VULTURE PHILANTHROPY: BILLIONAIRES BUYING DEMOCRACY FOR PROFIT
Ah, philanthropy. The act of giving away money to make the world a better place. Or is it? In the world of venture philanthropy, it seems that billionaires are buying democracy for profit. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good profit?
Venture philanthropy is like venture capitalism, but instead of investing in businesses, you invest in social or environmental causes. It's like Shark Tank, but instead of Mark Cuban yelling at you, you get Bill Gates nodding approvingly. And who wouldn't want that?
Some examples of venture philanthropy funding include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which invests in global health and education initiatives. They also provide grants, loans, equity, and guarantees to support innovative solutions and partnerships. New Profit is another venture philanthropy fund that supports social entrepreneurs who are addressing systemic challenges in areas such as education, workforce development, public health, and democracy. And then there's Acumen, which invests in social enterprises that serve low-income communities in developing countries.
But wait, there's more! Venture philanthropy can have negative consequences too. It can undermine democracy and public accountability by influencing social policy without proper scrutiny or participation from the public or affected communities. It can also perpetuate inequality and injustice by reinforcing the power and privilege of the wealthy elite over marginalized and oppressed groups. And it can fail to address the root causes of social problems by focusing on symptoms rather than systemic change.
So why do billionaires love venture philanthropy so much? Maybe it's because they hate public education. Some billionaires see public education as a source of waste, inefficiency, and failure that doesn't prepare students for the global economy. They believe that private or market-based alternatives, such as charter schools or online learning, can provide better outcomes and more choices for students and parents.
Or maybe they see public education as a source of taxation, regulation, and accountability that limits their freedom and wealth. They oppose paying taxes that support public schools and social programs that benefit the majority of the population. They also resist any oversight or scrutiny of their donations or influence on education policy.
Or perhaps they see public education as a source of diversity, democracy, and dissent that challenges their power and privilege. They fear that public schools may foster critical thinking, social justice, and civic engagement among students and teachers. They also favor a narrow curriculum and pedagogy that aligns with their interests and values.
And let's not forget about corporate education reform. This is a set of policy proposals that aim to change the way public education is organized, funded, and delivered. Some of the main features include increased test-based evaluation of students, teachers, and schools of education; elimination or weakening of tenure and seniority rights for teachers; closing low-performing schools and replacing them with publicly funded but privately run charter schools; replacing governance by local school boards with various forms of mayoral and state takeover or private management; vouchers and tax credit subsidies for private school tuition; increases in class size; and implementation of Common Core standards.
These proposals are supported by various foundations, think tanks, political groups, and corporations that have a stake in the education market. They claim that these reforms will improve student achievement, close the achievement gap, increase accountability, and foster innovation. However, critics argue that these reforms are driven by profit motives, ideological agendas, and standardized testing regimes that undermine public education and harm students, teachers, and communities.
So who are some of the billionaires behind corporate education reform? Bill and Melinda Gates are one example. They've spent billions on various education initiatives, such as breaking large high schools into small schools, promoting the Common Core standards, funding charter schools, and developing teacher evaluation systems based on test scores. Eli and Edythe Broad are another example. They've spent hundreds of millions on training school leaders, expanding charter schools, influencing state and federal policies, and sponsoring research and advocacy groups that advance their agenda. The Walton family is also involved in corporate education reform. They've spent hundreds of millions on promoting school choice, expanding charter schools, supporting voucher programs, influencing state and federal policies, and sponsoring research and advocacy groups that advance their agenda.
But let's not forget about Dick and Betsy DeVos. They've spent hundreds of millions on promoting school choice, expanding charter schools, supporting voucher programs, influencing state and federal policies, and sponsoring research and advocacy groups that advance their agenda. Betsy DeVos is also the current U.S. secretary of education under President Trump.
So what are some of the effects of their donations? They create a powerful lobby that influences legislators, policymakers, and regulators to adopt pro-market reforms that favor corporate interests over public interests. They undermine the democratic governance and oversight of public education by weakening or bypassing local school boards and empowering private operators and managers. They distort the evidence and knowledge base for education policy by producing, disseminating, and promoting research, data, and narratives that support their agenda. They alter the conditions and practices of teaching and learning by imposing narrow curricula and scripted pedagogy that are aligned to standardized tests. And they increase inequality and segregation in the education system by creating a dual system of winners and losers.
