Education M-Pact Fund

Fueling student success in areas of deepest impact and greatest need.

Purpose

The Moody Foundation’s Education M-Pact Fund is an annual grantmaking process and a key component of the Foundation’s historic commitment of $1 billion for Texas education over 20 years. The name of the “M-Pact” fund reflects the trustees’ vision of a mutual promise and partnership between the Foundation and its grantees to support student success. With benefits extending beyond grant funding, the Education M-Pact Fund will cultivate a comprehensive network of grantees who are fueling student success in areas of deepest impact and greatest need.

Through an open Request for Proposals (RFP), The Moody Foundation will distribute grants annually to education institutions and nonprofits whose work aligns with the Foundation’s strategic priorities of Early Learning and Postsecondary Success. The fund will amplify the impact of these grants through strategic initiatives including:

  • Direct collaboration with relevant governing agencies to identify education funding gaps and strategically deploy resources.
  • Building intentional, collaborative networks among M-Pact grantees including a fully funded annual convening among representatives from each organization.
  • Shared, targeted outcomes across grantees within each strategic pillar to enable impact measurement for the initiative over multiple years, at scale.

The M-Pact Fund will be complemented by annual regional giving through the Foundation’s traditional grant application process, allowing for continued support of organizations whose work falls outside of the fund’s strategic pillars. This includes broader education giving, as well as grants that support the Foundation’s vision for benefiting the people of Texas. Together, these initiatives will encompass a comprehensive, strategic approach to the Foundation’s education grantmaking and support the success of Texas students from cradle to career.

2024 Open RFP: Education M-Pact Fund

The Moody Foundation’s 2024 open RFP process will be carried out in two funding cycles. Key dates, eligibility, and additional details are outlined below. An informational webinar will be offered during each application cycle with a recording of the session posted to this page.


Key Dates

Open RFP Cycle 1 (closed)

  • January 15 | Application opens

  • January 31, 10 a.m. CT | View Webinar

  • March 15 | Application deadline
  • May 16 | Trustee meeting
  • July | Funding initiated

Open RFP Cycle 2

  • April 15 | Application opens
  • May 1, 10 a.m. CT | Informational webinar - Register
  • NEW: May 30, 11:59 p.m. CT | Application deadline
  • August 15 | Trustee meeting 
  • October | Funding initiated

Please note: Meeting and funding dates are approximate.

Grant Coordinators

Courtney Rogers
Vice President,
Education

Angela Blair
Director,
Education

Questions? Email us at [email protected] or sign up for office hours (slots will be made available following the webinar). We ask that you review the webpage text, FAQs, and webinar in full prior to our call.

Application Resources

Cycle 2 Application Form
Cycle 2: New Application Cycle 2: Access Existing Application
Cycle 2 Blank Application Form

Access FAQs for the M-Pact Fund open RFP:
Frequently Asked Questions

Webinar materials:
Register for Cycle 2 Webinar
Cycle 1 Webinar Recording Download Cycle 1 Webinar Slides

Eligibility

Organizations seeking to apply for a grant through The Moody Foundation’s Education M-Pact Fund must meet the following requirements:

  • Must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or a public entity (e.g., a municipality, health department, or university/school).
  • Funds may only be granted and used within the state of Texas. Out-of-state entities must be registered with and authorized to do business in Texas through the Texas Secretary of State.
  • Provide services directly related to The Moody Foundation’s strategic pillars of Early Learning and Postsecondary Success, as further detailed below.
  • Commitment to complete all grantee requirements including annual grant reporting and participation in M-Pact grantee network activities during the term of the grant.
  • Ability to measure and report grant-related progress on one or more key metrics within the fund’s designated strategic pillars.

Strategic Priorities

The Education M-Pact Fund will provide grants across two strategic pillars: Early Learning and Postsecondary Success. Priority will be given to grants that:

  • Serve low-income or at-risk populations;
  • Support research/evidence-based programs;
  • Are collaborative in nature;
  • Address one or more supporting focus areas, as further defined below.

Strategic Pillars

Early Learning: By age five, 90% of a child’s brain is already developed. High quality early childhood education during this critical period can have lifelong benefits, placing children on a trajectory for increased academic achievement, personal development, and social mobility. This phase also lays the foundation for early literacy, building toward the critical milestone of reading on grade-level by third grade. The Education M-Pact Fund will prioritize grants that support high quality early childhood education and early literacy.

