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Annie E. Casey Foundation

Annual Giving
$105.7M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.5M

Annie E. Casey Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $105.7 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $3.4 billion (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only grantmaking)
  • Average Grant: $76,000
  • Grant Range: Typically $50,000 - $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: United States (including Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands), with priority focus on Baltimore and Atlanta

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 1948 by UPS founder James E. Casey and his siblings, the Annie E. Casey Foundation is one of the nation's largest philanthropies focused on helping children, families, and communities succeed. Named in honor of the founders' mother, the Foundation relocated from Seattle to Baltimore in 1994. With total assets of approximately $3.4 billion, the Foundation awarded over $105.7 million in grants to nearly 970 organizations in 2024. The Foundation is perhaps best known for producing the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book, a comprehensive analysis of child well-being across all 50 states published continuously since 1990. Casey's strategic approach emphasizes data-driven, evidence-based initiatives that create large-scale systemic change through multi-year, multi-site partnerships focused on ensuring kids have strong families, increasing economic opportunity, transforming struggling communities, and strengthening social sector leaders.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation does not operate traditional open grant programs. Most funding is awarded through staff-identified partnerships and occasional targeted requests for proposals.

Recent Program Examples:

  • State Children and Youth Policy Fund: $100,000 grants to organizations educating state and local policymakers using data to develop laws benefiting children and families (2024: $2.1 million to 21 organizations)
  • General Operating Support: Multi-year grants ranging from $50,000 to several million dollars, though most stay under $500,000
  • Fellowship Programs:
    • Children and Family Fellowship (23-month program for executives)
    • Rising Leaders for Results Fellowship (21-month program for emerging leaders ages 24-31)

Priority Areas

Core Focus Areas:

  • Child Welfare: Foster care reform, permanence, family strengthening
  • Community Change and Development: Community engagement, resident leadership, transforming struggling communities
  • Economic Opportunity: Employment, education, training programs that improve family economic security
  • Juvenile Justice: Reform initiatives, alternatives to incarceration, youth engagement

Supported Activities:

  • Community and resident engagement
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Demonstration projects
  • Evidence-based programs
  • Policy advocacy and analysis
  • Research and evaluation
  • Technical assistance
  • Youth engagement and leadership
  • Leadership development
  • Racial and ethnic equity initiatives

Geographic Priorities: Baltimore and Atlanta receive priority consideration, though the Foundation funds nationally across the United States.

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects outside the United States
  • Lobbying and political campaigning
  • Direct grants or donations to individuals or families
  • Unsolicited proposals (except through specific open calls)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (14 members)

The Board oversees all management, operations, and grant-making activities. The Foundation maintains strong ties to UPS, with multiple board members having UPS backgrounds:

  • Michael L. Eskew (Board Chair) - Retired chairman and CEO, UPS
  • David Abney - Retired chairman and CEO, UPS
  • Lisa Lawson (formerly Hamilton) - President and CEO, Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Steve Bullock - Former governor, Montana
  • Diana Bontá - Former president and CEO, California Wellness Foundation
  • Gabriella E. Morris - Former president, Prudential Foundation
  • Dr. David Nichols - Retired president and CEO, American Board of Pediatrics
  • Sam Zamarripa - Former Georgia state senator
  • Additional members from UPS leadership (Norman Brothers Jr., Teresa Finley, Juan Perez, Susan Ward, Jim Winestock, Maurizio Agresta)

Senior Leadership Team

  • Lisa Lawson - President and Chief Executive Officer
  • John Kim - Chief Administrative Officer
  • Leslie Boissiere - Vice President, External Affairs
  • Sandra Gasca - Vice President, Center for Systems Innovation
  • Allison Gerber - Vice President, Center for Economic Opportunity
  • Thomasina Hiers - Vice President, Center for Civic Sites and Community Change
  • Xander Perry - Vice President, Chief Investment Officer
  • Stephen Plank - Vice President, Research, Evaluation, Evidence and Data
  • Katie Tetrault - Vice President, Finance and Grants Management

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process for the vast majority of grants.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation operates primarily through an invitation-only model. For most grants, Foundation staff identify organizations directly and invite them to submit proposals. The Foundation explicitly states: "The Casey Foundation does not accept, review or fund unsolicited grant proposals."