So what's the solution? Maybe we should start a venture philanthropy fund to buy back democracy from billionaires. Or maybe we should just tax them more. Either way, let's not let vulture philanthropy take over our democracy. After all, who wants to live in a world where Mark Zuckerberg decides what our kids learn in school?
THE DEFT DIVE
Venture philanthropy funding is a type of philanthropic investment that applies the principles and practices of venture capital to support social or environmental causes. Venture philanthropists typically provide financial and non-financial support to start-up, growth, or risk-taking social ventures that aim to create positive social impact. Venture philanthropists also seek to measure and improve the performance and sustainability of their investees¹².
Some examples of venture philanthropy funding are:
- - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which invests in various initiatives related to global health, education, and development. The foundation also provides grants, loans, equity, and guarantees to support innovative solutions and partnerships³.
- - New Profit, which is a venture philanthropy fund that supports social entrepreneurs who are addressing systemic challenges in areas such as education, workforce development, public health, and democracy. New Profit also provides strategic advice, network access, and policy advocacy to its portfolio organizations⁴.
- - Acumen, which is a venture philanthropy fund that invests in social enterprises that serve low-income communities in developing countries. Acumen also provides management assistance, leadership development, and impact measurement to its portfolio companies.
These are some examples of venture philanthropy funding. However, there may be more examples that are not yet known or recognized. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the potential and challenges of venture philanthropy funding for social change.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) What Is Venture Philanthropy? (Definition and Examples). https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/venture-philanthropy.
(2) Venture Philanthropy: What it Means, How it Works, Origins - Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/venture-philanthropy.asp.
(3) Venture Philanthropy - New Profit. https://www.newprofit.org/approach/venture-philanthropy/.
(4) VENTURE PHILANTHROPY DONE RIGHT - Harvard Business School. https://www.hbs.edu/kraft-accelerator/assets/pdf/Aug_Venture%20Philanthropy%20Done%20Right_v3.pdf.
However, venture philanthropy can also have negative or unintended consequences, such as:
- - Undermining democracy and public accountability by influencing social policy without proper scrutiny or participation from the public or the affected communities. Venture philanthropists may also bypass or weaken democratic institutions and processes that are meant to represent the public interest .
- - Perpetuating inequality and injustice by reinforcing the power and privilege of the wealthy elite over the marginalized and oppressed groups. Venture philanthropists may also divert public funds and resources from public services and social programs that could benefit the majority of the population. Venture philanthropists may also exploit tax loopholes and subsidies that reduce their fair share of taxes .
- - Failing to address the root causes of the social problems they claim to solve by focusing on symptoms rather than systemic change. Venture philanthropists may also impose their own agendas and values on the recipients of their donations rather than listening to their needs and preferences. Venture philanthropists may also neglect or harm other important areas of social good that are not aligned with their interests .
These are some possible consequences of venture philanthropy. However, there may be more consequences that are not yet visible or documented. Therefore, it is important to be critical and vigilant of the motivations and impacts of venture philanthropy on society.
Venture philanthropy can be a powerful tool for social change, but it can also pose risks and challenges for the areas it seeks to disrupt or dismantle. Some of the areas where billionaires have used venture philanthropy to disrupt or dismantle existing systems or structures are:
- - Education: Some billionaires, such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Eli Broad, have invested millions or billions of dollars in various education initiatives, such as charter schools, online learning, standardized testing, teacher evaluation, and curriculum reform. They have also influenced education policy and public opinion through their foundations, media outlets, and advocacy groups. However, critics have argued that these initiatives undermine public education, erode democratic governance, distort evidence and knowledge, harm teachers and students, and increase inequality and segregation¹².
- - Health: Some billionaires, such as Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg, and George Soros, have invested millions or billions of dollars in various health initiatives, such as vaccine development, tobacco control, drug policy reform, and reproductive health. They have also influenced health policy and public opinion through their foundations, media outlets, and advocacy groups. However, critics have argued that these initiatives bypass public health systems, ignore local contexts and needs, impose foreign agendas and values, and create dependency and accountability problems³⁴.
