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The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$91.7M
Grant Range
$0K - $20.0M

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $91.7 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $351 million
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (invitation-only)
  • Grant Range: $350 - $20 million
  • Median Grant: $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Georgia (primarily Atlanta) and Montana
  • Total Grants Distributed: 461 grants in 2023

Contact Details

Website: https://blankfoundation.org/
Email: info@ambff.org
Phone: (470) 341-2109
Address: Atlanta, GA

Note: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not respond to unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry.

Overview

Established in 1995 by Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot and owner of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has granted over $1.5 billion to charitable causes. With total assets of $351 million and annual giving of approximately $91.7 million (2023), the foundation promotes positive change in peoples' lives and builds and enhances the communities in which they live. Through a multiyear strategic planning process, the foundation identified five primary areas of giving for the next decade: Atlanta's Westside, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health and Well-Being, and Youth Development. The foundation also oversees Founder Initiatives including associate-led giving programs across the Blank Family of Businesses. Geographically, more than half of its giving stays in Georgia (primarily Atlanta) and Montana. In 2024, the foundation opened the Arthur M. Blank Hospital at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, representing a $200 million commitment, and announced a transformative $50 million, ten-year scholarship commitment to Atlanta's four HBCUs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through several distinct funding streams:

Five Primary Giving Areas:

  • Atlanta's Westside: Focus on increasing economic mobility for legacy residents through affordable housing and workforce development ($22.4 million committed in 2024)
  • Democracy: Supporting pluralism, cross-aisle collaboration, and democratic participation ($3.6 million to Unite America)
  • Environment: Montana conservation and natural resource protection
  • Mental Health and Well-Being: Youth-focused mental health programs ($8 million committed in 2023)
  • Youth Development: Sports-based programs and educational initiatives ($10 million to First Tee)

Founder Initiatives:

  • AMB West Community Fund: Montana community grants (over $10 million awarded since 2001; recent round committed $1.39 million)
  • Molly Blank Fund: At-risk youth, arts and culture, and Jewish causes
  • Atlanta Falcons Youth Fund: Physical activity and nutrition for children
  • Atlanta United Community Fund: Making soccer accessible and inclusive across Georgia
  • Additional Associate-Led Giving Programs: Engaging associates from Blank Family of Businesses in philanthropy

Special Initiatives:

  • HBCU Support: $50 million scholarship fund for Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, and Spelman College
  • Gun Violence Prevention: $25 million to Fund for a Safer Future (2025)
  • Healthcare: $200 million for Arthur M. Blank Hospital at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Priority Areas

Core Focus:

  • Economic mobility and workforce development
  • Affordable housing in gentrifying neighborhoods
  • Mental health services for youth and mothers/infants
  • Democratic participation and reducing polarization
  • Environmental conservation in Montana
  • Youth development through sports and education
  • HBCU student success and graduation rates

Recent Funding Examples:

  • Atlanta Technical College: $2.5 million for Westside High Growth Industry Pathways program
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): $2.25 million
  • Montana State University: $11.25 million for Gallatin College MSU facility
  • World Central Kitchen: $2 million for hurricane relief
  • Four HBCUs: $6 million for football field refurbishment

What They Don't Fund

  • Overhead and indirect costs: Grant funds may not be used for overhead or indirect costs
  • Projects outside focus areas: Organizations with projects that fall outside the foundation's five primary areas of giving and founder initiatives
  • Geographic restrictions: In nearly all cases, grants are limited to work in Georgia or Montana (with some exceptions for national initiatives aligned with foundation priorities)
  • Unsolicited proposals: The foundation does not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The board includes both family and nonfamily members:

  • Arthur M. Blank: Founder and Chairman
  • Fay Twersky: President and Director
  • Kenny Blank: Board Member (Arthur's son)
  • Elise Eplan: Board Member
  • Josh Kimball: Board Member
  • Dena Kimball: Board Member
  • Bill Bolling: Board Member (co-founder, board chair and senior advisor of Food Well Alliance)
  • Rosalind (Roz) Brewer: Board Member (former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.)
  • Suzanne Apple: Board Member
  • David Homrich: Board Member (Senior Advisor to the Chairman of AMBFO, LLC)
  • Nancy Blank: Board Member
  • Steve Cannon: Board Member

The board includes both Arthur Blank's older children and their spouses, as well as younger family members in their 20s who serve as "board members in training."

Key Leadership

Fay Twersky, President and Director: Joined in 2020, Twersky brings extensive experience in outcomes-oriented philanthropy and is passionate about listening to grantees and the communities they serve. In her own words: "Results, relationships, respect. These qualities together are what I have come to believe are the essential ingredients of excellent philanthropy." She has emphasized that while she was trained in outcomes-oriented work, "it was in coming to Atlanta to work with Arthur Blank and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, that I got schooled on the importance of relationships. Relationships are king here."

