The ACE Origin
It started with a bold idea in Colorado.
2000
ACE founded in Colorado to give lower-income families access to school choice. It was founded by Alex Cranberg, Charlie Gallagher, Ed McVaney, John Seaman, and John Walton.
Loren Koszowski is one of the first ACE Scholars to receive an ACE scholarship. Today she is a founder of Spruce Community school in Colorado Springs, an ACE partner school.
2012
Montana founded by Greg and Susan Gianforte
2015
Kansas founded by Redbud Foundation
2017
Texas founded by Cathy and Alex Cranberg as a part of the Stand Together partnership.
Missouri founded as a part of the Stand Together partnership.
2020
ACE entered national policy work in 2020 with its role in Espinoza v. Montana. Since then, it has worked with families, lawmakers, and partners to expand educational freedom—helping advance ESAs in Louisiana and Texas. Today, ACE continues to champion school choice and protect every family’s right to choose the education that fits them best.
2023
Mississippi founded by Matt Stuller, Boysie Bollinger, Dr. William “Kip” Schumacher.
DelMarVa founded by an anonymous donor.
2026
For over 25 years, ACE has championed educational freedom, delivering over 121,000+ scholarships totaling over $395,000,000. And we are just getting started.
2001
Norton Rainey, current ACE CEO, comes on staff at ACE Scholarships.
2014
Louisiana founded by Eddie Rispone
2016
Wyoming established by the True Family as a part of the Stand Together partnership
2018
Arkansas anonymously founded as a part of the Stand Together partnership.
2022
New Mexico and Utah founded by the Daniels Fund
2025
Hawaii founded by Ed and Kathy Bernau.
The ACE Origin
It started with a bold idea in Colorado.
2000
ACE founded in Colorado to give lower-income families access to school choice. It was founded by Alex Cranberg, Charlie Gallagher, Ed McVaney, John Seaman, John Walton.
Loren Koszowski is one of the first ACE Scholars to receive an ACE scholarship. Today she is a founder of Spruce Community school in Colorado Springs, an ACE partner school.
2001
Norton Rainey, current ACE CEO, comes on staff at ACE Scholarships.
2012
Montana founded by Greg and Susan Gianforte
2014
Louisiana founded by Eddie Rispone
2015
Kansas founded by Redbud Foundation
2016
Wyoming established by the True Family as a part of the Stand Together partnership
2017
Texas founded by Cathy and Alex Cranberg as a part of the Stand Together partnership.
Missouri founded as a part of the Stand Together partnership.
2018
Arkansas anonymously founded as a part of the Stand Together partnership.
2020
ACE entered national policy work in 2020 with its role in Espinoza v. Montana. Since then, it has worked with families, lawmakers, and partners to expand educational freedom—helping advance ESAs in Louisiana and Texas. Today, ACE continues to champion school choice and protect every family’s right to choose the education that fits them best.
2022
New Mexico and Utah founded by the Daniels Fund
2023
Mississippi founded by Matt Stuller, Boysie Bollinger, Dr. William “Kip” Schumacher.
DelMarVa founded by an anonymous donor.
2025
Hawaii founded by Ed and Kathy Bernau.
2026
For over 25 years, ACE has championed educational freedom, delivering over 121,000+ scholarships totaling over $395,000,000. And we are just getting started.
We don’t just fund scholarships. We change lives. Because Changing Education Changes Everything.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to advance K-12 educational freedom, with a focus on securing financial support for families so they may access the quality education of their choice.
Our Leadership
ACE Founders
ACE Scholarships was founded in 2000 by Alex Cranberg, Charlie Gallagher, Ralph Nagel, John Saeman and the late Ed McVaney and John Walton to provide low-income parents with the freedom to choose the K-12 schools that are best for their children.
The founders’ vision was powerful but simple: that all children have access to great schools. The founders’ commitment to launch ACE was formed through many years of frustration with a lack of reform within the public school system and unsuccessful legislative efforts to provide publicly funded vouchers to families for private school.
They were also keenly aware that low-income students lagged far behind students of other incomes and that overall, American students continued to fall further behind students in other countries.
Board of Directors
Chairman
Joe Smith
Partner, Bartlit Beck, LLC
Vice Chair
Lisa Walsh
Denver, CO
Treasurer
Scott McLean
Denver, CO
Secretary
Matt Turner
Managing Partner,
MorningStar Senior Living
Deborah Flora
Partner & Co-Founder, Lamplight Entertainment and Whetstone Media Group
Natasha Harris
Principal, Biegert Group, Inc.
Eric Koeplin
CEO, Alpha Principle
Rick Schmitz
Partner, SKS Ventures
Mike Ward
Owner, Mike Ward Automotive
Bert Williams
Managing Director, JFG Family Offices
Liz Wright
Denver, CO
26 Years of Impact
See ACE in Action