- - Democracy: Some billionaires, such as George Soros, Pierre Omidyar, and Jeff Bezos, have invested millions or billions of dollars in various democracy initiatives, such as promoting human rights, civil society, journalism, and civic engagement. They have also influenced democracy policy and public opinion through their foundations, media outlets, and advocacy groups. However, critics have argued that these initiatives undermine democracy by using their wealth and power to shape social policy without proper scrutiny or participation from the public or the affected communities. They have also argued that these initiatives perpetuate inequality and injustice by reinforcing the power and privilege of the wealthy elite over the marginalized and oppressed groups .
These are some of the areas where billionaires have used venture philanthropy to disrupt or dismantle existing systems or structures. However, there may be more areas that are not yet revealed or understood. Therefore, it is important to be critical and vigilant of the motivations and impacts of venture philanthropy on society.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) Would the World Be Better Off Without Philanthropists?. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/05/30/would-the-world-be-better-off-without-philanthropists-paul-vallely-emma-saunders-hastings.
(2) How tech founders are trying to disrupt — and replicate - Vox. https://www.vox.com/2019/4/22/18491577/founders-giving-pledge-tech-philanthropy-billionaires.
(3) How Tech Entrepreneurs Are Disrupting Philanthropy. https://www.bcg.com/publications/2016/innovation-strategy-how-tech-entrepreneurs-are-disrupting-philanthropy.
(4) The trouble with charitable billionaires | Philanthropy | The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/may/24/the-trouble-with-charitable-billionaires-philanthrocapitalism.
The Venture Philanthropy Network is not a specific organization, but a term that can refer to various networks or associations of venture philanthropists and organizations that practice or support venture philanthropy. Venture philanthropy is a type of philanthropic investment that applies the principles and practices of venture capital to support social or environmental causes. Venture philanthropists typically provide financial and non-financial support to start-up, growth, or risk-taking social ventures that aim to create positive social impact. Venture philanthropists also seek to measure and improve the performance and sustainability of their investees.
Some examples of venture philanthropy networks are:
- - AVPN: The Asian Venture Philanthropy Network is a leading ecosystem builder that works to increase the flow of capital towards impact in Asia, ensuring that resources are most effectively deployed. AVPN has over 600 members from the private, public, and people sectors, covering 33 markets in Asia. AVPN provides various platforms and services to help its members connect, learn, and lead the sector to achieve systemic change¹.
- - EVPA: The European Venture Philanthropy Association is a community of organizations and individuals committed to practicing and promoting venture philanthropy and social investment across Europe. EVPA has over 300 members from 30 countries, representing a wide range of sectors and interests. EVPA offers various opportunities and resources to help its members increase their social impact².
- - SVP: The Social Venture Partners is a global network of local partners aligning passion and purpose. SVP helps individuals realize greater impact with their giving, strengthens nonprofits, and invests in collaborative solutions to social challenges. SVP has over 40 affiliates in nine countries, with more than 3,400 partners. SVP provides various programs and events to help its members engage, learn, and grow as effective philanthropists³.
- - New Profit: New Profit is a venture philanthropy fund that supports social entrepreneurs who are addressing systemic challenges in areas such as education, workforce development, public health, and democracy. New Profit also provides strategic advice, network access, and policy advocacy to its portfolio organizations. New Profit has invested in over 100 social enterprises since 1998, leveraging over $1 billion in follow-on funding⁴.
These are some examples of venture philanthropy networks. However, there may be more networks that are not yet known or recognized. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the potential and challenges of venture philanthropy for social change.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) About AVPN / Who We Are - AVPN. https://avpn.asia/who-we-are/.
(2) The Nuts and Bolts of Venture Philanthropy - Giving Compass. https://givingcompass.org/article/nuts-bolts-venture-philanthropy.
(3) Venture Philanthropy Partners - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_Philanthropy_Partners.
(4) Asian Venture Philanthropy Network - ANDE. https://andeglobal.org/organization/asian-venture-philanthropy-network/.
