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{{#badges:stub}}'''The Eli and Edythe L. BroadFoundation''' (rhymes with "road) , commonly referred to as '''The Broad Foundation''' was , is a 501(c)(3) established by entrepreneur and philanthropist [[Eli Broad]]and Edyth Broad. Its stated mission is to "transform K-12 urban to advance entrepreneurship for the public good in education through better governance, management, labor relations science and competitionthe arts." The <ref name=about>Broad FoundationsFoundation [https://broadfoundation.org/about-us/ about us] organizational website, accessed Oct 3, which together include 2018</ref> The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Broad Art Foundation, have Foundations reported assets of totalling at nearly $23.1 03 billionin 2015.<refname=2015report>The Eli and Edyth L. Broad Foundation [http://www.broadfoundationbroadfoundationreport.org/about_foundationsbroadinteractivereport2015.html About the Broad Foundationspdf 2015-2016 Annual Report], organizational web siteOrganizational report, accessed February 4Oct 3, 20112018</ref>
==Criticism=='''2014'''* Total Revenue: $131,074,631* Total Expenses: $166,784,746* Total Assests: $1,941,410,735
A 2011 ===Grants Distributed===Currents grantees of the Broad Foundation as of Oct. 2018 are:<ref>Broad Foundation [httphttps://www.dissentmagazinebroadfoundation.org/articlecurrent-grantees/?article=3781 articlecurrent grantees] organizational site, accessed Oct 3 2017</ref> * [[BioLA]]* [[The Broad Center]]* [[Building Excellent Schools]]* [[Charter School Growth Fund]]* [[Discovery Cube Los Angeles]]* [[Fund for Equity and Excellence]]* [[Educators 4 Excellence]]* [[EnCorps STEM Teachers Program]]* [[Great Public Schools Now]]* [[Green Dot Public Schools]]* [[InnerCity Struggle]]* [[KIPP Schools]] in ''Dissent Magazine'' closely examined the state of educational philanthropy in the U* [[L.A.SPromise Fund]]* [[National Alliance for Public Charter School]]* [[Partnership for Los Angeles Schools]]* [[Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and said the Broad Performing Arts]]* [[Scholarship America]]* [[The 74 Million]]* [[Silicon Schools Fund]]* [[UCLA Foundation is one ]]* [[United Way of Greater Los Angeles]] A full list of grantees can be found on ther "Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment" on the Big Three foundations that are pouring money into influencing educational systems throughout 990-PF tax documents. 2016, the Umost recent publicly avaliable document, can be found [https://projects.Spropublica. The "Big Three" includes the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation org/nonprofits/organizations/954686318/201713129349101071/IRS990PF here] ==Board of Governors (Microsoft2015), the Walton Family Foundation (Wal-mart), and ==According to the Broad Foundation. The Broad's philanthropy, the article says, promotes market11-based goals for overhauling public education, by emphasizing choice, competition, deregulation, accountability, member board of governors "advises Eli and data-based decision-makingEdythe Broad in their philanthropic initiatives. They vehicles they fund to achieve their goals are" Current Members: charter schools, high-stakes standardized testing for students, merit pay for teachers whose students improve their test scores, firing teachers and closing schools when scores don’t rise adequately, and longitudinal data collection on the performance of every student and teacher<ref name="2015 report"/>* [[Eli Broad]]* [[Edythe L. "The education reform movement’s success so far has depended on the size and clout of the Gates-Broad-Walton triumvirate," the Dissent article states]]* [[David Baltimore]]* [[Robert Andrews Millikan]]* [[Henry Cisneros]]* [[Robert Day]]* [[Paul N. Frimmer]]* [[Jana W. Greer]]* [[Bruce Karatz]]* [[Kent Kresa]]* [[Barry Munitz]]* [[Suzanne Nora Johnson]]* [[Roderick Paige]]* [[Richard J. Riordan]]* [[Andrew L. Stern]]* [[Lawrence H. Summers]]* [[Jay S. Wintrob]]* [[Cindy S.Quane]] Former Members:<ref>Joanne Barkan Board Foundation [http://www.dissentmagazinebroadfoundation.org/articlefoundation_report.html 2009/?article=3781 Got Dough? How Billionaires Rule Our Schools10 Annual Report], Dissent MagazineEli and Edythe L. Broad Foundation, Winteraccessed February 4, 2011.</ref>*[[Morton O. Schapiro]]
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The Broad Foundation issues grants to charter school initiatives. It's founder, Eli Broad, is considered a polarizing figure. He identifies as a "liberal democrat" but has been an "ally to Republican and conservative folks through his work on charters."<ref>Arianna Prothero and Francisco Vara-Orta [https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/10/13/as-eli-broad-steps-down-will-his.html As Eli Broad Steps Down, Will His Influence on K-12 Education Last?] ''Education Week'' Oct 16 2017</ref> In his own words Broad claims to be "big believer in high-quality public schools and strong accountability for all public schools — traditional and charter." He has also been in feuds with teacher unions over charters.<ref name=nyt>Adam Nagourney and Adam Popescu [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/arts/eli-broad-foremost-patron-of-los-angeles-to-step-down-from-his-philanthropy.html Eli Broad, Patron of Los Angeles, to Step Down From His Philanthropy] ''The New York Times'' Oct. 12, 2017</ref>
