Investments
Since 2015, our work with educators, leaders, and policymakers has equipped more than 110,000 teachers across the country with the tools to support the success of over 4.6 million PK-12 students.
Our Vision for a Well-Prepared Teacher
We believe that students deserve teachers who honor and nurture their limitless potential, brilliance, and full humanity. Learn more about what we’re working towards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DFI do?
Deans for Impact (DFI) is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that every child is taught by a well-prepared teacher. We support educator-preparation programs to bring the science of learning into teaching practice; partner with policymakers to ensure pathways into teaching are accessible, practice-based, and instructionally-focused, and equip leaders with the tools to address today’s most pressing challenges in educator preparation.
Guided by principles of learning science, DFI aims to help aspiring and early-career teachers create rigorous and affirming classrooms where all children thrive.
How is DFI funded?
DFI is funded through a combination of grants from mission-aligned funders and earned revenue from technical assistance and consulting services. These investments allow us to support educator-preparation programs and partnering PK-12 schools in implementing evidence-based instructional practices; develop leaders who champion instructional quality and transformative change; and engage with policymakers and advocates to strengthen pathways into teaching.
In what ways can I partner or work with DFI?
At DFI, we collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders including teacher-educators, educator-preparation program leaders, PK-12 schools, policymakers, and other education stakeholders. As a funder, you can partner with us in several ways:
- Strengthen instructional practice by supporting our work with educator-preparation programs and PK-12 partners to implement evidence-based approaches in reading, mathematics, and the use of high-quality instructional materials.
- Sponsor program participation in our instructional services, such as tailored coaching, data diagnostic assessments, and full-day professional learning workshops.
- Advance policy change by funding research, communications, and advocacy that promote accessible, practice-based, instructionally-focused, and innovative and responsive pathways into teaching.
- Support leadership development by contributing to scholarships that help leaders join Impact Academy, our year-long fellowship that builds the capacity of change-focused educator-preparation leaders.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, donations to DFI are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. DFI is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. You can find us listed in the IRS database using our Employee Identification Number (EIN): 47-3046905.
Where can I find DFI’s 990 form?
Our IRS Form 990 is available on:
What is DFI’s Employee Identification Number (EIN)?
Our EIN is 47-3046905.
Why do partners count on DFI?
Our partners count on DFI because of our track record of excellence in bringing evidence-based instructional practice to teaching and learning. Our team includes expert practitioners who are among the leaders in their fields. Many of our partners engage with us in multiple ways, across instructional redesign, leadership development, and policy and advocacy, because they experience lasting improvements in teacher preparation and student learning.
Learn more about our impact, and check out our recent year-in-review reports:
I have a question about my employers’ matching gift, a wire transfer donation, or stock gift options. Who can I contact about this - or other questions?
If you want to know whether your employer offers matching gifts, you can use this search tool: https://www.charitynavigator.org/donor-basics/giving-101/employee-match-programs/.
We'd be happy to help. If you have technical questions about how to give, please reach out to Tripti Thapa, VP of Finance and Administration, at tthapa@deansforimpact.org. For other inquiries about our work, please contact Valerie Sakimura, Executive Director, at vsakimura@deansforimpact.org.
