There are many people in the world who desire to influence education in America and fund educational reform. Those working hardest to improve education often go unnoticed. They are teachers, professors, union workers, parents, students, principals, and school staff members that dedicated their daily lives and careers to improving the lives of students. Where educators are left hurting is not in passion, but usually in funding. To that end, there are many other people and programs in the business world and nonprofit sector, representing a variety of industries and interests, who fund education through enrichment programs, research, supplies, and resources. For those interested in knowing who is using philanthropy to reach out to education, we have composed a sample list of contributors.

* Bill Gates
* Mayer Brown
* Hewlett Packard (HP)
* Eli Broad
* Courtney Sale Ross
* Gordon Moore
* Ted Waitt
* George Lucas
* Richard Li
* Danny Glover
* Steve Jobs
* Paul Allen
* Michael Bloomberg
* Michael Dell
* Nelson Smith
* Barack Obama
* Roy Romer
* Bob Kerry
* Marc Morial
* William Gaston Caperton III
* Henry Kravis
* Ken Mehlman
* Arnold Schwarzenegger
* Morgan Freeman
* Kevin Johnson
* Wyclef Jean
* Warren Buffett
* James Simons