Dalio Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6.1 million (2023, Dalio Foundation Inc); $100+ million (total Dalio Philanthropies annual giving)
• Total Philanthropic Support: Over $7 billion since inception
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000,000+
• Average Grant Size: ~$200,000-$322,000
• Geographic Focus: Connecticut (primary), national, and international

Contact Details

Website: https://www.daliophilanthropies.org/
Grant Portal: https://dalio.my.site.com/grantee/
Email: inquiries@daliophilanthropies.org
Address: 1 Glendinning Place, Westport, CT 06880
EIN: 43-1965846

Overview

The Dalio Foundation Inc was established in 2003 by Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, and his wife Barbara Dalio. Operating as part of the broader Dalio Philanthropies umbrella, the foundation has provided over $7 billion in philanthropic support since inception, with current annual giving exceeding $100 million across all entities. In 2011, Ray and Barbara Dalio signed the Giving Pledge, committing to give away the majority of their wealth to charitable causes. The foundation's mission centers on creating equal opportunity, especially by providing better access to quality education, healthcare, capital, and technology. Key focus areas include K-12 education (particularly in Connecticut), ocean exploration and protection, digital access and technology education, economic empowerment, health equity, and international programs in China. The foundation operates as a small, mostly family-run organization with a highly selective, relationship-driven approach to grantmaking. In 2019, they announced their largest individual grant to date: $100 million to the state of Connecticut to improve educational outcomes among disadvantaged populations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Dalio Education (Connecticut Focus)

• Connecticut Opportunity Project (CTOP): Large, unrestricted, multiyear grants supporting nonprofits serving disconnected youth aged 14-24. Current grantees deliver 754+ active service slots.
• Teacher Professional Development: Fund for Teachers grants ($875,000 in one year supporting 153 Connecticut teachers)
• Connecticut RISE Network: Support for educators across districts to collaborate on college, career, and life readiness strategies
• Public-Private Partnership: $100 million commitment over five years for education and job training for youth aged 14-24

OceanX (Ocean Exploration and Protection)

• Partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies: $185 million over four years for ocean exploration and protection
• Grants to leading research institutions including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, American Museum of Natural History, California Academy of Sciences
• Education and diversity grants to organizations like Billion Oyster Project, Black in Marine Science, Coral Triangle Center, WWF Singapore

Endless (Technology Access and Digital Education)

• Global grants for inclusive technology and computer science education programs
• Past grantees: World Possible, Khan Academy, Girls Who Code, X Prize Foundation, Learning Equality, Kiwix, PBS Foundation, Common Sense Media
• Focus on expanding device and internet access for underserved learners

Elite University and Research Grants

• Large grants to Harvard University, Yale University, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, Stanford University
• Typical range: $10,000+ to multi-million dollar awards

Health Equity

• $50 million to New York-Presbyterian Hospital for the Dalio Center for Health Justice

China Programs (Beijing Dalio Foundation)

• Total support of approximately $129 million for education and child welfare programs in China
• Founding supporter of China Global Philanthropy Institute (CGPI)
• Grants to Schwarzman Scholars program, Henry M. Paulson Jr. Institute, Dandelion School, China Development Research Foundation

Priority Areas

• K-12 Education: Teacher development, school-based counseling and mental health, student achievement, high school completion, services for at-risk youth
• Youth Disconnection: Support for youth severely off-track or disconnected from school and employment
• Ocean Science: Ocean exploration, research, education, conservation, and storytelling
• Technology Access: Computer science education, device and internet access for underserved communities
• Economic Empowerment: Job training, microfinance, capacity building for nonprofits
• Health Equity: Healthcare access for disadvantaged populations
• Child Welfare: Focus on vulnerable children, particularly in China

What They Don't Fund

The Dalio Foundation does not publicly list specific exclusions. However, based on their stated priorities, funding is concentrated in education, ocean science, technology access, health equity, and economic empowerment. Organizations outside these areas are unlikely to receive support.

Governance and Leadership

Ray Dalio - Founder and Chief Leadership Position
Founder of Bridgewater Associates and one of the world's most successful investors. Leads overall strategic direction of Dalio Philanthropies.

