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Theory of

Change

Embracing variability in learning so that all children can realize their learning potential and thrive together

OUR CORE COMPETENCES
OUR PROGRAM PORTFOLIOS
OUR DESIRED IMPACT

The starting point to our Strategy 2030 Theory of Change are our Core Competences – the domains of expertise that characterize our philanthropic approach and programmatic investments. We apply these Competences to maximize the Foundation’s strategic value-add in all areas of our work and amplify the impact of our philanthropic giving.

Evidence
Generator &
Translator

We fund research to advance multidisciplinary scientific breakthroughs and promote the generation and translation into practice of evidence on child learning and development that can have an impact on policy and practice.

JF Research Fellowship
Klaus J. Jacobs Research Award
School Action Learning Exchange (SALEX)

We use a broad range of financial mechanisms to mobilize our own capital and encourage third-party investment to amplify high-impact opportunities at scale that would not otherwise be realized.​

Learning EdTech Impact Funds (LEIF)
Impact-Linked Fund for Education (ILFF)
Child Learning and Education Facility (CLEF)

CATALYTIC
INVESTOR

PARTNERSHIPS
INNOVATOR

We ignite multi-stakeholder coalitions among researchers, governments, companies, and schools, with the goal of leveraging capacities, knowledge, and resources and jointly scaling up effective education policies and practices.​

Jacobs Foundation Conference
Connecting the EdTech Research Ecosystem (CERES)
Leveraging Evidence for Action to Promote Change (LEAP)

We strengthen the formulation and implementation of education policy by taking advantage of opportunities to introduce or refine evidence-based policy instruments and practices, catalyze change-management processes, and transform leadership capacity and approaches.

Effective digitalization for Swiss education
Quality education in Ghana
Quality education in Colombia

POLICY
ENTREPRENEUR

Continuous
Learning &
Dialogue

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What is thriving?

 

We recognize that the definition of thriving in both the academic literature and as a global construct is highly subjective and that there is no single commonly accepted universal definition – it may vary across individual, cultural, socio-economic, and temporal dimensions. While fully acknowledging this, we have developed the Foundation’s definition that aligns with our commitment to child learning and development and transforming education around the world as expressed in the Foundation’s Strategy 2030:

Thriving is a dynamic process of optimal learning and development characterized by a child’s holistic state of physical, psychological*, emotional, and relational wellbeing.

Thriving goes beyond momentary wellbeing to include individual growth and positive enhancement across multiple domains. An individual’s thriving is profoundly influenced by their biology and context – the complex interaction of genes, people, and places – and how they respond and adapt to that context. Hence, learning and development are shaped by cultural, social, emotional, and biological factors that contribute to individual variability in learning needs, preferences, and outcomes.

To support all children’s thriving, the Jacobs Foundation embraces this inherent learning variability for each child and invests in the creation of learning environments, experiences, and ecosystems that adapt to this variability and equip each child with the knowledge, skills, and qualities to thrive as individuals contributing to societal and planetary wellbeing.

*Psychological is defined to encompass mental and cognitive wellbeing.

A unified strategic approach embeds our core theme of embracing variability in learning across the work of three portfolios: Learning Minds, Learning Schools, and Learning Societies. This creates mutually reinforcing programmatic linkages to maximize our overall impact – from evidence to action to systems.

 

Learning Minds

Supporting the world’s leading researchers and practitioners to understand how children develop and learn

Explore Learning Minds

 

Learning Schools

Strengthening research and collaboration across the global school system to promote evidence-based practice

Explore Learning Schools

 

Learning Societies

Modelling adaptive learning ecosystems by using evidence, mobilizing resources, and supporting community-led system change

Explore Learning Societies

FIELD-BUILDING

The direct impact of our work results in communities, researchers, practitioners, governments, funders, and investors collaboratively defining, designing, and delivering evidence-based policies, programs, and practices that embrace variability in learning.

In the long-term, we want our work to contribute to sustainable systemic change resulting in more resilient and adaptive learning ecosystems that serve every child’s needs. We are committed to sharing what we learn to actively stimulate and inspire systemic change beyond our reach.

Sustainable systemic
change

Learning ecosystems continuously improve, with evidence-informed policies and practices becoming widely adopted.

Inspiration beyond our reach

Approaches to systems transformation inspire others and are adapted beyond the Foundation’s reach.

Adaptive Learning Ecosystems

Learning ecosystems in diverse contexts adapt to variability in learning and provide all children with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, tools and equitable opportunities to reach their full learning potential and thrive together.