  • Scope: Serving children from birth through grade 3.
  • Sample Metrics: Kindergarten readiness; 3rd grade reading levels; institutional accreditations and/or ratings; demonstrations of student, parent, and/or teacher proficiency.

Postsecondary Success: Research consistently demonstrates strong ties between higher levels of education and increased income, alongside a myriad of related benefits. The Education M-Pact Fund seeks to support activities that improve access, persistence, and completion within value-added credentialing programs, particularly for first-generation college students. Eligible initiatives include college and university degree programs, dual and advanced credit offerings, vocational training, career exploration and development during K-12 schooling, broader workforce development initiatives, and related activities.

  • Scope: K-12 career exploration and development; college access/success programs; higher education and workforce development initiatives
  • Sample Metrics: Program engagement and completion rates; credential attainment rates; value-add index ratings; demonstrations of student proficiency

Supporting Focus Areas

Educator Workforce: Attracting, preparing, supporting, and retaining high-quality educators. particularly those serving children within the scope of the M-Pact Fund’s Early Learning strategic pillar.

Mental Health: Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students and educators within the scope of the M-Pact Fund’s strategic pillars.

Special Education: Supporting timely identification and appropriate support of students with learning differences and/or disabilities within the scope of the M-Pact Fund’s strategic pillars. Additional priority for activities supporting students during key transitions (ex – school to workforce).

Wraparound Services: Amplifying student success across the M-Pact Fund’s strategic pillars through wraparound services including out-of-school-time programs, family health and wellness, food and housing security, and related activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find responses to questions submitted during the Cycle 1 webinar?

Please review this document for answers to questions submitted during the webinar.

What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

Organizations seeking to apply for a grant through The Moody Foundation’s Education M-Pact Fund must meet the following requirements:

  • • Must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or a public entity (e.g., a municipality, health department, or university/school).
  • • Funds may only be granted and used within the state of Texas.
  • • Provide services directly related to The Moody Foundation’s strategic priorities of Early Learning and Postsecondary Success, as further detailed below.
  • • Commitment to complete all grantee requirements including annual grant reporting and participation in M-Pact grantee network activities during the term of the grant.
  • • Ability to measure and report grant-related progress on one or more key metrics within the fund’s designated strategic priorities.
How much funding should we request?

The foundation has budgeted approximately $20 million for M-Pact Fund grant distributions in 2024. The Education M-Pact Fund will distribute grants annually to eligible organizations across the state of Texas, a portion of which will include recurring commitments for multi-year grantees. While there are no specific limits on request amounts, we encourage applicants to make requests totaling no more than 20% of the organization’s operating budget. This is a general guideline; all requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Can my organization receive a multi-year grant?

Yes, we expect approximately half of M-Pact grantees to receive three-year grants, with the remaining grantees receiving one-year grants. Each grantee may apply again once the term of the grant is complete. Please note that renewed funding is not guaranteed for previously approved grantees. Plans for sustainability of ongoing projects/initiatives once M-Pact grant funding expires will be considered in the application review process.

Can my organization submit more than one application?

We ask organizations to submit only one application per cycle. If funding is declined, you may choose to resubmit your application for that project/initiative after one year. However, you may submit an application for funding of a separate project or initiative within the next cycle, as long as it is substantially different from the declined request. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you are unsure if you are eligible to reapply and we would be happy to provide additional guidance.

How will grants be funded?

The process for M-Pact Fund grant payments will mirror the Foundation’s standard grant payment process with funding initiated shortly after the trustee meeting in which the grants are approved. One-year grants will be fully funded with the initial grant payment. Subsequent payments for multi-year grants will be awarded in annual installments once reporting and related requirements have been met.

What is an example of a project that may be awarded an M-Pact Fund grant?

The first round of the RFP (opening January 15, 2024) is designed to be relatively broad, enabling the Foundation to identify and support impactful initiatives across the state. Future iterations may include a more narrowed focus within the Foundation’s strategic pillars. While a wide variety of grants will be considered, priority will be given to those focused on the implementation of projects or initiatives. Sample projects within each pillar are included below. This list is for illustrative purposes only and is by no means exhaustive.

