FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Funding Available for Education Innovators 

October 29, 2024 – NewSchools announces $10M in funding for visionary educators and innovators to transform public education. With a focus on reimagining what’s possible, NewSchools is committed to supporting leaders dedicated to creating new opportunities for students to thrive.

Applications for this opportunity are open October 29, 2024, and close on January 8, 2025. This is a chance for innovative educators and organizations to bring their bold ideas to life with financial and technical support from NewSchools.

NewSchools supports visionary leaders with innovative solutions in four key areas:

• Innovative Schools: New innovative, public schools that support students to develop a strong academic foundation and skills needed for success in life
• Learning Solutions: K-8 reading and math solutions that build foundational skills and personalize learning to support student success
• Teaching Reimagined: Solutions that evolve how educators work, engage caregivers and community experts, and leverage genAI to make the role more sustainable and effective
• Learning Differences: Enhance teaching and learning for students with diagnosed and undiagnosed learning disabilities within and beyond our three main focus areas.

Selected recipients will receive direct financial support in the form a one-year, unrestricted grant ranging from $150,000 to $250,000, personalized coaching and access to national experts, and connections with peer organizations across the country. 

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit their applications by January 8, 2025 at newschools.org. Submit an eligibility form by December 10, 2024 for full application support.

Selected recipients will receive direct financial support in the form a one-year, unrestricted grant ranging from $150,000 to $250,000, personalized coaching and access to national experts, and connections with peer organizations across the country. 

Innovators are leading efforts to improve schools, teaching, and learning.

Oakland, CA — [October 15, 2024] — NewSchools Venture Fund today announced $13.4 million in funding for 54 ventures tackling some of the most pressing challenges in public education, from building innovative schools to rethinking how teachers work. This investment is part of NewSchools’ three-year strategy to create an education system that not only delivers for students today but also prepares them to lead and tackle the challenges of tomorrow. 

“By supporting these visionary teams, we’re not just investing in schools — we’re investing in the future leaders and problem solvers our society needs,” said Frances Messano, CEO of NewSchools. “We couldn’t be more excited about the potential impact these ventures will have on students and communities across the country.”

The overwhelming response to NewSchools’ funding opportunities this year — drawing over 1,100 applications — demonstrates the sustained energy from entrepreneurs and educators to reimagine education. After a thorough review of applications, 54 of the most promising teams were selected to receive flexible funding and expert support for a year, with grants ranging from $150,000 to $250,000. 

Of the venture leaders funded, 58% are people of color, 63% are women, and 85% are former educators. These ventures will operate across 29 states, with 16 organizations working nationally. The diversity among these leaders reflects NewSchools’ commitment to invest in innovators whose backgrounds and perspectives are essential for addressing the needs of all students, particularly those furthest from opportunity. NewSchools engaged advisory boards — researchers, educators, and parents — to make its funding decisions, ensuring that these investments align with the real needs of students and schools.

Funding and support from NewSchools will help leaders realize their bold visions for strong, sustainable schools and organizations that improve outcomes for all learners, including students of color, students with learning differences, and those experiencing poverty. 

The cohort includes teams creating new schools that provide students with a strong academic foundation, along with essential habits, mindsets, and skills needed for success in life. Founders are designing schools that blend career and technical education, dual enrollment, and industry internships to give students more pathways to future careers. Many use project-based learning and competency-based education to help students build important skills, think critically, and solve real-world problems, preparing them for success beyond high school. 

Other teams are developing solutions to help K-8 students accelerate their growth in literacy and math during these critical years for building foundational skills. These innovations include tools, content, and models that personalize learning and leverage research and technologies to create student-centered classrooms that support every learner’s progress. 

Additionally, ventures are reimagining the educator workforce by evolving how teachers work, using AI to make research-based instructional practices more accessible, and involving caregivers and community partners to support schools. These initiatives will make teaching a more sustainable, effective, and fulfilling profession that attracts diverse educators.

NewSchools also funded organizations dedicated to improving outcomes for students with learning differences. These teams are addressing key opportunity areas, including professional development for educators, postsecondary resources for students with disabilities, and strategies to recruit and retain special education teachers. 

“Our investment in these 54 ventures is an investment in the power of innovation and entrepreneurship to shape the future of education,” Messano added. “We believe these solutions will drive meaningful, lasting change in classrooms and communities.”

