IEFG Future Leaders
Reimagining the future of education philanthropy
“FLiEP has been like climbing a mountain with others who see far; challenging, humbling, and expanding my horizon of what’s possible in education philanthropy.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“This journey isn’t just about sharpening your leadership; it’s about shaping the future of education philanthropy.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“…turned my understanding of leadership inside out — from leading with answers to leading through listening.“
Participant, 2025 cohort“… the biggest asset was bringing together a diverse cohort of leaders from different organizations. The wide array of perspectives, philanthropic approaches etc was incredibly valuable”
Participant, 2025 cohort“People were always open, curious, and generous with their experiences. Those exchanges made me feel part of a collective that truly wants to learn and grow together.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s about listening deeply enough that others start to hear each other.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“FLIEP helped me see leadership in education philanthropy as less about control and more about connection, listening, learning, and creating space for others to lead. It reminded me that influence can come through humility and collaboration, not just authority.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“FLiEP has sharpened my view that leadership in education philanthropy is not about scaling our own programs, but about shaping the architecture through which others can scale evidence-informed solutions.
Participant, 2025 cohort“… a masterclass on collaboration.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“Each of us brought different strengths, contexts, and working styles, and instead of trying to align everything upfront, we learned to listen for patterns, build iteratively, and trust the process.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“The experience has directly shaped how I now approach partnerships in my professional role, moving from coordination to co-creation.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“This is a rare and fantastic opportunity. Savor every moment. soak in all the knowledge and connect with as many people as you can. Participate. Come with an open mind to learn and to share.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“We don’t change systems by standing outside them, we change them by learning alongside the people who live them every day.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“…it has been very meaningful to be part of this program. Education philanthropy feels so diverse, which makes it even more valuable to have close relationships in the sector and a safe space for sharing challenges and opportunities.”
Participant, 2025 cohort“By being with such a diverse group from vastly different geographies, I’ve gained much deeper understanding of equity and inclusion.”
Participant, 2025 cohortFuture Leaders in Education Philanthropy is a ground-breaking program leveraging the research and thought-leadership of the IEFG community and its partners.
program type
Hybrid (two three-day in-person retreats and online sessions)
location
Online
In-Person Retreat 1 | Delhi, India; 6 – 8 Oct 2026, in collaboration with the Convergence Foundation
In-Person Retreat 2 | Washington, D.C. USA, 18 – 20 May 2027, in collaboration with Georgetown University
Start date
September 2026
End date
May 2027
duration
Nine months
costs
$5,000
This fee covers all tuition and faculty sessions, course materials, daily lunches and networking events during in-person retreats.
Travel and accommodation for the retreats are not included and must be arranged independently by participants.
If your organization is in a position to contribute more than the standard fee, we sincerely appreciate this. Additional contributions may enable IEFG to offer partial scholarships to participants from organizations with more limited financial resources, strengthening the diversity and inclusivity of the cohort.
A limited number or partial scholarships may be available based on need.
To apply for the IEFG Future Leaders program, download the application pack. For enquiries, please contact: Barbara Hanisch-Cerda at barbara@iefg.org.
Overview
IEFG aims to increase the overall impact of the education philanthropy sector through knowledgeable and connected leaders who understand the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in education development and philanthropy, who have a collaborative mindset, and who work together to achieve better education outcomes.
IEFG Future Leaders is a ground-breaking program that leverages the research and thought leadership of the IEFG community and its partners. Through this program, we aim to foster a diverse and inclusive community and talent pool for leadership roles in the education philanthropy sector. This is a program that simultaneously gives you the big picture understanding of educational development, and the frameworks and the resources you need to make a shift in how you do your educational grantmaking and program management and build towards a better future. You will walk away with a network of peers and resources and knowledge to lead change.
This is a hybrid program involving a mix of virtual sessions and two in-person retreats in Delhi and Washington, D.C. During these retreats, participants will connect with each other and education development and educational philanthropy practitioners from around the globe.
Impact
Benefits for you
Benefits for your organization
Program Content
Education, development and systems
Education, development and systems
We will explore how education contributes to economic and social development. How does education shape long-term economic prosperity and societal stability? Why do schooling systems often struggle to produce learning at scale?
Access, quality and inequality
Access, quality and inequality
What prevents equitable access to quality education? How do gender, disability, poverty and geography shape learning outcomes? How can philanthropy address structural inequalities responsibly?
Education and politics
Education and politics
Why do some education reforms succeed and others don’t? How do political incentives shape education systems? What is philanthropy leverage within public systems?
Evidence, impact and decision-making
Evidence, impact and decision-making
What accounts for credible evidence in education? How should philanthropic leaders interpret and use research? What are the tradeoffs between rigor and practicality?
Grantmaking
Grantmaking
How do different grantmaking models differ, how they structure power and accountability? What are the tradeoffs between different grantmaking models: strategic, trust-based and systemic, community-led, performance-oriented approaches?
Leadership in philanthropy
Leadership in philanthropy
What does it mean to lead responsibly in philanthropy? How do values shape strategic decisions? How can leaders navigate complexity and uncertainty? How is global philanthropy evolving? How can philanthropic leaders exercise influence and build effective collaborations?
