Best Buy Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $13,458,232 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (competitive process)
• Decision Time: Varies by program; Twin Cities Fund decisions by July 31
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000+ (varies by program)
• Geographic Focus: National (Teen Tech Centers, Technical Skills Partner grants), Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area (Twin Cities Fund), Seattle/King County (Seattle Fund)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.bestbuyfoundation.org

Phone: (612) 291-0000

Address: 7601 Penn Avenue South, Richfield, MN 55423

Email: info@bestbuyfoundation.org, socialimpact@bestbuy.com

Application Portal: https://apply.bestbuyfoundation.org/submit

Contact Form: https://www.bestbuyfoundation.org/contact

Overview

The Best Buy Foundation, established in 1995 (EIN 41-1784382), is the philanthropic arm of Best Buy Co., Inc., based in Richfield, Minnesota. The Foundation focuses on supporting young people, particularly teens from disinvested communities and those underrepresented in technology fields, to build brighter futures through tech access, career training, and the cultivation of vibrant communities. Operating through a strategic grant portfolio in partnership with nonprofit organizations nationwide, the Foundation distributed approximately $13.5 million in grants in 2024. Its signature program, the Best Buy Teen Tech Center® network, committed to doubling locations to 100 by 2025. The Foundation has been recognized as "a refreshingly transparent corporate funder and a reliable source of support for community organizations" by Inside Philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Teen Tech Center Program (Invitation Only)

• Amount: $60,000 annually for staffing, plus $10,000 for Technology Refresh and Retool grants
• Description: The Foundation's signature program providing young people with technology education and hands-on learning spaces to build confidence and skills for school and career success
• Application: By invitation only at this time

2. Technical Skills Partner Program

• Amount: Up to $24,999 per Teen Tech Center site (national organizations), up to $70,000 per site for Career Pathways Technical Skills Partners
• Description: Supports local or national nonprofit organizations that provide hands-on STEAM programming and learning opportunities to Teen Tech Center members, or facilitate paid summer internships for teens aged 16-19
• Requirements: Career Pathways grants contingent upon securing at least two paid summer internships per site; recipients must submit impact reports one year after funding
• Application: Online application portal

3. Twin Cities Fund - Teens & Tech / Career Pathways Grants

• Amount: Median award $25,000 (Teens & Tech), $30,000 (Career Pathways)
• Description: Supports programming focused on technological exploration for teens and career development in STEAM fields in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area
• Timeline: Applications accepted February through early April
• Application Portal: https://www.cybergrants.com/bestbuy/teensandtech-careerpathways

4. Twin Cities Fund - Capital Grants

• Amount: Minimum $100,000
• Description: Supports capital projects for organizations serving the Twin Cities community, including arts and culture initiatives and community development
• Requirements: Organizations must have already raised 50% of capital campaign goal
• Application Portal: https://www.cybergrants.com/bestbuy/CapitalGrantsapplication

5. Seattle Fund

• Amount: $5,000 - $15,000 (typically)
• Description: Provides grants to nonprofit organizations in King County metro area offering career pathways in technology for teens from underserved communities through two categories: Career Pathways Grants (career development in STEAM fields) and Teens & Tech Grants (hands-on technological exploration)
• Timeline: Applications typically accepted December 1 through early March
• Duration: Up to one year of funding
• Priority: Organizations offering "wraparound" services and involving Best Buy employee volunteers

6. Community Grants (Program structure may vary)

• Amount: Up to $10,000 - $15,000, average $5,000
• Description: One-year program grants (not general operating) for community organizations
• Focus: Teen-focused technology education and career development initiatives

Priority Areas

Core Focus:

• Technology education and digital skills training for teens (ages 13-19)
• Career and college readiness programs, especially in STEAM fields
• Hands-on, out-of-school-time programming for underserved youth
• Programs serving young people in "disinvested communities" and those underrepresented in technology
• Paid internships and real-world career exploration opportunities
• Vibrant communities (Twin Cities Fund: arts, culture, community development)

