Data Philanthropy Invests $1.2M in buildOn to Expand Global Education Access and Strengthen Data Systems

buildOn, a global nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through service and education, has announced a $1.2 million partnership with Data Philanthropy, a foundation using data to address inequality and opportunity gaps.

The investment will have two key components:

• $980,000 will fund the construction of 20 new schools across Burkina Faso, Guatemala, Haiti, Malawi, and Senegal, with all projects breaking ground in 2025.
• $220,000 will support the expansion of buildOn’s Global Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system, enabling the organization to better track progress, assess outcomes, and refine programs for greater long-term impact.

This collaboration highlights a growing movement among philanthropic organizations to combine direct community investment with data-driven learning systems that ensure sustainable results.

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About buildOn

buildOn unites people through service and education to ignite opportunity and break the cycle of poverty. In the U.S., the organization empowers students from under-resourced high schools to lead service projects in their communities.

Internationally, buildOn partners with rural villages to construct schools, enroll children in class, and offer adult literacy programs. Over 5.6 million volunteer workdays have been contributed to buildOn’s efforts worldwide.

About Data Philanthropy

Data Philanthropy works to reduce inequality by applying data to close opportunity gaps, particularly in education. The foundation develops evidence-based, scalable programs that remove barriers and create lasting change.

A Shared Commitment to Measurable Impact

Jed Nahum, Vice President of Metrics at Data Philanthropy, described the partnership as a natural alignment between the two organizations.

“We’re excited to invest in buildOn’s mission to end poverty and illiteracy by funding these twenty schools,” Nahum said. “buildOn’s quest to continuously improve their outcomes by developing measurement and evaluation systems is a natural fit for Data Philanthropy’s data-focused approach to giving.”

Carrie Pena, COO of buildOn, emphasized how the partnership blends immediate impact with long-term sustainability.

“Data Philanthropy’s gift is powerful not only because it builds schools,” she said. “It also helps us create sustainable systems to measure and strengthen our impact through data. Together, we’re not only expanding access to classrooms but ensuring that the education inside those classrooms transforms lives for generations.”

How This Partnership Creates Global Impact

The collaboration between buildOn and Data Philanthropy represents a forward-thinking model for global development — one that values both infrastructure and information.

Here’s how this investment will make a difference:

✅ New Schools, New Futures: 20 schools across five countries will provide thousands of children with access to safe and quality learning environments.

📊 Better Data, Better Decisions: Enhanced monitoring and evaluation systems will help buildOn identify what works, refine its approach, and scale its impact efficiently.

🌍 Equity Through Education: The partnership directly supports buildOn’s mission to ensure that every child, regardless of geography or circumstance, has the opportunity to learn and thrive.

A Legacy of Service and Global Education

Since its founding in 1991, buildOn has worked with rural communities in eight of the world’s most economically challenged countries. To date, the organization has constructed nearly 3,000 schools, engaging over 383,000 children and adults in education and literacy programs.

Through partnerships like this one with Data Philanthropy, buildOn continues to expand not only the number of schools it builds but also the depth and sustainability of its global impact.

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