How do you learn?
Who should join?
The IEFG Future Leaders program is open to staff and trustees of International Education Funders Group member organizations.
We define ‘Future Leaders’ broadly: this could be you if you aspire to management positions or thought leadership roles. We do not specify years of experience or age profile. Our aim is to create a cohort of leaders who represent the global community and the diversity of roles and types of philanthropic organizations. The IEFG Future Leaders program prioritizes the participation of professionals from underrepresented communities in philanthropy, as well as organizations from the Global South
We will accept up to 30 Future Leaders into this year’s cohort. To ensure diverse representation from across our membership, we will limit the number of participants from any single organization.
Faculty
Speakers: FLIEP convenes leaders in philanthropy, renowned practitioners, and distinguished academics from across the globe. Faculty include senior foundation executives, policymakers, development economists, education researchers, and leaders of large-scale education initiatives. Speakers from the previous cohort included Eric Hanushek, Pauline Rose, Kwame Akyeampong, Asim Khwaja, Jishnu Das, Ken Opalo, Jaime Saavedra, and philanthropic leaders such as Simon Sommer, Sara Ruto, Ben Piper, and Raman Sidhu. This blend of academic rigor and applied leadership ensures that participants engage with both cutting-edge research and real-world philanthropic practice across diverse regional contexts.
Sample schedule
Fees and entry requirements
Tuition fee
The participation fee for the IEFG Future Leaders in Education Philanthropy program is $ 5,000 USD per participant.
This fee covers: all tuition and faculty sessions, course materials, daily lunches and networking events during in-person retreats.
Travel and accommodation for the retreats are not included and must be arranged independently by participants.
If your organization is in a position to contribute more than the standard fee, we sincerely appreciate this. Additional contributions may enable IEFG to offer partial scholarships to participants from organizations with more limited financial resources, strengthening the diversity and inclusivity of the cohort.
A limited number or partial scholarships may be available based on need.
Entry requirements
The program will be fully in English.
The program is only for staff of IEFG member organizations.
FAQs
Welcome to the IEFG Future Leaders program FAQ section! Here, you’ll find answers to common questions about our program, including details on the application process, program structure, costs, and more. Our aim is to provide you with all the information you need to apply and participate confidently. If you have any questions not covered here, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at barbara@iefg.org.
Applications will open 1 March 2026 and will close on 30 April 2026.
The program starts with the first retreat in Delhi.
Before the retreat there will be an orientation session on July 17th, 2026
Over a nine-month period you will commit to two three-day in-person retreats and four hours of online participation monthly. This time will be complemented with short reading packages and assignments.
The IEFG Future Leaders program is open to staff of International Education Funders Group (IEFG) member organizations.
The IEFG Future Leaders program will span approximately 9 months, during which you will be expected to attend all sessions (in-person & online).
FLIEP is designed as a cohort-based program that requires significant investment from both participants and IEFG. While we are committed to continuing to strengthen professional development within the education philanthropy sector, we cannot guarantee that the program will run every year.
Future editions will depend on demonstrated demand from member organisations and our ability to secure a sufficiently sized and diverse cohort. To ensure a high-quality learning experience and strong peer exchange, we require a minimum cohort size of approximately 20 participants.
We will assess interest following each cycle and communicate clearly with members regarding future offerings, including program structure, timeline, and application details.
If you are interested in participating but unable to join this cohort, we encourage you to stay in touch and express your interest for future consideration.
Testimonials
“FLiEP has been like climbing a mountain with others who see far; challenging, humbling, and expanding my horizon of what’s possible in education philanthropy.”
“This journey isn’t just about sharpening your leadership; it’s about shaping the future of education philanthropy.”
“… the biggest asset was bringing together a diverse cohort of leaders from different organizations. The wide array of perspectives, philanthropic approaches etc was incredibly valuable.”
“People were always open, curious, and generous with their experiences. Those exchanges made me feel part of a collective that truly wants to learn and grow together.”
“Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s about listening deeply enough that others start to hear each other.”
“FLIEP helped me see leadership in education philanthropy as less about control and more about connection, listening, learning, and creating space for others to lead. It reminded me that influence can come through humility and collaboration, not just authority.”
“FLiEP has sharpened my view that leadership in education philanthropy is not about scaling our own programs, but about shaping the architecture through which others can scale evidence-informed solutions.
“… a masterclass on collaboration.”
“Each of us brought different strengths, contexts, and working styles, and instead of trying to align everything upfront, we learned to listen for patterns, build iteratively, and trust the process.”
“The experience has directly shaped how I now approach partnerships in my professional role, moving from coordination to co-creation.”
“This is a rare and fantastic opportunity. Savor every moment. soak in all the knowledge and connect with as many people as you can. Participate. Come with an open mind to learn and to share.”
“We don’t change systems by standing outside them, we change them by learning alongside the people who live them every day.”
“…it has been very meaningful to be part of this programme. Education philanthropy feels so diverse, which makes it even more valuable to have close relationships in the sector and a safe space for sharing challenges and opportunities.”
“By being with such a diverse group from vastly different geographies, I’ve gained much deeper understanding of equity and inclusion.”