We partner with philanthropy - individuals, families and foundations - to help uplift emerging ideas and innovations in education to advance philanthropy for the benefit of all.
Leveraging our background as philanthropic practitioners, we tailor strategies to unlock education’s full potential — guiding funders through launching ventures, shaping policies, and magnifying grantee influence.
We co-create solutions with communities of focus that have a lasting impact and lead to systems change.
Governor Polis launched the RISE grant program in 2020 to provide funding to develop innovative learning programs that improve students' education experiences and support schools to address the impacts COVID-19 had on education.
To address the challenges of the pandemic, Lyra teamed up with the Gates Family Foundation, Gary Community Ventures, and the Colorado Governor’s Office to create the RISE Planning and Design Process. The purpose of this fund was to give design and application support to rural and other historically disadvantaged communities who traditionally have been underrepresented in large grant programs.
Lyra created the concept for the fund, recruited design support partners to ensure they were a strong match, connected design partners with interested applicants, and led the funds implementation. Sixty percent of planning and design participants received RISE grants, a capture rate far above the rest of the applicant pool.Read more about the findings in this Bellwether study.
RootED is a quarterback organization for funders who want to support great schools in Denver, Colorado. RootED’s ultimate aim is an equitable, accountable, responsive Denver Public Schools system where race and income are no longer a barrier to excellent student outcomes. Since 2019, Lyra has helped to accelerate RootED’s support of autonomous public schools within DPS.
The result has been the development of a network of innovation zones within Denver Public Schools who have the flexibility to respond and adapt quickly to meet community needs and address equity and opportunity gaps that improve the quality of K-12 public education in Denver.
Lyra’s approach to partnership is rooted in collaboration. We’ll work alongside you every step of the way and be a trusted resource to push your thinking, support your organization’s strategic growth, and amplify your impact.
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