Add to this landscape powerful education reform initiatives such as overhauled teacher evaluation systems, new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and an increased focus on social and emotional learning.

FORBES: To Transform the U.S. Education System, Focus on Teacher Effectiveness

They ended up passing the president's tax cuts and signature No Child Left Behind education reform law, among other big initiatives.

CNN: For Obama: OK, what now?

In other areas, namely pension reform and education, they are spending money to support initiatives that they believe are based on sound research.

WSJ: The New Science Behind Philanthropy | WSJ.Money Summer 2013