The purpose of the Powell Foundation is to distribute funds for public charitable purposes, principally for the support, encouragement and assistance to education, health, conservation, and the arts with a direct impact within the Foundation's geographic zone of interest; i.e., Harris, Travis, & Walker Counties, Texas.

2.) Why did you become involved in public education?

The Powell Family has a long, family history of support for public education. Our founder Ben H. Powell III's mother was an educator who taught mathematics at SHSU and later became the first woman to serve on the Huntsville ISD School Board in 1920. The tradition of commitment to public education has continued in the family. The current president of The Powell Foundation, Nancy Powell Moore, was very active in the VIPS (Volunteers in Public Schools Program) at Houston Independent School District and her son, Harvin C. Moore IV, is currently serving his tenth year as a Houston ISD trustee. The family believes that attaining a good education is key to success and lies at the core of solving many of society's issues.

3.) What issues do you feel are important in regards to public education in Texas?

There are many critical issues that need to be addressed. They range from the quality of teacher training and preparation to elevating the academic achievement standards of schools. Probably one of the biggest issues facing the state is the poor rate of reading achievement which has led to a high drop-out rate in schools and a high remediation rate for those graduates who do go on to college. The Foundation has made a major commitment to early childhood education and early literacy since the mid 1990's based upon research demonstrating that it is the best way to ensure reading success. Additionally, the Foundation has always sought programs that have the potential to effect positive system change such as the premier charter school systems of KIPP and YES, Teach For America and some of the newer college access programs that have the capacity to grow to scale.

4.) Why did you feel joining TEGAC was important to you mission?

We came to the realization some time ago that we could not really effect much change locally within our public education system without changing things at the state level. We also realized that due to our limited asset size, we could be more effective by leveraging our resources with those of other funders who shared the same goals. We have had several positive experiences working collaboratively with other foundations over the past 20 years. Thus, joining efforts with TEGAC was a natural, logical step. We also view joining TEGAC as building upon and strengthening existing relationships with other Texas funders.

5.) Why do you feel advocacy is important to nonprofit foundations?

The philanthropic voice is one that is not often heard in the forum of public policy. Based upon the work we do, the great efforts that we see taking place in our respective communities and the due diligence that goes into our grantmaking, philanthropy is uniquely positioned to speak up. It also doesn't hurt that we tend to be more focused on outcomes, looking at things from a more objective and unbiased perspective.

6.) What is your goal for the foundation in regards to its work with public education and advocacy?

At this point, we are still putting our big toe in the water. Having only peripheral experience in the advocacy arena for the past three years, we are still learning as we go. However, by joining a group of other funders who are also learning and sharing their experience and expertise, we think that we can benefit greatly. If we can be successful at improving outcomes through public policy for Texas students, even slightly, then we will have achieved our goal.

For more information about The Powell Foundation, please visit their website at www.powellfoundation.org.