One of the recipients of Broad Foundation grants is the Broad Center, which states its goal as to "develop transformational leaders in urban public education."<ref name=grantees>Broad Foundation [https://broadfoundation.org/current-grantees/ Current Grantees] Organizational website, accessed Oct. 3, 2018</ref><ref name=2015report/>
Eli Broad is the 78th wealthiest person in the world, with a $6.8 billion net worth<ref>Forbes [https://www.forbes.com/profile/eli-broad/#3cd9d40e155d Eli Broad] ''Forbes'' accessed Oct 2018</ref><ref>Igor Bosilkovski [https://www.forbes.com/sites/igorbosilkovski/2017/10/28/from-receptionist-to-president-gerun-rileys-vision-for-leading-the-multibillion-broad-foundation/#13d5fec1f9c0 From Receptionist To President: Gerun Riley's Vision For Leading The Multi-billion Broad Foundation] ''Forbes'' Oct 28, 2017</ref> The foundation's namesakes of the organization live in Los Angeles.<ref>Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation [http://www.broadfoundation.org/about_broads.html About the Broads], organizational website, accessed February 4, 2011</ref>
==News and Controversy==
===Relationship with EdPost===
A 2017 ''Huffington Post'' article states "it seems that Los Angeles billionaire Eli Broad has played a notably dominant role in EdPost." Education Post (aka EdPost) uses "[[Results in Education Foundation]]" (RIEF) as its official nonprofit name. RIEF has two affiliates of the Broad Foundation. Peter Cunningham, the executive director of EdPost, told a reporter in 2015 that "[EdPost] wasn’t my idea; I was initially approached by Broad—it was specifically because a lot of reform leaders felt like they were being piled on and that no one would come to their defense."<ref name=huffpo/>
The same article goes on to say, "Cunningham and his EdPost belong to RIEF donors. However, with its particularly declared presence, of two board members, it seems that Broad has gone above and beyond in assuring its influence over EdPost. Broad seems to really want to dominate the EdPost “conversation.”<ref name=huffpo>Mercedes Schneider [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/peter-cunninghams-education-post-chaperoned-by-broad_us_59e54e8de4b08c75593ce5fd Peter Cunningham’s Education Post Chaperoned By Broad Foundation] ''Huffington Post'' Oct 18. 2017</ref>
===Eli Broad Steps Down===
In October of 2017, Mr. Broad announced that it was “time to move on" from public life. According to ''The New York Times'' "the practical ramifications of Mr. Broad’s decision may be limited" as he had already appointed people to leadership roles within the Broad Foundation.<ref name=nyt/>
===Feud with Betsy Devos===
Despite both being billionaire education activists supporting charter schools, Eli Broad and Betsy Devos had a public disagreement. When Devos was seeking confirmation as the United States Secretary of Education, Broad sent a letter to Senate leaders stating "serious concerns about her support for unregulated charter schools and vouchers as well as the potential conflicts of interest she might bring to the job."<ref>Eli Broad [https://www.scribd.com/document/338157361/Philanthropist-Eli-Broad-major-backer-of-charter-schools-urges-senators-to-oppose-DeVos#fullscreen&from_embed Re: Betsy DeVos] letter uploaded to Scribd by Emma Brown, accessed Oct. 3 2017</ref>
The ''Washington Post'' reported that the disagreement between the two "reveals a deep split in the movement to improve public education with corporate-style changes that seek to run schools like businesses and want to greatly expand alternatives to traditional public schools."<ref>Valerie Strauss [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/02/01/why-its-a-big-deal-that-billionaire-reformer-eli-broad-is-opposing-billionaire-reformer-betsy-devos-as-education-secretary/?utm_term=.191c89df1034 Why it’s a big deal that billionaire activist Eli Broad is opposing billionaire activist Betsy DeVos as education secretary] ''Washington Post'' Feb 1, 2017</ref>
===Gerun Riley Named President===
After joining the Broad Foundation in 2003 as a receptionist, Gerun Riley was named the president of the organization in 2016.<ref>Igor Bosilkovskihttps [//www.forbes.com/sites/igorbosilkovski/2017/10/28/from-receptionist-to-president-gerun-rileys-vision-for-leading-the-multibillion-broad-foundation/#15135f8ff9c0 From Receptionist To President: Gerun Riley's Vision For Leading The Multi-billion Broad Foundation] ''Forbes'' Oct 28, 2017</ref>
==="Uncertainty" with Traditional School Systems===
