# Policy Patrons: Philanthropy, Education Reform, and the Politics of Influence

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/books/policy-patrons-philanthropy-education-reform-politics-influence-educational-innovations-series/
- Published: 2017-03-09T21:48:41+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

_Policy Patrons_ offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of decision making inside 
four influential education philanthropies: the Ford Foundation, the W. K. Kellogg
Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.
The outcome is an intriguing, thought-provoking look at the impact of current philanthropic
efforts on education. 

Over a period of several years, Megan E. Tompkins-Stange gained the trust of key
players and outside observers of these four organizations. Through a series of confidential
interviews, she began to explore the values, ideas, and beliefs that inform these
foundations’ strategies and practices. The picture that emerges reveals important
differences in the strategies and values of the more established foundations vis-
à-vis the newer, more activist foundations—differences that have a significant impact
on education policy and practice, and have important implications for democratic
decision making.

In recent years, the philanthropic sector has played an increasing role in championing
and financing education reform. _Policy Patrons_ makes an original and invaluable
contribution to contemporary discussions about the appropriate role of foundations
in public policy and the future direction of education reform.

Policy Patrons is published in the Educational Innovations Series.

**Megan E. Tompkins-Stange** is an assistant professor at the Gerald R. Ford School
of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.