By: AIF Staff
Janesville, WI – Earlier this week, former Speaker of the House and American Idea Foundation (AIF) President Paul Ryan informed leaders of a half-dozen non-profits around the United States that their organizations were selected to receive grant funding and strategic support from AIF in the year ahead. Each of these groups was chosen because of their exemplary work to spur upward mobility and fight poverty in an evidence-based way.
Ryan, who co-authored the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, has long advocated for the federal government to deepen its use of empirical studies and data when evaluating how best to assist Americans who are in-need.
Since 2022, the American Idea Foundation has issued millions of dollars in grants to non-profit groups deepening their use of evidence to address problems like recidivism, addiction, early childhood health, job training, and homelessness. Throughout the year, Ryan and his Foundation will visit these organizations, offer policy expertise, and partner with them in furtherance of their work.
In announcing the American Idea Foundation’s 2026 grant recipients, Ryan said:
“This Spring, I spent a day touring 7th and 8th grade math classes with philanthropists, representatives from Governor Wes Moore’s office, and leaders from the Charles County School District to better understand how ASSISTments, an innovative education platform combining technology and data to improve mathematics comprehension, is helping students.
It was inspiring to see not only leaders from the public and private sector align around a data-driven intervention, but also the positive impact ASSISTments is having on test scores, teacher satisfaction, and students’ desire to learn. ASSISTments’ partnership with the State of Maryland and philanthropic groups like the American Idea Foundation shows how we can unite around evidence-based solutions to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. It is a template that other school districts and governments can, and should, follow.
Our 2026 grant recipients are equally inspiring. They are at the forefront of advancing truly innovative strategies to fight poverty and promote upward mobility. The 2026 recipients include groups with whom I’ve worked for years, like Catholic Charities of Fort Worth and Bernie’s Book Bank, as well as new organizations like Kidz2Leaders and 100 Families. All these groups are united in their desire to save lives and improve our communities, and I could not be more excited to support their work in the year ahead.”
The 2026 American Idea Foundation grant recipients are….
– 100 Families – Restore Hope – Bernie’s Book Bank
– Catholic Charities of Fort Worth – Corner to Corner
– Kidz2Leaders – Little Scandinavia
Started by Ryan in late 2019, the American Idea Foundation believes by taking the politics out of poverty-fighting and focusing on outcomes and results, successful programs can be scaled, elevated, and replicated. The Foundation believes this approach of prioritizing what works and validating these interventions with evidence will provide policymakers with a better blueprint to address the challenges facing individuals and communities across the United States.
Past recipients of grant funding from the American Idea Foundation include:
ACE-CUNY, ASSISTments, Bernie’s Book Bank, Bottom Line, Brigid’s Path, Care Portal, Catholic Charities of Fort Worth, Child First, College Possible, Corner to Corner, Downtown Boxing Gym, Family Promise of West Michigan, Family Promise of Wisconsin, Found Village, Friends of the Children, Future Forward, Gatekeepers, I.C.Stars, The Joseph Project, Merit America, NPower, Per Scholas, Safe Families for Children, , Saga Education, Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, Wisconsin Inmate Education Association, and the Women’s Bean Project.
###