There are many Americans who are involved in venture philanthropy, either as donors, funders, managers, or recipients. Venture philanthropy is a type of impact investment that takes concepts and techniques from venture capital finance and business management and applies them to achieving philanthropic goals. Venture philanthropists typically provide financial and non-financial support to start-up, growth, or risk-taking social ventures that aim to create positive social impact. Venture philanthropists also seek to measure and improve the performance and sustainability of their investees.
Some examples of Americans who are most involved in venture philanthropy are:
- - Bill Gates: The co-founder of Microsoft and the Gates Foundation, which is the largest private foundation in the world. He has invested billions of dollars in various initiatives related to global health, education, and development. He has also influenced policy and public opinion through his foundation, media outlets, and advocacy groups. He is one of the founders of The Giving Pledge, a campaign that encourages billionaires to give away most of their wealth to philanthropy¹.
- - MacKenzie Scott: The ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and one of the richest women in the world. She has donated over $8 billion to various causes, such as racial equity, gender equity, economic mobility, public health, and climate change. She has also supported hundreds of organizations across the country with unrestricted grants. She is one of the signatories of The Giving Pledge².
- - Dustin Moskovitz and Cari Tuna: The co-founder of Facebook and his wife, who are the founders of the Open Philanthropy Project, a venture philanthropy fund that supports causes such as global health, animal welfare, criminal justice reform, and effective altruism. They have also supported various organizations with grants and investments. They are also signatories of The Giving Pledge³.
- - Jeff Skoll: The first president of eBay and the founder of the Skoll Foundation, which is a venture philanthropy fund that supports social entrepreneurs who are addressing global challenges such as poverty, health, education, and environment. He has also supported various organizations with grants and investments. He is also a signatory of The Giving Pledge.
These are some examples of Americans who are most involved in venture philanthropy. However, there may be more Americans who are not as visible or public about their involvement. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the potential and challenges of venture philanthropy for social change.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) VENTURE PHILANTHROPY DONE RIGHT - Harvard Business School. https://www.hbs.edu/kraft-accelerator/assets/pdf/Aug_Venture%20Philanthropy%20Done%20Right_v3.pdf.
(2) America’s Top Givers 2022: The 25 Most Philanthropic ... - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeswealthteam/2022/01/19/americas-top-givers-2022-the-25-most-philanthropic-billionaires/.
(3) Venture philanthropy - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_philanthropy.
Some possible reasons why some billionaires may hate public education are:
- - They see public education as a source of waste, inefficiency, and failure that does not prepare students for the global economy. They believe that private or market-based alternatives, such as charter schools, vouchers, or online learning, can provide better outcomes and more choices for students and parents¹².
- - They see public education as a source of taxation, regulation, and accountability that limits their freedom and wealth. They oppose paying taxes that support public schools and social programs that benefit the majority of the population. They also resist any oversight or scrutiny of their donations or influence on education policy¹³.
- - They see public education as a source of diversity, democracy, and dissent that challenges their power and privilege. They fear that public schools may foster critical thinking, social justice, and civic engagement among students and teachers. They also favor a narrow curriculum and pedagogy that aligns with their interests and values¹⁴.
These are some possible reasons why some billionaires may hate public education. However, there may be more reasons that are not yet revealed or understood. Therefore, it is important to be critical and vigilant of the motivations and impacts of these billionaires on the education system.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) Billionaires Are the Biggest Threat to Public Schools. https://progressive.org/public-schools-advocate/billionaires-threat-public-schools/.
(2) U.S. views of billionaires now somewhat more negative than in 2020 .... https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/07/28/americans-views-about-billionaires-have-grown-somewhat-more-negative-since-2020/.
(3) Texas: Two Billionaires Want to Destroy Public Education and Replace It .... https://dianeravitch.net/2022/07/25/texas-two-billionaires-want-to-destroy-public-educatuon-and-replace-it-with-christian-schools/.
(4) Billionaires Against Public Education - LA Progressive. https://www.laprogressive.com/education-reform/public-education.
(5) Billionaires Unite!... Against Public Education and Teachers. https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/sociopol_globaleducation04.htm.
