Horace Mann Foundation

The Horace Mann Educators Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2020 by the Horace Mann Educators Corporation (HMEC).[1] Based in Springfield, Illinois, the Foundation's primary mandate is to support American educators and students by addressing systemic "roadblocks" in the education system and Providing resources for critical classroom needs.[2, 1]

History and Formation

The Foundation was formally established on February 26, 2021, marking the 75th anniversary of its parent corporation's history of serving educators.[1] HMEC, originally founded in 1945 by two teachers from the Springfield School District, provided an initial $1 million contribution to seed the Foundation's endowment.[1]

The Foundation's inaugural grant of $25,000 was awarded to Springfield Public Schools to fund "Second Step," a web-based social-emotional learning (SEL) program focused on goal setting and emotion management for elementary and middle school students.[1]

Programmatic Pillars

Student Loan Solutions

The Foundation facilitates a "Student Loan Solutions" program designed to assist educators in navigating the] (PSLF) program.[3] In 2024, the program helped educators identify approximately $28.8 million in projected loan forgiveness, with participants finding an average of more than $250 in monthly savings.[3] Since its inception, the initiative has identified over $716 million in total projected forgiveness opportunities.[3]

Classroom Crowdfunding and DonorsChoose

Through a national partnership with], the Foundation provides funding for teacher-led classroom projects to offset out-of-pocket expenses.[3] Since 2010, Horace Mann and its representatives have donated more than $7.75 million to this platform, supporting approximately 31,000 projects and impacting over 2.72 million student learning experiences.[3] In 2024 alone, the Foundation contributed $385,000 to these projects.[3]

Educator Recognition

The Foundation partners with the NEA Foundation to sponsor the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence, which honors five public school educators annually for classroom expertise and advocacy.[4, 5] Locally, it administers several recognition programs, including:

• Crystal Apple/Owl Award: Given for significant teaching achievements.[5]
• Outstanding School Employee Award: Recognizes contributions to student development by non-teaching staff.[5]
• Mugs and Kisses Award: Celebrates everyday excellence in the profession.[5]

Governance and Operations

The Foundation's board of directors is led by Marita Zuraitis, who also serves as the President and CEO of the Horace Mann Educators Corporation.[4, 6] The organization maintains a matching gift program for Horace Mann employees, matching annual donations to nonprofit organizations up to $100 per employee.[1]

Financial Summary

As a private foundation, the organization's assets were reported at $816,691 for the fiscal year ending in 2024.[7] Total annual giving has grown steadily since its formation:

Primary grant recipients in 2024 included the NEA Foundation ($100,000),] ($30,000), and the Madison Public Schools Foundation ($20,000).[8]

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

The Foundation is a key component of HMEC's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy.[9, 10] This includes a corporate pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the implementation of an "ESG modifier" in executive compensation programs to incentivize philanthropic outcomes.[9, 6, 10]

Disambiguation and Related Entities

The Horace Mann Educators Foundation is distinct from several other entities bearing the "Horace Mann" name:

• Horace Mann Bond-Leslie Pinckney Hill Scholarship: A Pennsylvania state-administered scholarship for graduates of Lincoln and Cheyney Universities.[11, 12, 13]
• Horace Mann Elementary Foundation: A local school support organization based in San Jose, California.[14]
• Horace Mann School: A private college preparatory school in Riverdale, New York.[15]