STEM Funders Network

Calling all staff and administrators at #HBCUs, #TCUs, and other minority-serving institutions: join VentureWell for their webinar “Win the Bid - THE DOE Contract Landscape,” tomorrow, September 18 at 3:00pm ET / 2:00pm CT! This free webinar will cover the essentials of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contract bidding process, from understanding DOE’s procurement requirements to crafting competitive proposals. “Win the Bid - THE DOE Contract Landscape” is the fourth and final installment of VentureWell’s “Funding Futures Webinar Series,” designed to give America’s top research institutions and higher education leaders at MSIs the tools they need to enter the world of federal contracting. VentureWell’s interactive learning sessions provide minority-serving institutions the opportunity to learn more about key aspects of federal procurement, capability statement development, DOE contract forecasting, and compliance requirements – while incorporating tips for navigating federal government systems. By collaborating with key federal agencies, MSIs have the opportunity to develop new revenue streams for their institutions and elevate their engagement within STEM ecosystems. Secure your spot in tomorrow’s webinar today: https://lnkd.in/eHTNm6b3 #MSIs #HigherEducation #AANHPI #Black

New milestone announcement... 50 MILLION people worldwide have visited LabXchange!🌟 Everyone needs science. Science needs everyone. All of us at Amgen and the Amgen Foundation take great pride in supporting the amazing team at Harvard University making science accessible to all. And this milestone was only possible through the partnership 🙌 of many organizations, scientists, educators, and others who share this vision. Brings to mind that wonderful proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/exM-DFQc https://lnkd.in/eAnZ9AXK

This past week, I had the privilege of traveling to Dearborn, Michigan, to represent the US National Innovator Challenge and meet with colleagues from Invention Convention Worldwide, Eastern Michigan University, Lemelson-MIT Program, Society for Science, and more - all brought together by our shared commitment to the Invention Education Ecosystem. This opportunity, funded by The Lemelson Foundation, focused on discussing the InventEd Ecosystem and how we as competition and challenge organizers can better serve students through collaboration. It’s clear that no single organization can meet the needs of every child, and that’s why working together is so important. We have unique perspectives on how to engage with kids, offering different approaches to education and innovation. Each group brings to the table its own unique approach, through a combination of hands-on learning, creative problem-solving, science experiments, research, and invention education. We all approach things differently. And that’s the beauty of it. By combining our efforts, we can reach more children, offering diverse pathways to learning that meet kids where they are and providing the support students need to succeed. It’s always inspiring to engage in dialogues with people like these amazing women - brainstorming ways to support one another, acknowledge differences, share ideas, and continue to build a thriving educational ecosystem that lifts all students. I’m excited to see where these collaborations lead and how we can continue working together to cultivate the next generation of thinkers and innovators. How has collaboration shaped the way you approach education or innovation? What would you like to see in the STEM competitions and challenges going forward? Let’s continue this conversation! #Collaboration #InventionEd #STEM #EducationForAll #NationalInnovatorChallenge

In the years since the pandemic, one in four—or even more—students have been considered chronically absent, meaning they missed 10 percent or more of the school year. The problem isn’t new, but it’s getting worse, with chronic absences more than doubling in some cases since pre-pandemic years. What type of messaging helps parents understand the importance of in-person learning and commit to sending their children to school every day, or nearly every day? Our grantee Ad Council set out to answer just that. With insight from Attendance Works, the team conducted a mixed-methods research study to understand the messaging and narratives that would effectively communicate to parents why consistent in-person attendance is critical to children’s development, and encourage them to attend. Read the full report and the accompanying toolkit to see how parents view education and school attendance, and how to best develop messaging that motivates them to send their children to school.

I'm excited to share the latest newsletter from The Same House, where we delve into the power of collaborative philanthropy. As we launch Tables Across America, it's been inspiring to see communities, both rural and urban, come together across the country. Join us as we explore how working together—across sectors—can lead to lasting change and stronger, more resilient communities. Let's continue to lead the way in solving the challenges our communities face. #CommunityLeadership #CollaborativePhilanthropy #TablesAcrossAmerica #TheSameHouse

I was honored to write this piece for The Atlantic on the life and leadership of Julius Rosenwald, our first social justice philanthropist and someone who believed, like me, that inclusive capitalism strengthens our communities by mitigating inequality. Rosenwald spent his life embracing the hard work of hope. His legacy teaches us that our shared identity—our shared American values, our obligations to one another—matters most. I consider him the most important philanthropist of our time. More: https://lnkd.in/eGgW6wNH