Erik Brown began working with Aspire Capital Partners in 2010, a private investment fund that focuses on investing in the life science and technology sectors. Before joining Aspire Capital, Erik Brown worked at several other financial institutions in Chicago. Community involved, he is also a former member of the Chicago Public Education Fund Leadership Board.
The Chicago Public Education Fund was established with the goal of investing in initiatives and projects that would have a positive and direct impact on the quality of education received by students throughout Chicago.
One of the first city-based philanthropic venture funds in the country, the fund was founded in 2000. Under the leadership of Janet Knupp, Fund 1 distributed $10 million to organizations that focused on enhancing the skills and support of school leadership. This was done with the goal of raising the bar of quality for Chicago’s teachers and principals.
Four years later Fund 2 utilized $15 million to invest in certification programs and innovators looking for new ways to support educators and administrators.
Fund 3 began in 2008 with $20 million and the goal of enhancing school evaluation systems. These funds were put toward enabling administrators to identify skilled teachers and explore how best to retain them in the Chicago system.
In 2013, Fund 4 invested in supporting public school principals. An investment of $25 million allowed Fund 4 to more than double the city's number of high-performing principals.
The current fund, Fund 5, started in 2018 with $26.5 million. Its goal is to attract strong leaders to Chicago's schools and provide support to improve senior administrator retention rates.
The Chicago Public Education Fund was established with the goal of investing in initiatives and projects that would have a positive and direct impact on the quality of education received by students throughout Chicago.
One of the first city-based philanthropic venture funds in the country, the fund was founded in 2000. Under the leadership of Janet Knupp, Fund 1 distributed $10 million to organizations that focused on enhancing the skills and support of school leadership. This was done with the goal of raising the bar of quality for Chicago’s teachers and principals.
Four years later Fund 2 utilized $15 million to invest in certification programs and innovators looking for new ways to support educators and administrators.
Fund 3 began in 2008 with $20 million and the goal of enhancing school evaluation systems. These funds were put toward enabling administrators to identify skilled teachers and explore how best to retain them in the Chicago system.
In 2013, Fund 4 invested in supporting public school principals. An investment of $25 million allowed Fund 4 to more than double the city's number of high-performing principals.
The current fund, Fund 5, started in 2018 with $26.5 million. Its goal is to attract strong leaders to Chicago's schools and provide support to improve senior administrator retention rates.
