Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund
What if every New York City student had the technology to unlock their potential? The Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund is a collaboration among Robin Hood, Overdeck Family Foundation, and Siegel Family Endowment investing in innovations that advance achievement for students living in poverty.
The Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund is dedicated to unlocking the potential of technology to transform learning and advance achievement for low-income students in New York City. We seed and scale bright spots of innovation in two focus areas:
- Computational Thinking (Elementary–Middle School): Developing problem-solving, data, and algorithmic reasoning skills so students can think, solve, and create with technology.
- Blended, High-Quality, Content-Rich Literacy (K–12): Integrating technology, top-tier curriculum, and teacher support to boost reading and writing.Across both pillars, we build the research base and share learnings with the field to support replication and scale.
Across both pillars, we build the research base and share learnings with the field to support replication and scale.
Why It Matters
New York City students living in poverty too often lack access to learning that meets their needs, unlocks their potential, and prepares them for a global, tech-driven economy. The Fund brings together leading thinkers in education and technology to change that—so all students can succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Our Partnership
The Fund is a $50 million initiative powered by Robin Hood, Overdeck Family Foundation, and Siegel Family Endowment. Together, we invest in visionary educators, curriculum providers, teacher training programs, researchers, families, and school systems to bring evidence-based innovation into classrooms.
Blending technology into curriculum and classroom practice has the potential to help teachers and students get the support they need, enhancing both teaching and learning in NYC.
Our Impact
$38
M
Invested to date
46
Community partner grantees
10.8
M
Students reached (direct and field-level reach)
Our Strategy
We work with educators, schools of education, districts, researchers, and families to:
- Advance blended literacy approaches: We help teachers integrate technology with high-quality, content-rich curricula so students build knowledge, practice skills, and receive targeted support.
What this looks like: classroom tools that surface student thinking in real time; professional learning that helps teachers use data to tailor instruction; multimedia resources that make complex topics accessible. Read the concept paper and learn about blended literacy in practice. - Promote computational thinking: We’re building a pipeline of teachers equipped to teach CT—formulating problems for computer-aided solutions, organizing/analyzing data, modeling and simulating, and using algorithmic thinking. What this looks like: pre-service and in-service training; curricula and toolkits aligned to standards; research-practice partnerships that test and refine models at scale. Read the concept paper and learn about computational thinking in practice.
Collaboration is the cornerstone of effective philanthropy, and a key to making grants that will help children become successful learners.
Grantee Spotlight: EL Education and NYC Reads
Learn more about how the Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund and grantee EL Education are working to make NYC Reads a success for students and educators
How We Work
- Seed & test: Fund promising ideas and pilots in real classrooms.
- Generate evidence: Support rigorous evaluation and continuous improvement.
- Scale what works: Share learnings, open resources, and implementation guides to help schools adopt effective models.
- Center opportunity for economic mobility: Prioritize students and communities most impacted by poverty in New York City.