The next funding opportunity opens on October 29. To receive an alert, join our mailing list.

NewSchools Venture Fund Welcomes New Chief Executive Officer 

(Oakland, CA, January 11, 2023) – NewSchools Venture Fund introduced Frances Messano as its new Chief Executive Officer today. In 2022, Messano was appointed as successor to outgoing CEO, Stacey Childress, who stepped down after an accomplished eight year tenure. Messano brings two decades of education and business leadership experience. Her tenure begins effective January 1 after eight years in executive leadership at NewSchools, most recently as president, leading the organization’s investment strategy since 2021. As the first woman of color to lead the organization, Messano will shepherd NewSchools into its 25th year of supporting early-stage education entrepreneurs across the country and driving impact for students.

“The past few years have shown us how important it is for leaders to be responsive to the needs of the communities they serve. Under Frances Messano’s leadership, NewSchools has shown agility and awareness in grantmaking to support the future of learning. Her ability to survey what’s ahead and make shifts in our work demonstrates how astutely Frances is guiding not just the organization, but the entire education philanthropy sector and why our board is confident that she will continue to catalyze change,” shared Paula Sneed, Chair of the NewSchools Board of Directors and CEO of Phelps Prescott Group, LLC.  

In this new role, Messano will build on the momentum she has created in 2022 while serving as president, which includes raising and investing more than $45M in 141 ventures, 76% of which are led by people of color. The Diverse Leaders strategy and portfolio was spearheaded by Messano in 2015 and was pivotal in transforming the NewSchools investment strategy and increasing the number of people of color who receive capital – a group traditionally overlooked in the philanthropic sector. She went on to lead the Innovative Schools portfolio in 2018, advancing NewSchools’ focus on an expanded definition of student success. The organization will close out a three year investing cycle and introduce its next strategy at the end of 2023.  

Frances Messano has been at NewSchools since 2015 and previously led organizational strategy development at institutions such as Teach For America and Monitor Deloitte. Messano has an MBA from Harvard Business School and AB from Harvard College. Her community involvement reflects her commitment to equity and education. She serves on the board of Unidos US, Stand for Children, Pahara Institute, and Latinos for Education. She is also on the Tipping Point leadership council and a Pahara-Aspen education fellow. Messano is a first-generation college graduate and an alum of Prep for Prep, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, and Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, non-profit organizations that she credits with helping her gain access to educational opportunity. 

“Every young person in the country deserves an excellent and equitable education. At NewSchools, we are rethinking our investment strategies and priorities, as well as how funding decisions get made, in order to make this vision a reality. We are expanding access to who gets to be an education entrepreneur and whose ideas get listened to, while recruiting more philanthropies to join us. I want to assemble the most diverse and dedicated group of innovators, community leaders, and philanthropists to reimagine public education for good,” said Frances Messano, CEO of NewSchools Venture Fund. 

In the years ahead, NewSchools Venture Fund will convene and collaborate with philanthropies that are ready and willing to broaden and shift their funding strategies and methods to be more inclusive and adaptive to the current education climate. Identifying, financially supporting, and coaching a diverse group of innovative education leaders will remain at the forefront of the organization’s approach to ensuring every student is provided with the opportunity to attain an excellent education. 

About NewSchools Venture Fund

NewSchools Venture Fund is a nonprofit venture philanthropy focused on advancing excellence, innovation, and equity in PreK-12 education. We raise money to make early-stage investments in the most promising education leaders and ideas. We elevate diverse innovators and support them to deepen their impact, and build bodies of evidence about what works in education. Through our investing, management assistance, network building and thought leadership, NewSchools helps to reimagine PreK-12 education.

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(Oakland, CA, January 12, 2019) – How can ed tech tools help students acquire a strong academic foundation and other mindsets, skills and habits they need for success? NewSchools is looking to find out. The organization’s latest ed tech challenge targets entrepreneurs who want to improve academics by focusing on social-emotional learning, school culture and climate, and creating a nurturing learning environment. The Expanded Definition of Student Success Challenge is open for applications from February 12 – March 12.

