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 world-class research into child learning and development, with practical impact on policy and practice.

JF Research Fellowship
Klaus J. Jacobs Research Award


Partnership Innovator

We ignite multi-stakeholder coalitions between governments, industry, schools, and social purpose organizations to jointly scale up effective education policies and practices.

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


Catalytic Investor

We support policy innovation by facilitating access to knowledge, data, and tools, to promote learning and practice improvement, instigate change, and inspire leadership approaches to strengthen the entire learning system.

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


Policy Entrepreneur

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.

Transforming Education in Cocoa Communities (TRECC)
Quality education in Ghana
Quality education in Colombia
Effective digitalization for Swiss education