 

Sample projects within Early Learning:

  • • Replication (in whole or in part) of Moody Early Childhood Center’s holistic, community-centered early childhood education model. Review their website for details; please direct all questions and requests for additional information to [email protected].
  • • Integration of high-quality early childhood education centers within public school districts.
  • • Grants addressing cross-sectional priorities (ex – increasing degrees and certifications for Texas-based early childhood educators).

 

Sample projects within Postsecondary Success:

  • • Success and completion coaching for first-generation college students.
  • • Innovative models to increase attainment of value-added degree programs (ex – three-year bachelor’s degree, early college high schools, universal access initiatives).
  • • Support for students with disabilities as they transition into postsecondary life.
What type of funding will be provided and are overhead expenses covered?

The M-Pact Fund is open to grants within a variety of funding types including projects, operations, and capital funding. Priority will be given to the implementation of programs and projects. There is no specific cap on overhead funding; each applicant’s budget will be reviewed individually within the context of what is reasonable for the organization and/or proposed project. All applicants including universities and similar entities with fixed indirect cost rates are encouraged to limit these to the context of the proposed project. Where deemed necessary, adjustments to overhead or indirect cost rates may be outlined in grant agreements.

My organization/project does not fit within the M-Pact Fund’s strategic pillars. Can I still apply?

Applicants must align with the M-Pact Fund’s strategic pillars to be eligible for funding. Education initiatives outside of these strategic pillars may apply through the Foundation’s general application process.

My organization/project does not fit within the M-Pact Fund’s supporting focus areas. Can I still apply?

Yes, the supporting focus areas are guidelines and not requirements. Organizations that do not fall within these focus areas may still apply if they meet all M-Pact Fund eligibility criteria, including alignment with the strategic pillars of Early Learning and Postsecondary Success.

My organization/project does fit within the M-Pact Fund’s strategic pillars. Can I choose to apply through the Foundation’s general grants process instead?

All applicants whose work aligns with the M-Pact Fund’s strategic pillars should apply through the open RFP as we believe that process will allow us to best serve and support the work of our grantees. However, if you would like to discuss extenuating circumstances or are unsure if your work aligns, please contact [email protected] and we would be happy to provide additional guidance.

Where can I find the application form?

A link to the application portal will be posted on this webpage on the date each application cycle opens.

What are the reporting requirements?

Grantees will be asked to submit an annual report during the term of their grant including both narrative and qualitative information sharing progress of the funded initiative. The qualitative component must include, at a minimum, results from the grantee’s approved “key metric” from their application. The specific reporting template will be shared when grant contracts are delivered.

How should we plan to measure our selected key metric(s)?

The application will provide a space for each applicant to identify the key metric(s) they will measure in relation to their grant. The list of available key metrics will be finalized and released when the application is posted. Applicants will also be asked to describe their evaluation process, which must include use of an externally validated tool for measuring results within the selected key metric(s). For example, externally-validated tools for an Early Learning grantee would include but not be limited to those approved by the Texas Education Agency for measuring student progress in preschool (full list here).

What are the required M-Pact grantee network activities?

The Education M-Pact Fund provides benefits beyond grant funding to deepen the results of this work. These benefits will include at least one annual convening of representatives from each current M-Pact grantee organization. The full cost of the convening, including travel and related expenses for at least one grantee representative, will be included in the application form budget and covered by the grant. The Foundation anticipates an initial convening in March 2025 at the South by Southwest Education Conference in Austin, Texas. Additional opportunities for convening and collaboration may be provided throughout the term of the grant. Specific details will be shared with grantees well in advance. The Foundation understands that unavoidable conflicts may arise and asks that grantees participate in these activities to the best of their ability.

How does an open RFP differ from The Moody Foundation’s general grants process?

The Moody Foundation’s general grants process enables applicants to propose any project that fits within the Foundation’s mission and vision. The open RFP is designed to provide more specific parameters for the type of applicants that are eligible for grants through the dedicated M-Pact Fund, and to also detail the trustees’ giving priorities within the fund. In addition, the open RFP has specific benefits and requirements related to its timeline, reports, and other grantee activities. Overall, the open RFP is designed to best serve and support grantees within the M-Pact Fund’s strategic pillars.

Who can I contact for more information?

Our team is here to support you! Please email [email protected] with any questions or to request a meeting.