This year, Bellwether celebrated our 15th anniversary. Through partner profiles amplifying their work, firsthand accounts of our experts’ impact in the field, convenings with education leaders in cities nationwide, digital conversations, and more, we sustained a yearlong conversation about where we’ve been, where we’re headed, and the client relationships and results we’ve forged along the way. Here are a few highlights from this year’s 15th anniversary:

• We kicked things off with reflections from Managing Partner, Rebecca Gifford Goldberg, about Bellwether’s growth since our 2010 founding, and our ongoing commitment to helping all young people live fulfilling lives in flourishing communities.
• We featured a range of partnerships and amplified the great work that current, former, and ongoing clients are doing in communities across the country, as well as insights from our experts on the latest sector trends.
• We hosted five regional gatherings — forums where we (re)connected with leaders across the country and discussed the sector’s most pressing issues — everywhere from Atlanta to the Bay Area to Houston. We also convened nearly 30 digital events through webinars and LinkedIn Lives focused on patterns and trends in education.
• We facilitated conversations with new and longtime partners on the state of education in their communities and their perspectives on the pressing issues facing young people, schools, and communities they serve, through a series of Q&A blog posts and commentary featuring a large urban district, leading artificial intelligence experts, a family-fueled foundation, and philanthropic leaders.

As proud as we are of our work over the last 15 years, so much work remains to reach our mission. That’s why we capped off a year of celebrations with the launch of Bellwether’s new 2026-2030 strategic plan, a roadmap for expanding our impact and reimagining what’s possible for young people and the broader education sector in the years ahead.

We’re energized by the challenges and opportunities on the horizon in 2026 and beyond, and we’re fueled every day by our mission. We invite you to stay connected to Bellwether in the new year by reaching out, subscribing to our newsletters, and dropping our team a line. And check out more of our 15th-anniversary content, below.