Barbara Dalio - Co-Founder and Director
Co-Founder and Director of Dalio Philanthropies; Founder and CEO of Dalio Education. Barbara takes a deeply collaborative, hands-on approach to grantmaking, emphasizing community-led ideas. She has stated: "It's very important that the ideas she supports originate in the communities. 'They know. You sit with them and they know what their challenges are. They know what they need, what they don't need. They live it. It would be counter-productive to really tell them what to do.'"

Bruce Zimmerman - Chief Investment Officer
Handles regular operations of the foundation.

Mark Dalio - Co-Founder of OceanX
Son of Ray and Barbara Dalio; leads ocean exploration initiatives.

The foundation is managed by a board of directors, though specific trustee names beyond family members are not publicly disclosed. The organization operates as a private family foundation with assets managed by the board.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Dalio Philanthropies website explicitly states: "We do not accept unsolicited proposals or donation requests, and such solicitations will not be considered by the Board."

The funder initiates all grantmaking internally through trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Despite having over $4 billion in assets and providing over $6 billion in grantmaking since establishment, Dalio Philanthropies operates as a small, mostly family-run organization with a sparse website and no public grants database.

Grant Portal: While there is a Dalio Philanthropies Grant Portal (https://dalio.my.site.com/grantee/), this appears to be for existing grantees to manage their grants rather than a public application system.

Invitation-Only Process: Some specific programs, like the Collective Impact Opportunity Fund (which Dalio Philanthropies participates in), operate through invitation-only application processes.

Getting on Their Radar

Barbara Dalio has emphasized that successful grantmaking relationships are grounded in "direct engagement with young people, educators, youth development professionals, community leaders, policymakers, and other experts." The foundation believes that "people who are most impacted by the challenges in our education system understand them best."

Connecticut-Based Organizations: Given the Dalios' strong commitment to Connecticut (particularly education and youth services), organizations working in Connecticut in aligned areas may have better positioning for consideration. The foundation's Connecticut-focused programs include partnerships with local schools, districts, and nonprofits.

Existing Networks: The foundation works extensively with established research institutions, elite universities, and well-known national organizations. Building credibility within these networks may increase visibility.

Board Connections: As a family-run foundation with trustee-discretion grantmaking, personal connections to board members or existing grantees may be pathways to consideration.

Sectoral Leadership: Organizations that are recognized leaders in ocean science, education innovation, technology access, or youth development—particularly those presenting innovative, evidence-based approaches—align with the Dalios' investment philosophy.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only nature and trustee-driven decision-making, timelines likely vary significantly based on individual circumstances and relationships.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only model and the fact that the foundation made only 17-36 grants annually (based on recent 990-PF filings for Dalio Foundation Inc specifically), the foundation is highly selective.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as unsolicited applications are not accepted.

Application Success Factors

Since this funder does not accept public applications, the following insights are based on their documented grantmaking patterns and leadership philosophy:

1. Community-Led Solutions and Deep Collaboration

Barbara Dalio's approach emphasizes that "the ideas she supports originate in the communities" and describes her work as "brainstorming" with grantees rather than directing them. She stated: "We are digging deeper, maintaining those direct connections and stay[ing] a bit less wide ranging."

Organizations that demonstrate deep community roots, authentic engagement with those they serve, and collaborative problem-solving approaches align with this philosophy.

2. Long-Term, Unrestricted, High-Touch Support Model

The Connecticut Opportunity Project model is instructive: "CTOP supports a small number of grantees with large, unrestricted, multiyear grants and lots of non-financial support." The foundation has "come to believe that helping nonprofits become stronger is key to helping young people succeed in school and life."

Successful partnerships involve not just financial support but ongoing collaboration, capacity building, and organizational strengthening.

3. Equal Opportunity and Systemic Change

In their Giving Pledge letter, Ray and Barbara wrote: "We also believe deeply in equal opportunity, so much so that we feel that not contributing to it is tantamount to helping to perpetuate an injustice. To us providing equal opportunity means delivering quality education and lending enough money to help all people who are capable of helping themselves."

Programs that address systemic barriers, create pathways for disadvantaged populations, and focus on self-sufficiency align with core values.

4. Evidence-Based, Scalable Approaches

The foundation supports organizations "at various stages, from startups needing seed capital to well-established institutions implementing large-scale initiatives." However, given Ray Dalio's background in investment management and data-driven decision-making, organizations demonstrating measurable outcomes and evidence of effectiveness are likely prioritized.

