Grants Promote Educational Equity in the United States

CAFE Group: 1954 Project Luminary Awards

Application deadline: February 23, 2025, for eligibility forms
Grant amount: $1 million
Description: Through the 1954 Project initiative, CAFE Group awards $1 million unrestricted grants to leaders and their organizations advancing educational equity for Black students and communities in the United States. The program is designed for leaders with a proven track record of success in education that are ready to scale their impact through solutions in the following areas: innovation in teaching and learning, with a focus on effective, equitable, and culturally affirming education models that center on Black students and ultimately serve all students; diversity in education, with a focus on increasing the number of Black educators and leaders; and pathways to economic mobility, with a focus on strengthening pathways from education to career to increase Black students' and families' economic mobility. In addition to the grants, selected leaders, known as Luminaries, receive leadership development support and membership in a network driving systemic change. ​Applicants should demonstrate proximity, lived expertise, and a deep commitment to advancing equity for Black students and communities most impacted by systemic inequities in education.