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, we unpack how Education Above All (EAA) approaches funding differently — 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.