In 2010, the Martha Holden Foundation Board of Directors revised its strategic plan, resulting in a more structured approach to the way we will identify, evaluate, and support potential programs.
In the process, the Board reaffirmed two immutable principles that broadly define our mission. The first, from the Foundation's Articles of Incorporation, is "… to foster the development of individual young people to the maximum possible extent … in secular primary and secondary schools."
The second, is
"… to provide a means for greater accomplishment on the part of Ohio's teachers, to encourage creativity in teaching and to bring greater recognition to the teaching profession."
These two immutable principles provide a dual focus on student capabilities and teaching for our internal programming and external philanthropic support.
We have specified four goals for our activities:
- To support a specific target population defined by pre-K through 12th grade students throughout Ohio with a particular preference given to students and districts most in need (e.g. urban and rural districts and populations showing a significant achievement gap).
- To engage schools and districts in partnerships with institutions of higher learning, affiliated organizations, and the Ohio Department of Education to provide services that align with and reinforce what is being taught in the schools; and to collaborate with other foundations to extend the reach and impact of the Jennings Foundation.
- To maintain a focus on measuring outcomes and disseminating successes by making continued support contingent on tangible progress in advancing student learning. Also, to foster direct connections between the effective practices, programs, and educators from the Grants-to-Educators, Open Grants, and Jennings Institutes.
The Foundation is eager to explore new frontiers and promote more effective teaching in Ohio’s schools. We support a wide variety of programs for students and teachers from preschool through high school. Some preference is given to programs that target under-served students and districts with fewer available resources.
We are most interested in funding programmatic aspects of projects, rather than capital needs, such as technology equipment, furniture, or books. We give greater consideration to grant requests that show minimal expenditures for capital needs.
The purchase of all technology equipment is not a priority. The equipment must be part of a comprehensive project.
The Foundation does not make grants for capital improvements, indirect costs, overhead, personal travel to workshops or conferences, endowment campaigns, general school supplies, school bus transportation, incentives, refreshments, or graduate study.
Board of Directors
Mr. George B. Milbourn, Chairman/President
Dr. Mark H. Collier
Dr. Jawanza Karriem Lightfoot Colvin
Mrs. Debra H. Guren
Mrs. Anne C. Juster
Mr. Jon H. Outcalt
Mr. Peter E. Raskind
Mr. John F. Sideras
Distribution Committee
Mr. John H. Wilharm, Jr., Chairman
Dr. Yvonne L. Allen
Mr. Lorenzo T. Carlisle
Mr. Leigh H. Carter
Dr. James V. Connell
Dr. Daniel J. Keenan, Jr.
Mrs. Jane M. Neubauer
Mrs. Doreen E. Osmun
Dr. Joanne Rand Schwartz
Educational Consultants
Mrs. Jane E. Battles
Dr. James V. Connell
Dr. Thomas J. Lasley
Mr. Francis S. Martines
Dr. Linda C. Nusbaum