People Powered Education

When students, parents, and educators have a meaningful voice in shaping education policy, schools thrive, students succeed, and communities grow stronger. It’s time to reimagine how decisions are made— expanding the table to ensure those who know our schools best are truly heard and included.

People Powered Education brings community members together as a force for change— connecting them with policymakers and decision-making processes to ensure community-driven solutions shape the future of education.

The Skillman Foundation is focused on four aims:

Expand education organizing power.
Young people, educators, and community members grow individual and collective power to define, design, and influence education.

Elevate Detroiters’ perspectives in education policy.
Policymaking is informed by and responsive to the needs and priorities defined by Detroit youth and their advocates. Policy implementation is supported to ensure equitable outcomes are realized.

Build common ground for education system change.
Bridge people, perspectives, and ideas by developing connections and fostering aligned action toward a shared vision for equitable education.

Be an accountable and racially equitable grantmaker.
Design and promote grantmaking and philanthropic practices that build trust and invite accountability.

Our grantmaking

The Skillman Foundation uses every tool we have to champion Detroit youth, including our voice, our relationships, the talents of our staff, and our dollars.

At this time, the Foundation makes grants primarily aligned to the first two aims noted above. Our Ground Building team funds Detroit-based community organizing around education policy and our Policy & Systems team funds statewide education policy advocacy organizations, coalitions, and initiatives.