Fund This WorkThe Black Montessori Education Fund exists because public schools are failing Black children, and the need for proven alternatives has never been more urgent. We are building the infrastructure to meet that moment: trained Black Montessori educators, supported families, strengthened programs, and a growing global community committed to a different vision for Black children and communities.
This work is documented, community-rooted, and ready for institutional investment. We welcome foundations, family offices, donor-advised funds, corporate funders, and government partners who are ready to be part of what we are building.
What We Have BuiltSince 2020, the BMEF has invested $236,916 directly into the Black Montessori ecosystem — supporting 72 educators in training, 63 children in Montessori environments, and 48 programs across 12 countries. We have done this as a lean, community-sustained organization with an annual operating budget just over $100,000.
In 2025 alone, we hosted the inaugural Black Montessori Conference at Howard University, drawing 227 attendees and 30 sponsors and partners. We launched a membership program that ended its first year with 93 members. And our individual donor base grew by 27 percent, with individual giving up 33 percent year over year. This is a community that is investing in this work — and institutional partners would allow us to go further.
View our Full Impact.
The Research Behind the Work
Montessori education has a robust and growing evidence base. Research consistently demonstrates strong outcomes for children in Montessori settings across literacy, mathematics, executive function, and social-emotional development. The evidence is strongest when Montessori is implemented with fidelity and cultural competency — which is precisely what the BMEF exists to ensure.
We are actively developing a formal outcomes tracking system to measure educator retention, program sustainability, and family outcomes over time. This work is itself a funding priority. We are fortunate to count among our supporters one of the leading researchers in the Montessori field, and our co-founder regularly publishes research on Black Montessorians and culturally responsive practice in leading Montessori publications. The BMEF is not just a practitioner organization. We are committed to building the evidence base that will strengthen the entire field.
Where Investment Goes
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Teacher training scholarships of $2,000 per educator, child tuition scholarships of $1,000 per family, school development grants, and research and evaluation grants. These are standardized, documented, and designed to create measurable outcomes.
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The Black Montessori Conference and the Black Montessori Educator's Retreat, our two flagship gatherings that build community, professional development, and movement infrastructure across the diaspora.
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Sustained resources, professional development, and community support for educators, families, and institutions across the U.S. and diaspora.
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Building the formal evaluation framework and research infrastructure that will allow us to measure and demonstrate the long-term impact of this work.
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The operational foundation that allows us to sustain and grow all of the above with integrity and accountability.
Our Financial PictureThe BMEF operates with a lean, community-sustained model. Our current annual operating budget is just over $100,000, the majority of which supports direct program costs. Administrative costs are kept to a minimum.
We are deliberately diversifying our funding base following the loss of a major institutional funder in 2024. Our individual donor base is growing steadily, and our membership program provides a new and expanding revenue stream. We are actively seeking institutional investment to support organizational sustainability, program growth, and the outcomes infrastructure this work deserves.
Our current stabilization goal is $40,000 over 90 days. Multi-year commitments are particularly welcome as we build toward long-term organizational resilience.
All grants received by the BMEF are administered through our fiscal sponsor, Mentors of Minorities in Education (MOMIEs), a 501(c)(3) based in Washington, D.C., which provides fiduciary oversight and ensures compliance with all applicable regulations.
Ways to Fund This Work
We are a transparent, accountable, and mission-driven organization. Our impact report is available to review before any conversation begins. We welcome multi-year commitments, project-specific grants, event sponsorships, and any funding mechanism that works for you. If your priorities align with this work, we want to hear from you.