“Social-Emotional Learning is an area ripe for innovation,” said Tonika Cheek Clayton, managing partner at NewSchools Venture Fund. “There are so many factors that impact a student’s overall success. Teachers are telling us they want technology-enabled solutions that tightly integrate core academic content and build better outcomes for students, looking at a range of academic and non-academic supports.”

A total of $1.5 million is available for entrepreneurs who are focusing on one or more of the following areas of critical student need: 

• Promoting school readiness and skills that enable successful school transitions;
• Integrating social-emotional development into core academic learning;
• Enabling new ways to measure and analyze an expanded set of student outcomes; and
• Building teachers’, parents’, and communities’ capacity to support an expanded definition of student success.

Each NewSchools Ed Tech Challenge begins with market research to determine current market gaps. Educators, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs are interviewed to help determine the greatest area of need. For the Expanded Definition of Student Success Challenge, conversations with educators and researchers began to uncover several ways that technology might enhance efforts to increase equity and improve academic outcomes by supporting the development of social-emotional competencies as well as improvements in school culture and climate.

Past challenges include: Science, Middle and High School Math, English Language Learners, Special Education, Early Learning, Future of Work, and Special Education.

In addition to grant funding, winners of NewSchools’ ed tech challenge will receive management assistance and participate in a virtual accelerator, NewSchools Ignite. The organization also provides challenge winners with targeted support and feedback from researchers, educators, investors and other experts. The challenge closes on March 12, and winners will be selected in May.

About NewSchools Venture Fund

NewSchools Venture Fund is a national nonprofit that supports and invests in promising entrepreneurs and teams of educators who want to reimagine learning. We help them accomplish their missions to achieve outstanding results for the schools, students, and educators they serve. We are committed to helping students graduate high school prepared and inspired to achieve their most ambitious dreams and plans. Through our investments, management assistance, network building, and thought leadership, NewSchools helps to reimagine PreK-12 education. To learn more, visit newschools.org, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

(Oakland, CA, August 1, 2018) — NewSchools Venture Fund is excited to announce funding opportunities are now open for two investment areas: Innovative Schools and Diverse Leaders. For teams of educators and entrepreneurs who are either dreaming of opening a new innovative school or interested in growing, advancing and supporting Black and Latino leadership in education, this opportunity could provide the funding to launch a new venture. Up to $8 million in total funding is now available.

NewSchools supports innovators who are tackling the challenge of making sure every young person in America finishes high school prepared and inspired to create and live the life they want – a good life, full of opportunity, choices, connection and meaning. To reach this aspiration, students need a strong academic foundation and other important mindsets, habits and skills. NewSchools supports diverse teams of educators and entrepreneurs who are reimagining education so more students have learning opportunities designed for this purpose.

“This is a great opportunity for innovators with the vision and skills to reimagine learning. In addition to funding support, NewSchools provides management assistance to help entrepreneurs take their ideas from concepts to reality,” said Frances Messano, Senior Managing Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund. “Our team is looking for bold ideas from new voices because too often, education philanthropy goes to those who are already connected to funders or successful founders. We want to cast a broader net.”

While both the Innovative Schools and Diverse Leaders investment areas will launch new funding opportunities on August 1, the opportunities will close at different times. Diverse Leaders will close on Sept. 7, 2018 and Innovative Schools will close Nov. 26, 2018. In addition to funding, the selected ventures also receive management assistance and opportunities to collaborate within a cohort of other organizations selected for this round of funding.

For more information about these two funding opportunities, please visit the NewSchools website and see below.

Innovative Schools – NewSchools invests in innovative schools all over the country, within districts and charter networks, that embrace an expanded definition of student success, which we define as strong academics combined with important mindsets, habits and skills. These innovative schools are using new approaches to ensure students’ learning experiences are more personalized – tailored to their individual needs, skill levels and interests.

Regardless of what future a young person might plan to pursue, he or she needs a strong academic foundation. But it’s not enough. The schools we invest in also help students build mindsets, habits and skills like curiosity, growth mindset, perseverance, self-awareness, self-efficacy, self-regulation and social awareness/ social competence, which emerging research shows are correlated with long-term success.

