The Ed Fund, West Contra Costa’s Public Education Fund, was founded in 1983 in response to the decline in funding to public education caused by the passage of Proposition 13. Proposition 13 severely cut funding to
local public schools.

In 2010, the Ed Fund recognized that there was a strong need in the community for someone to convene and align community partners in support of students of the West Costa Contra Unified School District. Beginning in 2011, the Ed Fund convened the West County College Access Network and Out-of-School Time Collaborative consisting of partner organizations representing the West Contra Costa Unified School District, Contra Costa College, city recreation departments, community based organizations, and local governmental agencies.

Based on the successes of these collaboratives, in 2015, the Ed Fund Board of Directors and staff proposed that the Ed Fund formally transition its role to that of an intermediary organization focused on developing collaborative groups that provide resources and support to aid students with college readiness, access, and completion.