In 2015, the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported that Eli Broad was "no longer certain that he wants to reward traditional school districts at all." That came in conjunction with reports that the Foundation had "suspended a coveted, $1-million prize to honor the best urban school systems out of concern that they are failing to improve quickly enough." That award went to traditional schools. Charter school awards, however, such as the $500,000 award established in 2015, were reported to be continuing. According to the ''Los Angeles Times,'' "Broad also has bypassed districts by promoting and funding charter schools, which have siphoned students from traditional schools."<ref>Howard Blume [http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-broad-prize-20150209-story.html Broad Foundation suspends $1-million prize for urban school districts] ''LA Times'' Feb 8. 2015</ref>
===Named one of the "Big Three" in "market-based" "overhauling public education"===
A 2011 [http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=3781 article] in ''Dissent Magazine'' closely examined the state of educational philanthropy in the U.S. and said the Broad Foundation is one of the Big Three foundations that are pouring money into influencing educational systems throughout the U.S. The "Big Three" includes the [[Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation]] (Microsoft), the [[Walton Family Foundation]] (Wal-mart), and the Broad Foundation. The Broad's philanthropy, the article says, promotes market-based goals for overhauling public education, by emphasizing choice, competition, deregulation, accountability, and data-based decision-making. They vehicles they fund to achieve their goals are: charter schools, high-stakes standardized testing for students, merit pay for teachers whose students improve their test scores, firing teachers and closing schools when scores don’t rise adequately, and longitudinal data collection on the performance of every student and teacher. "The education reform movement’s success so far has depended on the size and clout of the Gates-Broad-Walton triumvirate," the Dissent article states.<ref>Joanne Barkan [http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=3781 Got Dough? How Billionaires Rule Our Schools], Dissent Magazine, Winter, 2011</ref>
==History==
Eli Broad made his fortune through the creation of KB Home (a homebuilding company) and SunAmerica, Inc., a financial company. He and his wife, Edythe, both attended Detroit Public Schools, and then he attended Michigan State University. Eli graduated with a degree in accounting and become the youngest Certified Public Accountant in Michigan history. After working as an accountant for two years, Eli Broad noticed that his homebuilding clients were making far more than he was, and he and Edythe’s cousin’s husband decided they could build houses, too. Eli Broad and [[Donald Kaufman]] together founded Kaufman and Broad with the idea that if they built houses without basements (since by then, the widespread use of gas heating rendered basements to store coal unnecessary), they could offer homes with mortgage payments lower than the rent for a two-bedroom apartment. The first weekend in 1956, they priced their houses at $13,740. They sold out that same weekend and that was the start of a successful business. In 1971, Kaufman and Broad acquired a small life insurance company for $65 million that they eventually turned into a retirement savings empire. In 1999, SunAmerica merged into AIG, which purchased the business for $18 billion, and Eli Broad stepped down as CEO and became a full-time philanthropist.<ref>Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation [http://www.broadfoundation.org/about_broads.html About the Broads], organizational web site, accessed February 4, 2011</ref>
==The Broads live in Los AngelesBroad Academy==The Broad Academy is part of the Broad Center.The Academy states that it "is an advanced development program for leaders who have established careers -- most from public education -- and are ready to serve large urban school districts, state departments of education and public charter school networks."<ref name="2015report"/> Graduates of the 2015-2016 cohort are:<ref>Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation [httphttps://www.broadfoundationbroadcenter.org/about_broads.html About the Broadsalumni/directory/ Alumni Directory], organizational web Organizational site, accessed February 4, 2011Oct 2018</ref> * [[Scott Given]]* [[Donald Fennoy]]* [[Derwin Sisnett]]* [[Elliot Smalley]]* [[Diane Tavenner]]* [[Tom Torkelson]]* [[Paymon Rouhanifard]]* [[Penny Schwinn]]* [[Kriste Dragon]]* [[Aurora Lora]]* [[Bill Kurtz]]* [[Jason Kamras]]* [[Gregory White]]* [[Heather Young Anichini]]* [[Jeremy Chiappetta]]* [[Mary Elizabeth Davis]]* [[Ana Ponce]] ===Core Financials===According to 990 tax forms:<ref>Nonprofit Explorer [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954686318 The Broad Foundation] ''ProPublica'' accessed Oct 3 2017</ref> '''2016'''* Total Revenue: $150,227,391* Total Expenses: $151,816,830* Total Assests: $1,756,218,993 '''2015'''* Total Revenue: $99,327,995* Total Expenses: $103,986,182* Total Assests: $1,842,260,094
==Sourcewatch resources==
*[[Eli BroadRusslynn Ali]]
==External resources==
