THE WACHOVIA FOUNDATION TEACHERS AND TEACHING INITIATIVE
Corporate philanthropy has the greatest impact when giving is focused on a single, well-defined area. Wachovia’s longstanding history of supporting education led The Wachovia Foundation to create the Wachovia Teachers and Teaching Initiative. This multi-million dollar program was created in 2004 to provide funding to organizations that enhance teacher recruitment, development, support, and retention, with the goal of increasing student achievement. The program ultimately seeks to increase student achievement in pre-K – 12 public education by building and supporting teachers and the teaching profession in scalable and sustainable ways.
Why did Wachovia create this program?
Our research and experience tell us that student achievement in pre-K – 12 public education is built on:
Providing high-quality development opportunities and supports for educators;
Creating world-class learning environments that are responsive to the needs of students from diverse backgrounds; and
Strengthening the infrastructure of the teaching profession through leadership and best practices by hiring and securing high-performing educators.
Because we are committed to working towards the elimination of the achievement gap and ensuring all children receive the best possible education, we created The Wachovia Teachers and Teaching Initiative to provide teachers with the tools and support they need to excel.
What types of organizations qualify for grants?
The Wachovia Foundation is interested in working with non-profit organizations that are implementing and/or developing tailored approaches to improving education in their communities.
Eligible organizations must:
Have 501(c)(3) status.
Have a mission to improve public education.
Have core programs to support pre-K – 12 public education.
Offer programs and/or services that address the systemic issues related to teachers and teaching, such as professional development, school support, recruitment or retention.
Provide programs and/or services in one or more of the following states: AL, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, MD, MS, NC, NY, NJ, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, or Washington, D.C.
Priority will be given to programs that increase student achievement in grades pre-K – 12 by:
Reaching and specifically addressing the needs of underserved, under-resourced school districts and communities.
Offering program interventions for educator learning that align with student curriculum standards and support/emphasize student achievement.
Leveraging community resources by partnering with other providers to avoid duplication of services.
Assessing the lasting impact of their efforts through data collection and evaluation.
Examples of such programs include, but are not limited to, the following:
Programs that offer school-based professional development opportunities including coaching, peer exchange, and grade-level curriculum planning with teachers.
Programs that implement a mentoring program for teachers to support preparation and completion of certification.
Programs that replicate a principal leadership institute modeled after a high-quality program that incorporates best practices.
How are grantees selected?
Potential grantees’ proposals are assessed by a selection committee, using a multi-step due diligence process to consider a variety of factors to assess if the proposal achieves the goal of the initiative to increase student achievement in pre-K-12th grade education by supporting teachers and teaching in a scalable and sustainable way. Projects selected through this process have demonstrated clear potential for making an impact and achieving the priorities and goals of the program.
What is the grant period?
Grants are awarded for a three-year period, pending semiannual progress reports.
Since this is a five-year initiative, are grants renewable?
Organizations must meet key milestones—agreed upon by both the grantee and The Wachovia Foundation—during their year as grant recipients to be eligible to reapply for another year of funding.
What is the typical grant size?
The average grant ranges from $100,000 - $250,000.
How do I submit an application for my organization?
Because we are dedicated to thoroughly measuring impact and outcomes under this new program—and are committed to dedicating resources to do this—applications are accepted by invitation only.
If your organization meets the criteria listed above and you feel it should be invited to apply, review the list of current grant recipients 
and e-mail us with more information about why your organization should be invited to submit a proposal for funding.
The Wachovia Teachers & Teaching Initiative Grant Recipients
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