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Blake Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$5.1M
000

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,070,514 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly; average ~$317,000 per grant
  • Total Assets: $61.6 million (2024)
  • Geographic Focus: Metro Atlanta, Georgia
  • Number of Grants: 16 grants in 2023, 17 in 2022

Contact Details

Address: 3406 Old Plantation Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30327
Phone: 678-981-4627
Website: No public website
EIN: 47-4945600

Overview

The Blake Family Foundation Inc was established in 2015 as a private family foundation by Frank Blake, former Chairman and CEO of The Home Depot (2007-2015), and his wife Elizabeth (Liz) Blake, former Senior Vice President at Habitat for Humanity International. The foundation has grown substantially since its inception, with total assets reaching $61.6 million by 2024 and annual charitable disbursements exceeding $5 million. The foundation focuses on strategic philanthropy in Metro Atlanta, with particular emphasis on maternal and child health, early childhood development, mental health, and financial empowerment for under-resourced families. In 2019, the Blakes launched the Liz Blake Giving Fund as a donor-advised fund to pilot giving strategies and demonstrate immediate impact in Atlanta, with learnings informing the broader family foundation's grant-making.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Blake Family Foundation operates as a private foundation making grants to preselected charitable organizations. The foundation does not have named grant programs or formal funding tiers. Grant amounts vary significantly based on organizational needs and project scope, with an average grant size of approximately $317,000 in 2023.

Related Entity - Liz Blake Giving Fund: This donor-advised fund operates with a more defined focus and accepts applications for two-generation (2Gen) programs serving mothers and children from pregnancy through 3rd grade in Metro Atlanta.

Priority Areas

Based on the foundation's grant-making patterns and the priorities articulated through the Liz Blake Giving Fund, the Blake family philanthropy focuses on:

  • Maternal and Child Health: Programs supporting pregnant women, maternal health services, home visitation programs, and infant support
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing: Youth mental health services, psychiatric nursing education, trauma-informed care, and behavioral health initiatives
  • Early Childhood Development: Programs serving children ages 0-3, early education, and developmental support
  • Financial Empowerment: Workforce development and economic interventions for mothers and families
  • Two-Generation Approaches: Programs that simultaneously invest in parents and children
  • Health Equity: Initiatives addressing disparities in maternal and child health outcomes, particularly for Black mothers and families

Example funded organizations include Wellroot Family Services (home visitation), Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (mental health), March of Dimes (economic support for Black pregnant women), Atlanta Birth Center (midwifery capacity), and Emory School of Nursing (psychiatric nursing scholarships).

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation making grants to preselected organizations, the foundation has not published explicit exclusions. However, their giving patterns indicate a concentrated focus on maternal and child health and early childhood programs in Metro Atlanta, suggesting they likely do not fund projects outside these priority areas or geographic region.

Governance and Leadership

President: Francis S. Blake (Frank Blake)
Former Chairman and CEO of The Home Depot (2007-2015), Frank Blake has extensive experience in corporate leadership and philanthropy. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of The Marcus Foundation and hosts the podcast "Crazy Good Turns" focused on generosity and gratitude. Blake was named a Georgia Trustee in 2019 in recognition of his accomplishments and community service.

Treasurer: Elizabeth Blake (Liz Blake)
President of the Blake Family Foundation and founder of the Liz Blake Giving Fund, Liz Blake brings significant nonprofit leadership experience. She served as Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Government Affairs and General Counsel at Habitat for Humanity International for approximately ten years. Prior to 2006, she held executive positions at US Airways, Trizec Properties, and GE Power Systems. She currently serves as Chair of the Carter Center Board of Councilors.

Philosophy: According to the Liz Blake Giving Fund materials: "With relentless optimism, the Liz Blake Giving Fund is committed to investing in the empowerment of women as successful mothers and providers for their families and leaders in their communities."

Both officers report zero compensation from the foundation, consistent with typical private family foundation structures.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Blake Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the foundation's leadership, primarily the trustees Frank and Liz Blake.

Organizations seeking funding from the Blake family philanthropy may have better success exploring the Liz Blake Giving Fund, which operates as a donor-advised fund with a more open application process for programs aligned with their two-generation approach serving mothers and children in Metro Atlanta. The Liz Blake Giving Fund accepts applications through their website at lizblakegivingfund.org.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation with trustee-directed grant-making, the foundation likely makes grant decisions on an ongoing basis throughout the year rather than following fixed deadline cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable. With 16-17 grants made annually to preselected organizations, there is no formal application and review process that would generate success rate statistics.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for the Blake Family Foundation given the invitation-only nature of their grant-making.

Application Success Factors

Since the Blake Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations hoping to benefit from Blake family philanthropy should consider:

Focus on Their Core Priorities: The foundation demonstrates deep commitment to maternal and child health, early childhood development (especially ages 0-3), mental health services, and financial empowerment for under-resourced mothers in Metro Atlanta. Programs should align closely with these priorities.

Two-Generation Approaches: The Blakes have explicitly emphasized support for "2Gen" programs that simultaneously invest in parents and children. Programs that address both maternal wellbeing and child development are particularly aligned with their philosophy.

Demonstrable Impact: The Liz Blake Giving Fund was launched to "demonstrate significant and immediate impact." The foundation appears to value programs with measurable outcomes and clear evidence of effectiveness.

Health Equity Focus: Recent grants show particular attention to addressing disparities affecting Black mothers and families, including economic interventions and culturally responsive care models.

Collaborative Approaches: Support for initiatives like the Mental Health Funders Collaborative suggests interest in collective impact models and partnerships that leverage resources across multiple funders.

Capacity Building: Grants to organizations like Atlanta Birth Center for workforce expansion indicate willingness to fund organizational capacity and infrastructure development, not just direct services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Blake Family Foundation operates as a traditional private foundation making grants only to preselected organizations—there is no public application process
  • Annual giving exceeds $5 million distributed across approximately 16 grants, with average grant sizes around $317,000
  • The foundation's priorities center on maternal and child health, early childhood development (especially ages 0-3), mental health, and financial empowerment for under-resourced families in Metro Atlanta
  • Organizations seeking Blake family support should explore the Liz Blake Giving Fund, which accepts applications for two-generation programs serving mothers and children
  • The foundation values immediate, demonstrable impact; health equity; and collaborative approaches to addressing systemic challenges
  • Leadership includes Frank Blake (former Home Depot CEO) and Liz Blake (former Habitat for Humanity SVP), both deeply engaged in Atlanta's philanthropic community
  • The foundation has grown significantly since 2015, with assets exceeding $61 million and the potential for continued growth in grant-making

References

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