Target Population:

• Teens aged 13-19 (16-19 for Career Pathways programs)
• Young people from disinvested communities and areas of concentrated poverty
• Youth underrepresented in the technology field
• Participants in informal learning spaces outside of school

What They Don't Fund

• Endowments (including as part of larger capital campaigns)
• Award ceremonies, memorials, conferences, or travel
• Health, therapeutic, or recreation programs, projects, or activities
• Athletic teams or events

Governance and Leadership

Mark Irvin serves as Chairman of the Best Buy Foundation. He is also Chief Supply Chain Officer of Best Buy Co., Inc.

Chemu Lang'at serves on the Best Buy Foundation's board and is Chief Operating Officer of Best Buy Health.

The Foundation emphasizes that "open and honest conversations with potential partners helps to create long-lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships that deliver on a shared vision and outcomes."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Teen Tech Center Program: Application by invitation only. The Foundation identifies potential partners for this signature program.

Technical Skills Partner Program: Apply through the online application portal at https://apply.bestbuyfoundation.org/submit

Twin Cities Fund Programs:

• Teens & Tech / Career Pathways: https://www.cybergrants.com/bestbuy/teensandtech-careerpathways (February - early April)
• Capital Grants: https://www.cybergrants.com/bestbuy/CapitalGrantsapplication

Seattle Fund: Applications typically accepted December 1 through early March

General Application Notes:

• Applications are web-based with character count requirements
• The Foundation is "open to meeting with organizations (in-person or via conference call) should there be a seemingly strong fit with our guidelines"
• New users should register using the organization's EIN to access the grants portal
• Reach out via the contact page at any time with questions

Eligibility Requirements (varies by program):

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with proven track record
• Programs serving youth aged 13-19 in out-of-school contexts and informal learning spaces
• For Capital Grants: Must have raised 50% of capital campaign goal
• Focus on serving young people from disinvested communities

Decision Timeline

Twin Cities Fund: Decisions made no later than July 31

Notification: Foundation staff will review proposals to determine eligibility; applicants notified by email if deemed ineligible. For complete applications, expect notification of funding decisions via email.

Site Visits: A review committee from Best Buy may choose to conduct site visits or conference calls as part of the selection process.

Success Rates

The Foundation has described its Community Grants program as having "a competitive pool of applicants." According to 2016 990 forms, the Foundation awarded only 17 community grants that year, suggesting high competition. More recent comprehensive success rate statistics are not publicly available, as the Foundation no longer shares names of grant awardees publicly.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants may request feedback once funding decisions have been announced by emailing socialimpact@bestbuy.com. Specific waiting periods or restrictions for reapplying after an unsuccessful application are not clearly documented in public materials. Contact the Foundation directly for clarification on reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

From Foundation Guidelines:

• "The overall comprehensiveness, quality and clarity of the proposal will be taken into consideration"
• Proposals are "evaluated and competitively ranked by a review committee from Best Buy"
• Programming that ensures "access to teens from disinvested communities to programs outside of school time"
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion
• When possible, enabling participation of Best Buy employees to serve as volunteers

Application Quality:

• The web-based application provides "ample space to be able to make [your] case" according to grantee feedback
• Applications typically take approximately 8 hours to complete
• Extensive financial documentation is required

Recent Funding Examples

Teen Tech Center Recipients:

• Watts Labor Community Action Committee (Los Angeles)
• Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA
• Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club (California)
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana (Gary, Indiana) - 50th Teen Tech Center opened fall 2022

Other Grant Recipients:

• Juxtaposition Arts (Minneapolis) - arts and community engagement
• Raspberry Pi Foundation (San Francisco, New York) - technology education
• Games for Change (New York) - educational gaming
• Latinitas (Austin, Texas) - Tech Savvy Chica camp
• Techbridge Girls - STEM-focused after-school programming for girls

