Megan Tompkins-Stange

Assistant Professor of Public Policy

(734) 615-4261 mtompkin@umich.edu

Megan Tompkins-Stange is an assistant professor of public policy at the Ford School. She is the author of Policy Patrons: Philanthropy, Education Reform, and the Politics of Influence (Harvard Education Press, 2016). She is a scholar of education policy and philanthropy, focusing on the influence of private foundations on the politics of K-12 school reform. She received her PhD in education policy and organization studies from Stanford University.

Educational Background

BAH, Stanford University
EdM, Harvard University
PhD, Stanford University School of Education

Professional Affiliations

Philanthropy Chair Scientific Committee, ESSEC Business School (École Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales)

Book

Policy Patrons: Philanthropy, Education Reform, and the Politics of Influence

Policy Patrons offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of decision making inside four influential education philanthropies: the Ford Foundation, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. The outcome is an intriguing, thought-provoking look at the impact of current philanthropic efforts on education.

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Education Policy Initiative

The Education Policy Initiative (EPI) is a program within the Ford School that brings together nationally-recognized education policy scholars focused on the generation and dissemination of policy-relevant education research. EPI conducts rigorous, applied, policy-relevant, evidence-based research informed by challenging policy questions that are relevant to education practitioners and are necessary to improve educational outcomes.

State & Hill
Discourse: Ford School faculty in the news
Dec 13, 2021
"College students can take out loans to pay for college, but it's absolutely impossible to take out a loan to pay for your own preschool. It's just not something a 3- or 4-year-old can do to manage their own education. So the idea that we have...
State & Hill
Faculty News spring 2021
Jun 10, 2021
Javed Ali has appeared recently in outlets such as 60 Minutes, ABC News, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, NPR’s Morning Edition, and the Los Angeles Times. He’ll become an associate professor of practice at the Ford School this...
Publication
Tompkins-Stange’s new study highlights crucial role of resources in shaping federal education policy
May 20, 2021
In 2008, Bill Gates gave a speech about how his foundation viewed teacher quality—specifically, separating high-performing teachers from low-performing ones through teacher evaluation—as their most important funding priority. In 2009, the Obama...
News
Gates divorce sends shockwaves through global philanthropic community
May 7, 2021
The news of the divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates shook the international philanthropic community, with speculation about the the split would mean to the foundation that bears their name. Megan Tompkins-Stange, who studies philanthropy, was widely...
State & Hill
Faculty News fall 2020
Dec 9, 2020
Javed Ali organized a panel for New America on domestic terrorism. His new podcast, The Burn Bag, produced with two Ford School alumni, A'ndre Gonawela (BA ‘19) and Ryan Rosenthal (BA ‘19), has featured U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, General David...

In the Media
Tompkins-Stange discusses "hazy rules" of donating
Jan 5, 2022 The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Debating the hazy rules of donating to charities, Megan Tompkins-Stange, assistant professor of public policy, discussed how the rules and donations affect politics. “We don’t know exactly what company and what special interest or high net-worth...
In the Media
Tompkins-Stange on Bloomberg's push to expand charter schools
Dec 10, 2021 Chalkbeat
Megan Tompkins-Stange, who studies philanthropic investments in education, calls former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's $750 million push to expand charter schools "unprecedented." But charter schools face fierce political opposition. "Bloomberg...
In the Media
Consultants can skew philanthropic funding, says Tompkins-Stange
Nov 16, 2021 The New York Times
Consultants are often called in to help guide philanthropic giving. Some say that makes the field more effective, while critics question the extent of their influence. “Consultants at places like Bridgespan are setting the menu of what...
In the Media
Tompkins-Stange on "breaking up the philanthropy boys club"
Sep 30, 2021 The New York Times
Although philanthropy used to happen in a room full of men, the sector is shifting. There has been an uptick in not only women involved in philanthropy, but also the sector's support of women and girls' organizations. “Philanthropy has been a...
In the Media
Billionaires not stepping into policy spotlight, says Tompkins-Stange
Mar 30, 2021 Vox
“Billionaires don’t have the same reverence in the eyes of the public that they had five years ago and so I think that some of their purchase in the policy process is not necessarily as palpable as it was even four or five years ago,” said Megan...

EPI Speaker Series
Disrupting traditional philanthropic power dynamics in a Detroit early learning community partnership

Oct 26, 2021, 1:00-2:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall 1220
Tompkins-Stange will discuss a proposal that nurtures increased collaboration between one Detroit neighborhood and philanthropy to improve the quality of early childhood education programs.
Welcome Week
Fall 2021 BA major orientation

Aug 27, 2021, 10:00 am-4:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall
Orientation is mandatory for all incoming undergraduates enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in public policy program.
Carbon vs. Carbon Dioxide: Using Carbon-Based (Organic) Electronics for a More Sustainable Planet

Feb 27, 2020, 4:30 pm EST
Rackham Amphitheatre (4th Floor)
EPI Speaker Series
AERA 2018 Annual Meeting April 13 - 17

Apr 13, 2018, 8:30 am EDT
New York, New York
Join EPI scholars at AERA's annual conference in New York City
Book Talks @ The Ford School
Policy Patrons: Philanthropy, education reform, and the politics of influence

Mar 20, 2017, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium
Policy Patrons offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of decision making inside four influential education philanthropies: the Ford Foundation, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

David Frum: Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy
Oct 5, 2020 1:00:00

David Frum discusses his new book, Trumpocalypse, and the impact of the Trump presidency on the political culture and democracy of the United States with moderator Megan Tompkins-Stange.
Ford School Class of 2020: Reading of the Names
May 2, 2020 0:22:20

Assistant Professor Megan Tompkins-Stange reads the names of our #fordschool20 graduates LIVE. #MGoGrad
Megan Tompkins-Stange: Why New York is suing the Trump Foundation
Jun 18, 2018 0:02:44

Megan Tompkins-Stange discusses the potential consequences that the Trump Foundation may face. BBC World. June, 2018.
Megan Tompkins-Stange - Remarks on behalf of the faculty
Apr 28, 2018 0:09:38

Megan Tompkins-Stange gives remarks on behalf of the faculty at the 2018 Ford School Commencement on April 28, 2018.
Megan Tompkins-Stange: Policy Patrons: Philanthropy, education reform, and the politics of influence
Mar 20, 2017 0:52:00

Megan Tompkins-Stange: She will be presenting the findings of her recently-published book, Policy Patrons: Philanthropy, Education Reform, and the Politics of Influence. March, 2017.

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