Kelley D. Gulley: Chief of Staff

Arthur M. Blank on Values: Blank's six core leadership principles guide the foundation's work: Put People First, Listen and Respond, Include Everyone, Innovate Continuously, Lead by Example, and Give Back to Others. Blank has stated: "It's important to surround yourself with people who both understand and live by your core values and philosophy."

Quote from Arthur Blank to Fay Twersky: When interviewing Twersky for the president position, Blank told her: "Fay, I want you to know, I've been 'listening for good' my whole life."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are by invitation only, and the foundation does not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry. According to Inside Philanthropy: "A connection to the family, the foundation's staff or a past grantee will likely be the only way in."

Exception - AMB West Community Fund: This Montana-focused associate-led fund has historically accepted applications from nonprofits serving Montana communities, particularly in Park and Gallatin counties and indigenous communities. Every grant application received is reviewed and provided a site visit by members of the Fund. However, this represents a small portion of the foundation's overall grantmaking.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation's board of directors meets regularly to approve grants. For example, in September 2024, the board approved more than $24 million in grants across multiple programs.

Success Rates

Not publicly available due to invitation-only structure. In 2023, the foundation made 461 grants totaling $91.7 million.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for general foundation grants given the invitation-only structure. Organizations with existing relationships to the foundation may receive multiple grants over time for different projects or program phases.

Application Success Factors

Since the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, examining their funded organizations and public statements reveals what the foundation values:

Alignment with Core Values: The foundation is deeply values-driven, guided by Arthur Blank's six leadership principles: Put People First, Listen and Respond, Include Everyone, Innovate Continuously, Lead by Example, and Give Back to Others. Organizations that embody these principles are more likely to resonate with the foundation.

Results, Relationships, and Respect: President Fay Twersky has articulated the foundation's philosophy: "Results, relationships, respect. These qualities together are what I have come to believe are the essential ingredients of excellent philanthropy." Organizations should demonstrate:

  • Results: Strong outcomes and measurable impact
  • Relationships: Authentic connections to the communities they serve and ability to build partnerships
  • Respect: Genuine listening to stakeholders, especially those they serve

Listening to Communities: Twersky has emphasized that the foundation values organizations that "listen to its grantees but also to the people those grantees were serving." Organizations that demonstrate community feedback mechanisms and responsiveness to constituent needs align with this priority.

Economic Mobility Focus: For Atlanta's Westside initiatives, the foundation prioritizes programs that help legacy residents avoid displacement and achieve financial security. Recent grants have focused on workforce development in high-demand fields and affordable housing preservation.

Systems Change and Innovation: The foundation has shown interest in initiatives that go beyond direct service to create systemic change. For example, their $25 million commitment to gun violence prevention and focus on democratic participation demonstrate willingness to tackle complex, structural challenges.

Multi-Year Vision: Many foundation commitments span multiple years (e.g., $50 million over ten years for HBCU scholarships), indicating they value sustained partnerships over one-time projects.

Organizational Capacity: Grant sizes ranging from $350 to $20 million suggest the foundation supports organizations of all sizes, with many smaller organizations receiving support through associate-led funding programs.

Montana Connection: For Montana grants, the AMB West Community Fund prioritizes organizations serving Park and Gallatin counties and indigenous communities, with recent priorities including thriving youth, nurturing childhoods, and infrastructure.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only structure: You cannot submit an unsolicited proposal. Focus on building relationships with foundation staff, board members, past grantees, or the Blank family before seeking funding.
  • Values alignment is critical: The foundation is deeply values-driven. Organizations must authentically embody the principles of putting people first, listening and responding, including everyone, innovating continuously, leading by example, and giving back to others.
  • Geographic focus matters: Unless your work is nationally significant and aligned with foundation priorities (e.g., gun violence prevention, democracy), you must work in Georgia (especially Atlanta's Westside) or Montana.
  • Results, relationships, respect: Demonstrate strong outcomes, authentic community relationships, and genuine listening to stakeholders—these are the foundation's "essential ingredients of excellent philanthropy."
  • Associate-led programs offer entry points: The AMB West Community Fund and other associate-led programs may provide more accessible pathways for smaller Montana-based organizations, as they have historically accepted applications and conduct site visits.
  • Multi-year commitments preferred: The foundation has shown a pattern of making substantial, multi-year commitments to organizations, suggesting they value sustained partnerships over one-off projects.
  • Think big but be specific: Grant amounts range dramatically ($350 to $20 million), but all funded projects align clearly with one of the five primary giving areas or founder initiatives. Be ambitious but precise about how your work fits their strategy.

References

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