A key part of Grantmakers for Education's program portfolio to improve education philanthropy, the biannual Education Grantmakers Institute provides an especially unique and effective venue for strengthening the skills and knowledge of grantmakers. Held at a leading academic institution, the Institute includes noted scholars and researchers directing sessions, attendees using case studies to reflect on their work as funders, and seminars that allow for extensive conversation and debate among participants. The 2007 Grantmakers Institute took up the question of how philanthropy can best promote effective educational leadership. The program was designed to examine the unique leverage points through which grantmakers can expand and strengthen the pool of educational leaders, as well as the ways that philanthropists can affect the contexts in which leaders work to enhance their effectiveness. Key learning objectives included the following: (1) What are the characteristics of effective educational leadership--as well as the supportive policies and systems that nurture it?; (2) How can funders strengthen the leadership-development pipeline?; (3) Which kinds of environmental conditions support effective leadership?; and (4) How can grantmakers help to cultivate systems where leaders can succeed?