5. Connecticut Focus for Education

Dalio Education "prioritizes its K-12 education grantmaking over other areas of giving" and focuses heavily on Connecticut. Since 2010, the foundation has spent more than $50 million on Connecticut education initiatives. Organizations working in Connecticut schools, particularly those serving disadvantaged youth, align with this priority.

6. Recent Grantee Examples

CTOP Grantees (multiyear, unrestricted support for disconnected youth):

• Connecticut Violence Intervention Program (New Haven)
• Domus Kids (Stamford)
• COMPASS Youth Collaborative, Forge City Works, Our Piece of the Pie, Roca Hartford Young Women's Program (Hartford)
• Catalyst CT (Bridgeport)

Ocean Grantees:

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• American Museum of Natural History
• Billion Oyster Project
• Black in Marine Science

Technology Access Grantees:

• Khan Academy
• Girls Who Code
• Learning Equality
• Common Sense Media

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. All grantmaking is initiated internally by trustees. Focus on building visibility and relationships rather than preparing applications.

• Connecticut is the Sweet Spot for Education: With over $50 million invested in Connecticut education since 2010 and major initiatives like the $100 million public-private partnership, Connecticut-based education and youth services organizations have the strongest alignment.

• Community-Driven, Not Funder-Driven: Barbara Dalio's philosophy emphasizes that solutions must originate in communities, not be dictated by funders. Organizations demonstrating authentic community engagement and collaborative problem-solving align with this approach.

• Few Grantees, Deep Support: The foundation makes 17-36 grants annually (based on Dalio Foundation Inc filings) but provides "large, unrestricted, multiyear grants and lots of non-financial support." This is not a broad-based funder but rather one that makes strategic, intensive investments in a small portfolio.

• Equal Opportunity as Core Mission: Programs addressing systemic barriers to education, healthcare, capital, and technology—particularly for disadvantaged populations—align with the Dalios' stated mission and Giving Pledge commitment.

• Evidence and Outcomes Matter: While deeply collaborative, the foundation's leadership background in data-driven investment suggests a strong emphasis on measurable outcomes and evidence of effectiveness.

• Elite Institutions and Grassroots Nonprofits Both Receive Support: Grant recipients range from Harvard and Stanford to small Connecticut community organizations, suggesting the foundation values both cutting-edge research and direct service delivery.

References

1. Dalio Philanthropies Official Website - Accessed December 16, 2025
2. Dalio Philanthropies | Inside Philanthropy - "We do not accept unsolicited proposals or donation requests" statement
3. Dalio Foundation Inc | Cause IQ - $6.1 million in grants (2023), 36 grants
4. Dalio Foundation Inc - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica - IRS 990-PF filings
5. Ray and Barbara Dalio - The Giving Pledge - Giving Pledge letter and equal opportunity commitment
6. Doing and Seeing: Barbara Dalio's Immersive Approach to Education Philanthropy | Inside Philanthropy - Barbara Dalio quotes on community-led solutions and collaborative approach
7. Dalio Education CT | Working Together to Help Students Succeed - Connecticut RISE Network, teacher grants, CTOP information
8. Connecticut (CT) Opportunity Project - CTOP model and grantee list
9. Education | Dalio Philanthropies - Dalio Education overview
10. 153 Connecticut Teachers Awarded Professional Learning Grants - Fund for Teachers grants ($875,000)
11. Dalio foundation spearheads major investment in CT schools | CT Mirror - $100 million Connecticut grant, $50 million since 2010
12. The Ocean | Dalio Philanthropies - OceanX program overview
13. Bloomberg, Dalio Launch $185 Million Ocean Exploration Initiative | PND - Ocean partnership details
14. Operating Programs | Dalio Philanthropies - Endless program overview
15. China: Child Welfare and Capacity Building - China programs, $129 million total support
16. About Dalio Philanthropies - Leadership information, $7 billion since inception
17. Our Leadership | Dalio Foundation Education Team - Barbara Dalio as Founder and CEO
18. Dalio Philanthropies grants $50 million to New York hospital | Pensions & Investments - New York-Presbyterian Hospital grant
19. Ray Dalio Ramps Up Foundation Giving | PND - Grantmaking volume and patterns