Seventh-day Adventist Initiative

Throughout its more than 50-year history, the foundation has been committed to supporting Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) schools and partners in creating environments where all children and families have equitable opportunities and resources to thrive.  

This work initially focused on supporting individual schools and elementary/secondary students, but the foundation’s approach and partnerships have evolved over the years in response to the shifting needs of the SDA community and the foundation’s overall strategy. We have moved from direct services to investments in early childhood and systems-level change in SDA education. 

Today, our SDA partnerships focus primarily on three areas. 

Advancing Christian Education (ACE) Academy: Strengthening Leadership in SDA Schools

Since launching in 2015, ACE Academy has worked to develop a strong pipeline of SDA school leaders who are prepared to meet the instructional, operational, and strategic needs of their communities. Through offerings such as the ACE Academy Executive Coaching Program — a two-year experience for seasoned principals to support and mentor newer school leaders — ACE builds the leadership capacity that underpins effective schools and student success.

Organizational Strategic Planning

Schools and systems benefit from thoughtful, mission-driven planning. We support SDA partners in strengthening their operational practices and aligning resources — such as partnerships, funding, and internal processes — to achieve long-term goals. This work helps organizations sharpen their focus and improve how they serve students, families, and communities.

Building Organizational Effectiveness and Awareness

We also invest in helping our partners strengthen their internal culture, systems, and capacity to create welcoming and responsive environments for all students and families. This includes opportunities to reflect on practices, broaden perspectives, and build the tools and knowledge needed to grow as organizations.