The AIR Opportunity Fund:
Advancing Evidence to Improve Lives
The AIR Opportunity Fund invests in innovative research and bold solutions to expand opportunities for all. Backed by a $225 million commitment from AIR, we work alongside our partners to improve education and workforce development, promote safe and secure neighborhoods, and enhance health outcomes and community well-being. Through collaboration and evidence-based approaches, we strive to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and foster lasting, positive change.
Learn more about the AIR Opportunity Fund.
Explore funding opportunities.
Our Work: Strategies for Expanding Opportunity
We expand opportunity by supporting innovative and underfunded efforts across our focus areas to improve educational experiences, strengthen public safety and trust, advance economic mobility, and promote better health and well-being for communities facing significant challenges.
Central to our approach is working in partnership with people and organizations who experience these challenges firsthand and those who play key roles in decisionmaking. By incorporating a wide range of perspectives, lived experiences, and expertise, we develop strategies and solutions that reflect the unique needs and strengths of the communities we serve.
Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers
Our Programs
Our Approach
Track Our Progress
Creating Connections
Our 2023 annual report features stories, data, and project highlights from our efforts to build bridges toward a more equitable world, where all communities and people can thrive.
By the Numbers
Our growing number of grants and partnerships support a wide variety of projects and geographic scopes.
Figures current as of January 2024
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Meet the Team
Rashawn Ray
Vice President and Executive Director of the AIR Opportunity Fund
Rashawn Ray is an AIR Vice President and Executive Director of the AIR Opportunity Fund. A leading sociologist, Dr. Ray’s research focuses on understanding the systems that create and perpetuate disparities in society. He has published numerous books, articles, and op-eds, and is a frequent commentator in the media. Dr. Ray also testifies at the federal and state levels on topics such as criminal justice reform, public safety, health policy, and economic opportunity.