Our investments in the Innovative Schools strategy include new schools through our Invent program and redesigned schools. However, this particular funding opportunity will focus only on new schools planning to launch in Fall 2020. Using a rigorous due diligence process, we will select the most promising teams of educators and support them through the critical planning and early implementation phases. Funding of $200,000 includes participation in a cohort experience to help teams refine their designs and prepare for launch in one year. Submissions are due Nov. 26, 2018, and ventures will be selected in March 2019.

Diverse Leaders – Investing in leadership has always been an important factor in reimagining education, and it has long been a part of the NewSchools strategy. A current talent challenge is diversifying the leadership ranks of education organizations.

Today’s young people are the most diverse generation in our nation’s history. In fact, 40 percent of PreK-12 students are Black or Latino and more than half identify as a person of color. If we are going to reimagine learning so it works better for every student, we need the best ideas from everyone.  Supporting diverse leadership is a priority in our Innovative Schools and Ed Tech investment areas. We also have a dedicated investment area, Diverse Leaders, to invest in organizations that are:

• Recruiting new Black and Latino leaders into education
• Accelerating the careers of Black and Latino leaders already working in education
• Creating networks of Black and Latino leaders
• Building the capacity of education organizations to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive
• Influencing the field to be more diverse, equitable and inclusive in areas such as research, design, policy, and/or advocacy

Our aim is to see Black and Latino leaders represent at least 40 percent of PreK-12 education leadership, mirroring the racial and ethnic representation of U.S. students. This funding opportunity is open to entrepreneurs with ambitious ideas focused on growing, advancing and supporting Black and Latino leadership in education. Funding is in the range of $100,000-$200,000, and submissions are due by Sept. 7, 2018. Ventures will be selected in December 2018.

About NewSchools Venture Fund

NewSchools Venture Fund is a nonprofit venture philanthropy that invests in promising teams of educators and entrepreneurs with the vision and skills to reimagine learning. We help them accomplish their missions to achieve outstanding results for the students, educators and schools they serve. We are committed to helping students finish high school prepared and inspired to achieve their most ambitious dreams and plans. Through our investing, management assistance, network building and thought leadership, NewSchools helps to reimagine PreK-12 education.

NewSchools supports innovators who are tackling the challenge of making sure every young person in America finishes high school prepared and inspired to create and live the life they want – a good life, full of opportunity, choices, connection and meaning. To reach this aspiration, students need a strong academic foundation and other important mindsets, habits and skills. NewSchools supports diverse teams of educators and entrepreneurs who are reimagining education so more students have learning opportunities designed for this purpose.

“This is a great opportunity for innovators with the vision and skills to reimagine learning. In addition to funding support, NewSchools provides management assistance to help entrepreneurs take their ideas from concepts to reality,” said Frances Messano, Senior Managing Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund. “Our team is looking for bold ideas from new voices because too often, education philanthropy goes to those who are already connected to funders or successful founders. We want to cast a broader net.”

While both the Innovative Schools and Diverse Leaders investment areas will launch new funding opportunities on August 1, the opportunities will close at different times. Diverse Leaders will close on Sept. 7, 2018 and Innovative Schools will close Nov. 26, 2018. In addition to funding, the selected ventures also receive management assistance and opportunities to collaborate within a cohort of other organizations selected for this round of funding.

For more information about these two funding opportunities, please visit the NewSchools website and see below.

Innovative Schools – NewSchools invests in innovative schools all over the country, within districts and charter networks, that embrace an expanded definition of student success, which we define as strong academics combined with important mindsets, habits and skills. These innovative schools are using new approaches to ensure students’ learning experiences are more personalized – tailored to their individual needs, skill levels and interests.

Regardless of what future a young person might plan to pursue, he or she needs a strong academic foundation. But it’s not enough. The schools we invest in also help students build mindsets, habits and skills like curiosity, growth mindset, perseverance, self-awareness, self-efficacy, self-regulation and social awareness/ social competence, which emerging research shows are correlated with long-term success.

Our investments in the Innovative Schools strategy include new schools through our Invent program and redesigned schools. However, this particular funding opportunity will focus only on new schools planning to launch in Fall 2020. Using a rigorous due diligence process, we will select the most promising teams of educators and support them through the critical planning and early implementation phases. Funding of $200,000 includes participation in a cohort experience to help teams refine their designs and prepare for launch in one year. Submissions are due Nov. 26, 2018, and ventures will be selected in March 2019.

