VELA Education Fund

WHO WE ARE

VELA Education Fund is an independent, national nonprofit that invests in nontraditional education models and the communities they serve. VELA supports everyday entrepreneurs who are reimagining education with custom solutions that meet the needs of students and families. VELA is connecting a growing national community of nontraditional educators and providing them with a platform to elevate their work and learning. At VELA, we believe that learning happens anywhere and everywhere, both inside and outside of traditional classrooms. We envision a world where every family and young person has agency over their education and access to rich, meaningful learning opportunities that create pathways to a life of purpose.

In its first Fund launched in 2020, VELA awarded over 400 microgrants to programs supporting nearly 300,000 people in 43 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. VELA is committed to investing an additional $15M over the next 18 months to support everyday entrepreneurs to unlock their creative potential, shine a light on compelling innovations, and expose as many people as possible to nontraditional education. By early 2022, we aim to engage 1 million learners and families in nontraditional learning experiences and reach over 5 million Americans with accessible examples that demonstrate what learning anywhere and everywhere looks like. Does this mission speak to you? We are looking to grow our team!