Funders Focus Webinar| Education Above All’s catalytic funding for education
Webinar | 21 May 2026 3pm CETFunders Focus Webinar
Education Above All’s catalytic funding for education
What does it really take to move from funding projects… to funding change at scale?
In this Funders Focus session, we go behind the scenes of one of the largest education-focused funders in the world. Together with James Shaw-Hamilton, CEO of Educate A Child International (EACI), strategic partner of Qatar-based funder Education Above All (EAA). We’ll zoom into their funding approaches and what that means for NGOs looking to grow, partner, and deliver impact at scale.
EAA has already supported more than 15 million out-of-school children into education. That doesn’t happen through traditional grantmaking alone. It requires a different mindset. Different partnerships. Different funding structures.
This session is about understanding that logic — and how to position yourself within it.
What you’ll learn
- How catalytic funding works in practice — and how it differs from traditional philanthropy
- How EAA sets and funds ambitious, system-level goals
- What co-financing really means (and what funders expect from partners)
- Where NGOs fit into large-scale funding models like this
- What to expect from EAA’s upcoming strategic direction
We will also explore the relationship between Educate A Child International and Education Above All, and what it tells us about how global funding platforms operate today.
Why join?
Most NGOs are still fundraising in a reactive way. Responding to calls. Chasing grants.
But funders like EAA don’t operate like that.
They look for partners who can co-create impact at scale, align with long-term strategies, and bring something meaningful to the table.
If you want to understand how to engage with funders at that level — this session will give you a clear starting point.
Format
- 30–40 minute moderated conversation
- Live Q&A with participants
- Practical insights you can apply immediately
Speaker
James Shaw-Hamilton
CEO, Educate A Child International
With over 20 years of experience across international development and education, James brings a rare combination of strategic and operational insight into what it takes to unlock education at scale.
Join us
📅 21 May 2026
🕒 15:00 CET
📍 Online (Zoom)
👉 Register now and learn how large-scale funders actually think — and how to position yourself accordingly.
Kenneth
Host of this “Funders Focus” webinar is Kenneth van Toll. As Senior Consultant, Kenneth works with many different organizations to help them build partnerships with donors.
This webinar is part of our “Funders Focus” program. This webinar series focusses on specific funders. How do they prioritize and what is important to them to reach their goals? These and more questions are discussed during these free events.
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