Diverse Leaders – Investing in leadership has always been an important factor in reimagining education, and it has long been a part of the NewSchools strategy. A current talent challenge is diversifying the leadership ranks of education organizations.

Today’s young people are the most diverse generation in our nation’s history. In fact, 40 percent of PreK-12 students are Black or Latino and more than half identify as a person of color. If we are going to reimagine learning so it works better for every student, we need the best ideas from everyone.  Supporting diverse leadership is a priority in our Innovative Schools and Ed Tech investment areas. We also have a dedicated investment area, Diverse Leaders, to invest in organizations that are:

• Recruiting new Black and Latino leaders into education
• Accelerating the careers of Black and Latino leaders already working in education
• Creating networks of Black and Latino leaders
• Building the capacity of education organizations to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive
• Influencing the field to be more diverse, equitable and inclusive in areas such as research, design, policy, and/or advocacy

Our aim is to see Black and Latino leaders represent at least 40 percent of PreK-12 education leadership, mirroring the racial and ethnic representation of U.S. students. This funding opportunity is open to entrepreneurs with ambitious ideas focused on growing, advancing and supporting Black and Latino leadership in education. Funding is in the range of $100,000-$200,000, and submissions are due by Sept. 7, 2018. Ventures will be selected in December 2018.

About NewSchools Venture Fund

NewSchools Venture Fund is a nonprofit venture philanthropy that invests in promising teams of educators and entrepreneurs with the vision and skills to reimagine learning. We help them accomplish their missions to achieve outstanding results for the students, educators and schools they serve. We are committed to helping students finish high school prepared and inspired to achieve their most ambitious dreams and plans. Through our investing, management assistance, network building and thought leadership, NewSchools helps to reimagine PreK-12 education.

(Oakland, CA, February 22, 2018) – This week we’re excited to announce the opening of NewSchools’ latest ed tech funding opportunity, the NewSchools Ignite: Future of Work Challenge. This opportunity is open to entrepreneurs developing technology-enabled learning experiences, instructional content, learning diagnostics, administrative tools and other products that help middle and high school students develop skills and knowledge to help them succeed in the jobs of tomorrow. Applications are open through March 18.

This challenge, the sixth in the NewSchools Ignite series, was informed by conversations with students, educators and researchers from across the country about students’ experience transitioning from high school to college and careers. Based on this market research, we believe there is an urgent opportunity to strengthen the connection between school and work so all students can cultivate knowledge and skills that will unlock the jobs of tomorrow. The most promising innovations will support emerging efforts in schools and districts to empower students by:

• Weaving exploration of college and career pathways into core academic experiences;
• Enabling experiential learning that authentically connects school and work;
• Increasing access to college and career guidance, mentorship and counseling resources; and
• Creating new opportunities to earn and utilize credits, badges and other signals of competence and achievement.

As with past Ignite challenges, the NewSchools Ignite Future of Work Challenge is open to for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations in both early and growth stages and will award a total of $1.5 million in funding to up to 15 ventures developing digital tools with the potential to strengthen the connection between school and work. Challenge winners will receive individual investments ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, management assistance and access to research expertise as part of the ed tech accelerator’s unique virtual program, with no equity asked in return.

In partnership with education research nonprofit WestEd, Future of Work Challenge ventures will have highly customized ongoing support and guidance through product development and growth. Access to valuable small-scale research studies, feedback from special education experts, and field testing opportunities and evaluations are all part of the virtual accelerator program.

Contact:

Debbie Veney

dveney@newschools.org | 415-375-8262

Elly Stolnitz

estolnitz@newschools.org | 415-371-6034

(Oakland, CA, July 25, 2017) – NewSchools Venture Fund today released “Unrealized Impact,” a groundbreaking study on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the education sector. This study is based on input from more than 200 education organizations and nearly 5,000 individuals, and was authored by Xiomara Padamsee, CEO of Promise54, and Becky Crowe, Senior Adviser, Bellwether Education Partners.

Among the key findings in the report, DEI practices have a positive impact on staff recruitment, retention and overall favorability. Among Advanced DEI Organizations[1], 88 percent of staff promote[2] the organization, and 61 percent of staff – regardless of race – reported that they intend to stay in their organizations for the next three years. Less than half of respondent organizations have formal DEI policies within their own organizations, yet every organization that participated is focused on DEI to some extent. Twenty-four percent of all staff respondents report experiencing discrimination in the workplace, and staff of color were 50 percent more likely to report such an experience.