Corporate education reform is a term that refers to a set of policy proposals that aim to change the way public education is organized, funded, and delivered. Some of the main features of corporate education reform are:
- - Increased test-based evaluation of students, teachers, and schools of education
- - Elimination or weakening of tenure and seniority rights for teachers
- - An end to pay for experience or advanced degrees for teachers
- - Closing schools deemed low performing and their replacement by publicly funded but privately run charter schools
- - Replacing governance by local school boards with various forms of mayoral and state takeover or private management
- - Vouchers and tax credit subsidies for private school tuition
- - Increases in class size, sometimes tied to the firing of 5-10% of the teaching staff
- - Implementation of Common Core standards and adoption of "college and career readiness" as a standard for high school graduation¹²³⁴
These proposals are supported by various foundations, think tanks, political groups, and corporations that have a stake in the education market. They claim that these reforms will improve student achievement, close the achievement gap, increase accountability, and foster innovation. However, critics argue that these reforms are driven by profit motives, ideological agendas, and standardized testing regimes that undermine public education and harm students, teachers, and communities. They point out that these reforms have not produced the promised results, but have instead increased inequality, segregation, privatization, and corruption in the education system¹²⁴.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) Challenging Corporate Ed Reform - Rethinking Schools. https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/challenging-corporate-ed-reform-and-10-hopeful-signs-of-resistance/.
(2) A primer on corporate school reform - The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/a-primer-on-corporate-school-reform/2011/10/26/gIQAyWrUKM_blog.html.
(3) Corporate Reform | NYSAPE. https://nysape.org/corporate-reform/.
(4) Corporate Reform - Long Island Opt Out. https://lioptout.org/corporate-reform.
Some of the advanced marketing techniques that have been used to sell corporate education reform and privatization are:
- - Lobbying: Corporate actors use their economic and political power to influence legislators, policymakers, and regulators to adopt pro-market reforms. They also fund political campaigns, ballot initiatives, and referenda to sway public opinion and votes¹.
- - Networking and brokerage: Corporate actors create or join networks of like-minded organizations, individuals, and media outlets that share their vision and goals. They also act as brokers or intermediaries that connect different actors and facilitate the exchange of information, resources, and support¹.
- - Knowledge mobilization: Corporate actors produce, disseminate, and promote research, data, and narratives that support their agenda. They also fund or partner with think tanks, advocacy groups, and media outlets that generate favorable evidence and stories. They also challenge or discredit alternative sources of knowledge that contradict their claims¹².
- - Support of grassroots advocacy: Corporate actors provide financial or technical assistance to grassroots groups that advocate for their reforms. They also recruit or co-opt parents, students, teachers, and community members to join their cause. They also create or sponsor events, campaigns, and movements that mobilize public support¹².
- - Sponsorship of pilot experiences: Corporate actors fund or implement pilot projects that showcase their reforms in action. They also use these projects as evidence of success and scalability. They also leverage these projects to gain access to decision-makers and media attention¹.
These marketing techniques are often used in combination or coordination to create a powerful and persuasive message that appeals to different audiences and stakeholders. However, these techniques are also often deceptive, manipulative, or unethical. They may hide the true motives, interests, or impacts of corporate actors. They may also silence or marginalize the voices of those who oppose or question their reforms².
If you want to learn more about how corporate actors use marketing techniques to sell education reform and privatization, you can check out these sources:
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) The Political Turn of Corporate Influence in Education: A Synthesis of .... https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-04236-3_3.
(2) Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education .... https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-caller/here-are-corporations-and-right-wing-funders-backing-education-reform-movement.
(3) Challenging Corporate Ed Reform - Rethinking Schools. https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/challenging-corporate-ed-reform-and-10-hopeful-signs-of-resistance/.
The exact amount of money spent to promote corporate education reform and privatization is hard to estimate, as different sources may have different definitions, methods, and data sources. However, some studies and reports have tried to quantify the spending of some of the major actors and organizations involved in this movement. Here are some examples:
- - According to a report by Media Matters for America, the top 15 foundations that support corporate education reform spent $844 million on public education in 2010. These foundations include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, and others. These foundations also coordinate their spending and invest in advocacy groups, think tanks, media outlets, and political campaigns that advance their agenda¹.
