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Imagine Learning Foundation's 2025 Grant Recipients Announced

The Imagine Learning Foundation (ILF) has declared the awardees of its 2025 Signature Grant, underlining its strong commitment of $5 million aimed at enhancing student success. The Foundation, which operates under the banner of Imagine Learning—a frontrunner in K–12 digital-first educational solutions—has allocated $605,000 to seven nonprofit organizations. These grants will address vital issues such as student absenteeism and homelessness while extending support to those affected by the catastrophic wildfires in California.

Since its inception in 2021, the ILF has now disbursed over $1.86 million across 40 grants, significantly impacting more than 413,000 young individuals within 1,700 communities throughout the United States. These efforts have targeted pressing concerns ranging from homelessness to mental health assistance.

The ILF's strategic focus for the 2025 grant cycle continues to be on chronic absenteeism and student homelessness. These problems are particularly critical as statistics reveal that nearly 28% of students were chronically absent during the 2022–2023 academic year; from this group, 36% faced economic hardships and 48% were homeless—issues that pose considerable barriers to educational achievement. Furthermore, the alarming rise in student homelessness—approximately 1.4 million—signifies a 14% increase compared to the previous school year, with many regions already reporting worsening conditions for the 2023-2024 school year.

During the announcement, Jonathan Grayer, the Chairman and CEO of Imagine Learning, emphasized the significance of investing in student well-being beyond mere academic support. "By investing in student well-being beyond academics, we can support individual children in need and strengthen entire communities," he stated. "Through the Imagine Learning Foundation and our partnership with this year's 2025 Signature Grant recipients, we're addressing the barriers that prevent children from thriving as learners and as people."

The 2025 Signature Grant recipients feature a blend of returning partners and some newer organizations that are geared towards fulfilling the urgent needs of over 300,000 youth affected by various challenges.

Recipients of the 2025 Grants

1. BackPack Brigade ($100,000): This initiative will provide weekend hunger bags to at-risk children across five school districts in Washington, reaching over 5,000 students weekly. Their culturally-tailored menu aims to enhance attendance, especially on Mondays and Fridays.

2. Catie's Closet ($100,000): Targeting over 9,000 youth across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, this project will broaden its Special Order System (SOS) to aid those facing immediate needs, such as homelessness, foster care situations, or fire-related crises—strengthening their ability to remain in school.

3. City Year Los Angeles ($50,000): Serving over 11,000 students from grades 3 to 9, this program will offer stability, academic support, and emotional care, ensuring that resources are readily available for students and their families during the wildfire crisis.

4. Erika's Lighthouse ($75,000): Expanding its impactful Four Pillars model to over 1 million students nationally, this program supports mental health through educational initiatives, family engagement, and staff training, especially focused on those affected by trauma from the LA wildfires.

5. Operation Warm ($100,000): This initiative will distribute new coats and shoes to over 2,000 children in Los Angeles affected by the wildfires, aiming to enhance self-esteem and improve school attendance for vulnerable families.

6. SchoolHouse Connection + Attendance Works ($100,000): Building on previous successes, this collaborative effort will implement six strategies to boost attendance among chronically absent students and those experiencing homelessness.

7. Sleep in Heavenly Peace ($80,000): This nonprofit will construct and deliver high-quality beds to children lacking them, focusing efforts on those affected by the LA wildfires—aiming to provide a safe place for sleep for 5,100 children across the country.

Chris Graham, Chairman and President of the Imagine Learning Foundation, acknowledged the dedication of these grantees in overcoming external challenges faced by students. "These organizations restore hope and build confidence in every child they serve. When a student has a warm coat, a safe place to sleep, and knows they won’t be hungry over the weekend, they can focus on what matters most—learning and growing to their full potential."

About Imagine Learning Foundation

As a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the well-being of students and their support systems, the Imagine Learning Foundation merges resources with national nonprofits that focus on youth, families, and educators. Its focus is to accelerate student success through supportive initiatives in vital areas of well-being. Established in 2021, ILF continues to synergize with Imagine Learning, the preeminent provider of digital-first educational solutions—impacting 18 million students nationwide. To learn more about ILF and its work, please visit imaginelearningfoundation.org.