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Institute for Strategic Investment in Education (ISIE)

Held April 3 - 5, 2008 at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

In 2008, BHEF co-hosted its Institute for Strategic Investment in Education (ISIE) with the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE).  The ISIE brought together more than 45 corporate philanthropy and independent foundation leaders to focus on how to maximize both the impact of their investments in education and the return on investment (ROI) for their corporations. At this inaugural institute, faculty from the HGSE, Harvard Business School, and Kennedy School of Government used a case-based curriculum to focus on the key levers of education improvement and how corporations could use them to make high-leverage and high-impact investments. 

During this three-day program, participants worked with Harvard faculty and leaders in the field of corporate philanthropy in education to explore how systemic school improvement efforts can be more effectively supported through philanthropy. Topics included:

  • The importance of aligning corporate philanthropy with the values and competencies of the corporation
  • The need for leadership by CEOs to stay the course and maintain strategic focus
  • Illustrative strategies demonstrated to have an impact on improving education
  • The use of data in determining where to invest, in measuring outcomes, in refining and adjusting investment strategies, and in building internal corporate support for investments
  • The importance of demonstrating ROI to justify philanthropic expenditures in a changing corporate context.

This meeting also marked the beginning of a learning network, a developing effort to provide participants with continuing updates on philanthropic initiatives in education, information about promising practices, and tools to make and assess high-impact investments in education.

The 2008 ISIE informed portions of StrategicEdSolutions.org, a resource for philanthropists and others looking for solid strategies, programs that work, and a way to connect with and learn from others in the field.

After the Institute, BHEF developed Lessons in Education Philanthropy (pdf) which highlights key points covered at the Institute that have ongoing applicability for philanthropists who are considering how best to invest in improving education. 

The 2008 ISIE was supported by the Goldman Sachs Foundation, a global philanthropic organization that promotes excellence and innovation in education and works to improve the academic performance and lifelong productivity of young people worldwide through a combination of strategic partnerships, grants, loans, and the deployment of professional talent from Goldman Sachs.