- - According to a chapter by Andrea Gabor in the book Media Capture, between 2000 and 2005, three foundations—the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation—quadrupled their spending on K–12 education to $400 million. These foundations also expanded their reach to universities, think tanks, government institutions, and the news media. They also funded or founded publications that supported their market-oriented approach to education².
- - According to an article by Jonathan Pelto in The Progressive, the corporate education reform industry spent tens of millions of dollars on state and local elections in 2014. Some of the major donors included former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, hedge fund managers Whitney Tilson and Paul Tudor Jones, and education companies like Amplify and Pearson. These donors supported candidates and ballot initiatives that favored charter schools, vouchers, testing, and teacher evaluations³.
These are just some of the examples of how much money has been spent to promote corporate education reform and privatization. However, there may be more spending that is not disclosed or reported by the donors or recipients. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the sources and interests behind the education policies and narratives that are presented to the public.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) Andrea Gabor: The Corporate Education-Reform Philanthropies. https://networkforpubliceducation.org/blog-content/andrea-gabor-the-corporate-education-reform-philanthropies/.
(2) Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education .... https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-caller/here-are-corporations-and-right-wing-funders-backing-education-reform-movement.
(3) Challenging Corporate Ed Reform - Rethinking Schools. https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/challenging-corporate-ed-reform-and-10-hopeful-signs-of-resistance/.
(4) Public Education: Who Are the Corporate Reformers?. https://billmoyers.com/2014/03/28/public-education-who-are-the-corporate-reformers/.
(5) How The Corporate Education Reform Industry Buys Elections. https://progressive.org/magazine/corporate-education-reform-industry-buys-elections/.
These donations affect policy-making and implementation in several ways. Some of the effects are:
- - They create a powerful lobby that influences legislators, policymakers, and regulators to adopt pro-market reforms that favor corporate interests over public interests. They also shape the political agenda and discourse by framing education issues in terms of choice, accountability, and innovation¹².
- - They undermine the democratic governance and oversight of public education by weakening or bypassing local school boards and empowering private operators and managers. They also erode the public trust and support for public education by portraying it as failing, inefficient, and resistant to change¹².
- - They distort the evidence and knowledge base for education policy by producing, disseminating, and promoting research, data, and narratives that support their agenda. They also challenge or discredit alternative sources of knowledge that contradict their claims. They also manipulate or misuse standardized tests to measure and rank students, teachers, and schools¹²³.
- - They alter the conditions and practices of teaching and learning by imposing narrow curricula and scripted pedagogy that are aligned to standardized tests. They also attack teachers' job protections, compensation, and professionalism. They also create a less experienced, less secure, less stable, and less expensive teaching force²³.
- - They increase the inequality and segregation in the education system by creating a dual system of winners and losers. They also divert public funds and resources from public schools to private schools or contractors. They also exploit students and communities as sources of profit and data²³.
These are some of the effects of the donations made by corporate actors to promote education reform and privatization. However, there may be more effects that are not yet visible or documented. Therefore, it is important to be critical and vigilant of the sources and impacts of these donations on the education system.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education .... https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-caller/here-are-corporations-and-right-wing-funders-backing-education-reform-movement.
(2) A primer on corporate school reform - The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/a-primer-on-corporate-school-reform/2011/10/26/gIQAyWrUKM_blog.html.
(3) How The Corporate Education Reform Industry Buys Elections. https://progressive.org/magazine/corporate-education-reform-industry-buys-elections/.
(4) Challenging Corporate Ed Reform - Rethinking Schools. https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/challenging-corporate-ed-reform-and-10-hopeful-signs-of-resistance/.
There are many billionaires who have supported corporate education reform and privatization, but some of the most prominent and influential ones are:
- - Bill and Melinda Gates: The co-founders of Microsoft and the Gates Foundation, which is the largest private foundation in the world. They have spent billions of dollars on various education initiatives, such as breaking large high schools into small schools, promoting the Common Core standards, funding charter schools, and developing teacher evaluation systems based on test scores. They have also funded or founded media outlets and publications that support their agenda¹.
