Tori Foster
Tori Foster serves as a Managing Director at McAllister & Quinn, where she advises nonprofit organizations and public agencies on securing federal, state, and private funding to advance mission‑critical priorities. In this role, she specializes in supporting clients with strategic planning efforts, grant research and proposal development, grant readiness training, and government affairs.
After a turbulent 2025, marked by canceled grants, shifting priorities, and rapid policy changes, Tori Foster provides clarity and actionable guidance for K-12 administrators preparing for the year ahead.
McAllister & Quinn is proud to share that our Managing Director, Tori Foster, was recently featured in ESEA Now, offering timely analysis on the current state of federal discretionary grants for K–12 schools.
Summary of the Published ESEA Now Article
School Administrators entered 2026 with justifiable uncertainty after the U.S. Department of Education abruptly canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in grants last year and adjusted its review criteria under an executive order. However, Tori noted that the pace of upheaval has begun to slow:
“While there’s always some unpredictability, I would consider the grant environment more stable, and I would say applicants can plan with greater confidence this new year.”
She emphasized that the mass review and termination phase, primarily focused on grants involving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) elements, appears to have concluded.
Encouragingly, agencies have resumed releasing quarterly forecasts, a signal that grant cycles may be returning to predictable rhythms.
The shift in federal expectations means districts must adjust how they structure their applications, particularly around how they describe student need.
Tori advised applicants to move away from identity-based framing, which could trigger compliance concerns under new federal direction, and instead root their need statements in objective data:
“Anchor your need statements in neutral and objective data. Utilize school surveys, attendance, poverty indices, and other indications of need.”
For example, rather than referencing demographic categories, Tori recommends focusing on students meeting specific risk thresholds based on academic proficiencies or attendance rates.
Perhaps her most practical piece of advice:
“Mirror the language within the NOFO… that’s really going to be what they’re looking for as far as criteria alignment. When in doubt, use their language.”
This disciplined focus on agency terminology can help applicants avoid inadvertently conflicting with policy constraints.
Perhaps her most practical piece of advice:
“Mirror the language within the NOFO… that’s really going to be what they’re looking for as far as criteria alignment. When in doubt, use their language.”
This disciplined focus on agency terminology can help applicants avoid inadvertently conflicting with policy constraints.
What to Watch in 2026
Looking ahead, Tori highlighted several developments that could further shape the federal grant landscape:
- Congressional spending negotiations, which will determine how federal education programs are funded.
- Implementation impacts of the August executive order, which gives agency appointees expanded authority over discretionary grant decisions.
- Potential changes to indirect cost rates, which may face increased scrutiny and possible reductions.
These factors underscore the importance of staying closely attuned to federal shifts and the value of strategic guidance during a period of continued change.