Our Supporters

Scaling Our Impact

rootEd’s funding model begins with private philanthropy and scales through state partnerships. Philanthropic investment allows us to build and refine our model with local partners and demonstrate results. With strong evidence of impact, states are able to confidently expand rootEd’s reach.

rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of philanthropists, convened by BDT & MSD Partners, including the Trott Family Philanthropies, the Steward Family Foundation, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, the Carl and Marilyn Thoma Foundation, Barbara and Andy Taylor, and the William T. Kemper Foundation, among others.

A letter From Our Founder

Growing up in Union, Missouri, a small town of 5,000 residents, was deeply formative for me. My father was a telephone line repairman, and my mother, a secretary who later opened a clothing store. They instilled in me the values of hard work and the importance of education, and through a combination of work-study, scholarships, and loans, I was fortunate to attend the University of Chicago. 

I know firsthand the joys and challenges of rural life; growing up in a small town can offer a close knit community, but for many, it also means limited access to resources and opportunities. The research is clear that most of today’s well-paying jobs require education or training beyond high school. The unfortunate truth is that following generations of disinvestment, many rural high schoolers lack the means or support to get on a path themselves to that education or training. This gap can hamper their ability to support themselves and their families.

My personal experience reinforced a core belief: there is immense potential in rural students and communities. 

  • This conviction drove me to found rootEd Alliance, together with families and philanthropists who share this perspective. Our mission is simple but powerful: to help rural students achieve career success and economic stability, which has a ripple effect of supporting the vitality of rural communities and economies. 

    Since its founding, rootEd has proven to be a game-changing bridge to the necessary education and training required for rural students. 

    rootEd places dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools, ensuring every student has a clear path forward following graduation. Our advisors help students navigate their options and take the next step, whether that means pursuing a college degree, career credentials, or military service, with the goal of setting them up on a path for success. 

    We have created not just a proven model for enabling rural students’ success, but have demonstrated how philanthropy can test potential solutions and catalyze public funding and state partnerships to scale what works. 

    It’s been incredible to join hands with so many rural-serving organizations across our country and hear stories from students and their families about the difference that rootEd advisors have made in their lives and communities—and we’re just getting started.

    We hope you are inspired by the power of focused support and the potential of rural students. 

    With gratitude,

    Byron D. Trott
    Founder, rootEd Alliance
    Founder, Chairman and co-CEO of BDT & MSD Partners