Foundation Language and Approach

The Foundation consistently uses terminology around:

• "Disinvested communities" (not "underserved")
• "Underrepresented in the technology field"
• "Out-of-school-time programming"
• "Tech access and career training"
• "Building brighter futures"
• STEAM (not just STEM - includes Arts)

Applicant Experiences

Positive Feedback:

• "Open to nonprofits with tech components, not just fully tech-focused projects" - don't be discouraged if your project isn't entirely tech-centric
• Foundation is communicative and responsive
• Willing to provide general operating support "in a time when general operating support is shrinking or disappearing"
• Welcomes open and honest conversations with potential partners

Challenges Noted:

• Intensive application process with extensive documentation requirements
• Some applicants perceived the foundation as "heavy-handed" in determining solutions
• Limited transparency about grant awardees in recent years

Tips for Standing Out

1. Demonstrate Clear Alignment: Show how your program specifically serves teens from disinvested communities with measurable tech access and career development outcomes
2. Be Tech-Adjacent, Not Tech-Exclusive: Programs with technology components are welcomed even if not entirely tech-focused
3. Emphasize Out-of-School Programming: Highlight informal learning spaces and non-school-time activities
4. Show Community Partnership Potential: Indicate openness to Best Buy employee volunteers where relevant
5. Use Their Language: Incorporate their terminology around disinvested communities, STEAM education, and career pathways
6. Be Comprehensive and Clear: Quality and clarity of proposals are explicitly valued in their evaluation criteria

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Youth + Tech Focus: Every program must connect to technology education/access and serve teens aged 13-19 from disinvested communities - this is non-negotiable
• Not Tech-Only: Don't self-select out if your program has strong tech components but isn't exclusively technology-focused; the Foundation welcomes tech-adjacent programs
• Program Over Operating: Most grants support specific programs, not general operations, though some general operating support has been awarded
• Competitive but Accessible: While highly competitive, the Foundation welcomes communication and is open to exploratory conversations before formal applications
• Regional Opportunities: Twin Cities and Seattle-area organizations have dedicated funding streams with clearer timelines and requirements
• Investment in Relationships: The Foundation values long-term partnerships and open dialogue; consider reaching out early to discuss fit
• Employee Engagement Bonus: Programs that can involve Best Buy employee volunteers may have an advantage, especially for Seattle Fund grants

References

1. Best Buy Foundation Official Website - https://www.bestbuyfoundation.org/ (Accessed January 2026)
2. Best Buy Foundation Grant Programs - https://www.bestbuyfoundation.org/grants (Accessed January 2026)
3. Best Buy Foundation FAQs - https://www.bestbuy.com/site/misc/best-buy-foundation-faqs/pcmcat1715784042252.c (Accessed January 2026)
4. Inside Philanthropy, "Best Buy Foundation" - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-b/best-buy-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
5. GrantAdvisor Reviews of Best Buy Foundation - https://grantadvisor.org/profile.php?ein=41-1784382 (Accessed January 2026)
6. Candid Foundation Directory - Best Buy Foundation Profile (EIN 41-1784382) - https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?collection=grantmakers&key=BEST017 (Accessed January 2026)
7. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Best Buy Foundation Form 990 Filings - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/411784382 (Accessed January 2026)
8. Instrumentl 990 Report - Best Buy Foundation - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/best-buy-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
9. Best Buy Corporate News, "Best Buy Awards $2M in Grants to Local Teen-Focused Nonprofits" - https://corporate.bestbuy.com/best-buy-awards-2m-grants-local-teen-focused-nonprofits/ (Accessed January 2026)
10. Best Buy Corporate News, "Best Buy Awards Nearly $2 Million to Teen-Focused Nonprofits" - https://corporate.bestbuy.com/best-buy-awards-nearly-2-million-to-teen-focused-nonprofits/ (Accessed January 2026)