- - Eli and Edythe Broad: The founders of the Broad Foundation, which is one of the largest education philanthropies in the country. They have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on training school leaders, expanding charter schools, influencing state and federal policies, and sponsoring research and advocacy groups that advance their agenda. They have also funded or founded media outlets and publications that support their agenda².
- - Walton Family: The heirs of Walmart founder Sam Walton and the owners of the Walton Family Foundation, which is one of the largest education philanthropies in the country. They have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on promoting school choice, expanding charter schools, supporting voucher programs, influencing state and federal policies, and sponsoring research and advocacy groups that advance their agenda. They have also funded or founded media outlets and publications that support their agenda².
- - Dick and Betsy DeVos: The former Amway executives and the owners of the DeVos Family Foundation, which is one of the largest education philanthropies in the country. They have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on promoting school choice, expanding charter schools, supporting voucher programs, influencing state and federal policies, and sponsoring research and advocacy groups that advance their agenda. Betsy DeVos is also the current U.S. secretary of education under President Trump²³.
- - Michael Bloomberg: The former mayor of New York City and the founder of Bloomberg LP, a global media and financial company. He has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on various education initiatives, such as closing low-performing schools, expanding charter schools, implementing test-based accountability systems, and supporting candidates and ballot initiatives that advance his agenda. He has also funded or founded media outlets and publications that support his agenda³⁴.
These are some of the billionaires who have supported corporate education reform and privatization. However, there may be more billionaires who are not as visible or public about their donations. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the sources and interests behind the education policies and narratives that are presented to the public.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) Bill and Melinda Gates have spent billions to shape education policy .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/02/10/bill-melinda-gates-have-spent-billions-dollars-shape-education-policy-now-they-say-theyre-skeptical-billionaires-trying-do-just-that/.
(2) Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education .... https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-caller/here-are-corporations-and-right-wing-funders-backing-education-reform-movement.
(3) A Layman’s Guide to the Destroy Public Education Movement. https://tultican.com/2018/09/09/a-laymans-guide-to-the-destroy-public-education-movement/.
(4) How The Corporate Education Reform Industry Buys Elections. https://progressive.org/magazine/corporate-education-reform-industry-buys-elections/.
In summary, these billionaires influence policy-making and implementation by:
- - Lobbying legislators, policymakers, and regulators to adopt pro-market reforms that favor their interests
- - Funding or founding advocacy groups, think tanks, media outlets, and publications that support their agenda
- - Producing, disseminating, and promoting research, data, and narratives that support their agenda
- - Funding or implementing pilot projects that showcase their reforms in action
- - Supporting candidates and ballot initiatives that advance their agenda
Some of the criticisms against their donations are:
- - They undermine democracy and public accountability by using their wealth and influence to shape social policy without proper scrutiny or participation from the public or the affected communities. They also bypass or weaken democratic institutions and processes that are meant to represent the public interest¹².
- - They perpetuate inequality and injustice by reinforcing the power and privilege of the wealthy elite over the marginalized and oppressed groups. They also divert public funds and resources from public services and social programs that could benefit the majority of the population. They also exploit tax loopholes and subsidies that reduce their fair share of taxes¹²³.
- - They fail to address the root causes of the social problems they claim to solve by focusing on symptoms rather than systemic change. They also impose their own agendas and values on the recipients of their donations rather than listening to their needs and preferences. They also neglect or harm other important areas of social good that are not aligned with their interests¹²⁴.
These are some of the criticisms against their donations. However, there may be more criticisms that are not yet articulated or heard. Therefore, it is important to be critical and vigilant of the motivations and impacts of these donations on the society.
Bing, 7/10/2023
(1) A new reason Americans are getting leery of billionaire donors. https://theconversation.com/a-new-reason-americans-are-getting-leery-of-billionaire-donors-162409.
(2) The problems with philanthropy | Stanford News. https://news.stanford.edu/2018/12/03/the-problems-with-philanthropy/.
(3) $400 million gift to Harvard sets off debate about philanthropy to .... https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/06/05/400-million-gift-harvard-sets-debate-about-philanthropy-wealthy-institutions.
(4) 12 Common Criticisms of Philanthropy—and Some Answers. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/12_common_criticisms_of_philanthropyand_some_answers.
