How It Works

The Foundation Registry i3 simplifies the process for organizations seeking matching foundation funds for their Department of Education's Investing in Innovation (i3) proposal. Registrants must be applicants to the Department of Education's i3 program.

There is no cost to use the Foundation Registry. Once registered, your proposal is accessible to participating foundations. Not all organizations that register a proposal will be contacted and/or funded.

For the i3 program, matching fund requirements vary by grant type: Development grants require 15%, Validation grants require 10%, and Scale-Up grants require 5% in matching private-sector funds.

The Foundation Registry i3 offers a streamlined way for organizations to navigate the matching grant process connected to the Department of Education Investing in Innovation program. Rather than searching independently for funding partners, applicants can use a single, centralized platform to connect with participating foundations. This approach removes much of the administrative burden that often accompanies grant seeking, allowing teams to focus more energy on developing strong project proposals and less time on the logistics of finding the right funding match.

Registering an i3 project proposal through the registry is designed to be straightforward and accessible. Organizations create an account, upload the necessary documents, and save their progress along the way. The step-by-step guide walks applicants through each stage of the process, ensuring that nothing is overlooked. Because the system allows users to return to their submissions, there is no pressure to complete everything in a single sitting, making the experience more manageable for busy teams.

A core strength of the registry lies in the community of participating foundations that helped shape it. What began as a small group of funders interested in the i3 program grew into a broad coalition of organizations committed to supporting innovation in education. This collaborative spirit means that proposals entered into the registry become viewable to multiple foundations at once, increasing the visibility of each project and creating more opportunities for meaningful connections between innovators and funders.

The registry operates on a simple principle: making the matching process as transparent and efficient as possible. Once a proposal is registered, participating foundations can review it according to their own priorities and criteria. There is no cost to the applicant for using the registry, and the platform does not make funding decisions itself. Instead, it serves as a bridge, helping the right proposals find the right foundation partners without adding unnecessary complexity to an already demanding process.

Organizations considering the registry should understand that registration does not guarantee funding, nor does it replace the formal i3 application process with the Department of Education. The registry is a complementary tool designed specifically to facilitate the matching component of the grant program. Applicants are encouraged to read the privacy policy and terms of use carefully, and to note that foundations may contact organizations directly if a proposal aligns with their funding interests.

The platform was administered in association with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a network of other funding organizations, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing educational innovation. By bringing together dozens of foundations under a unified system, the registry helps level the playing field, giving a wider range of applicants the chance to be seen by potential funders who are actively seeking projects to support through the i3 program.

For those ready to get started, the path forward is clear: create an account, follow the guided steps to upload your proposal documents, and let the registry do the work of connecting your project with interested foundations. The design emphasizes ease of use at every turn, from the simple registration process to the ability to save and return to your work. It is a practical resource built to support innovation in education by making the matching grant journey a little easier to navigate.