The percentage of Black and Latino leaders in American education, when compared to Black and Latino PreK-12 students, remains unbalanced. This is especially troubling given changing student demographics. In our sample, Whites represent 24 percent of students, 49 percent of staff at education organizations, 64 percent of leadership, and 74 percent of CEOs. Blacks and Latinos represent 61 percent of students, 41 percent of staff at education organizations, 24 percent of leadership and 17 percent of CEOs.

“As American students have become a more racially diverse population over the past decade, there is a stark difference between those who are doing the work and the racial demographics of the communities we serve,” said Frances Messano, managing partner, NewSchools Venture Fund. “Education leaders are increasingly committed to doing better on diversity, equity and inclusion, but this study shows many organizations aren’t sure where to even begin. The promising practices outlined in this report will give leaders a place to start.”

NewSchools joined four other K-12 education funders – Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Raikes Foundation, and Walton Family Foundation – in underwriting the report, which is intended to deepen understanding of the current state of DEI in education, identify promising practices and help to fuel action.

“The study’s sponsors and authors came to this work with a perspective: that diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations are stronger and therefore better able to reach their goals” said Padamsee. “We believe they are more equipped to support and retain adult staff so that they can thrive professionally and create more durable and authentic relationships with parents and community members, and ultimately, educate children more effectively,” she added.

“This study clearly showed that education organizations need to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at the same time,” said Crowe. “Although the terms may seem similar or even interchangeable, each is distinct and important. Organizations often start with a focus on diversity and think that’s enough.  Diversity, without a focus on inclusion (belonging), and equity (fairness), leaves impact on the table.”

Messano shared that “this study was designed to determine how close or far we are as a sector to achieving these outcomes, and to surface gaps and promising practices in the sector. We hope this research empowers others to take meaningful action, hold one another accountable, and collectively advance progress toward DEI.”

In addition to providing demographic information, the study includes self-reported experiences from nearly 5,000 education staff members. Survey participants are all anonymous, and findings are not disaggregated by organization. The response rate for the study was approximately 10 percent. Leaders of more than 2,000 organizations were invited participate, using multiple channels. Researchers received responses from 213 organizations.

Other key findings:

• Staff of all races are three times more likely to recommend organizations that are diverse, equitable and inclusive to a friend.
• When asked to select among seven options for motivation to pursue DEI work, there was no option that emerged as most popular across all types of organizations.
• When an organization selected at least three motivations of any kind, it was correlated with deeper implementation of DEI practices, such as having a formal DEI policy, and integrating DEI into their operational strategy.

The full report is available at www.unrealizedimpact.org.

About NewSchools

NewSchools Venture Fund is a national nonprofit that supports and invests in promising entrepreneurs and teams of educators who want to reimagine learning. We help them accomplish their missions to achieve outstanding results for the schools, students, and educators they serve. We are committed to helping students graduate high school prepared and inspired to achieve their most ambitious dreams and plans. Through our investments, management assistance, network building, and thought leadership, NewSchools helps to reimagine PreK-12 education.

About Promise54

Promise54 works with education organizations to cultivate and maintain healthy, equitable, and inclusive workplaces where a diverse set of staff can thrive, achieving transformational results for students.  To do so, we support organizations to diversify their staff, increase staff performance, improve staff sense of belonging and fairness, and strengthen retention. We catalyze a community of leaders committed to disrupting inequity across the field and equip them with data and insights to drive decisions and investments.

About Bellwether

Bellwether Education Partners is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit of more than 50 professionals dedicated to helping education organizations become more effective in their work and achieve dramatic results, especially for the most underserved students. To do so, we work in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and provide a unique combination of exceptional thinking, talent, and hands-on strategic support.

[1] Advanced DEI Organization are those in this sample with more than 30 percent racial diversity on the leadership team, and staff ratings on “inclusion” in the top-third of the sample.

[2] The researchers created a special “promoter” index to measure staff members’ sense of affiliation with and willingness to advocate for their organization, comprising a high score on intent to stay and/or willingness to recommend the organization to a friend.

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