Exceptions: Infrequently, the Foundation issues targeted requests for proposals (RFPs) for specific initiatives. Recent examples include the State Children and Youth Policy Fund competitive RFP in 2024, which marked the first time the Foundation selected both longtime partners and new organizations through an open competitive process.

Fellowship Programs: The Foundation does accept applications for its leadership development programs:

  • Children and Family Fellowship: Accepts nominations and direct applications every three years through an online platform
  • Rising Leaders for Results Fellowship: Periodic open application process for emerging leaders ages 24-31

Organizations cannot request to be added to a grantee consideration list—the Foundation maintains no such list.

Getting on Their Radar

The Foundation has demonstrated openness to new partnerships through selective competitive processes, as evidenced by the 2024 State Policy Fund RFP that included both established partners and new organizations. According to Karina Jiménez Lewis, Casey associate director: "We know that policymakers value children and families, regardless of party affiliation. We rely on a bipartisan approach to ensure decision makers use trusted data sources."

While direct unsolicited proposals are not accepted, organizations working in Casey's focus areas with demonstrated impact, evidence-based approaches, and data-driven results may be identified by program staff through their field research and network engagement.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed for invitation-only grants. Timelines vary by initiative and are communicated directly to invited organizations.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. In 2024, the Foundation awarded over 1,165 grants to approximately 1,006 organizations from an undisclosed applicant pool.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for most grants given the invitation-only model. For specific RFPs, reapplication policies are outlined in the individual opportunity guidelines.

Application Success Factors

Given the Foundation's invitation-only approach, success is less about application technique and more about organizational alignment with Casey's strategic priorities:

What Casey Values:

Impact and Evidence: The Foundation characterizes its grantmaking as "very selective, with an eye toward impact, evidence and data." Organizations must demonstrate:

  • Data-driven decision-making capabilities
  • Evidence-based program models
  • Measurable results for children and families
  • Rigorous evaluation practices

Innovation and Scale: Casey invests in "innovative ideas, practices and policies that have the potential to help millions thrive." Priority goes to:

  • Strategies with potential for large-scale systemic change
  • Multi-site initiatives that can be replicated
  • Policy reforms informed by evidence and data

Long-term Partnership Approach: The Foundation makes "multi-year, multi-site commitments that enable it to invest in long-term strategies and partnerships that strengthen families and communities." Ideal partners:

  • Commit to sustained engagement over multiple years
  • Work collaboratively across sectors and geographies
  • Share Casey's commitment to systems-level change

Equity and Racial Justice: The Foundation has implemented progressive policies supporting equitable grantmaking:

  • Tiered indirect cost rates (25% for budgets under $5M, 20% for $5-100M, 15% over $100M)
  • Expanded grant budgets to fully fund increased indirect costs rather than reducing program scope
  • Recognition that organizations led by people of color face disproportionate funding challenges

Bipartisan Policy Advocacy: For policy-focused work, the Foundation values organizations that work across political divides, using trusted data to inform policymakers regardless of party affiliation.

Examples of Funded Work:

The 2024 State Children and Youth Policy Fund supported organizations including:

  • Alabama Arise
  • Children's Action Alliance (Arizona)
  • California Competes
  • United Way of Connecticut
  • Florida Policy Institute
  • Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
  • Michigan League for Public Policy
  • Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota
  • Our Turn Inc. (North Carolina)
  • The Education Trust (Tennessee and Texas)
  • Voices for Virginia's Children

These organizations share common characteristics: state-level policy focus, data-driven advocacy, bipartisan engagement, and commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. Build a strong reputation in Casey's focus areas through demonstrated results and data-driven impact.

  • Watch for targeted RFPs: While rare, the Foundation occasionally issues competitive calls for specific initiatives. Monitor their website and subscribe to relevant sector newsletters.

  • Data and evidence are paramount: Casey's entire approach centers on rigorous data analysis (exemplified by KIDS COUNT). Organizations must demonstrate strong evaluation capacity and evidence-based practices.

  • Think systems-level change: Casey invests in multi-year, multi-site initiatives with potential to create large-scale transformation, not one-off programs or small local projects.

  • Alignment with strategic priorities: Focus areas are specific—child welfare, economic opportunity, community change, and juvenile justice. Work outside these areas is unlikely to be funded.

  • Equity matters: The Foundation has demonstrated commitment to supporting organizations led by people of color and smaller nonprofits through progressive indirect cost policies and intentional partnership diversification.

  • Consider fellowship programs: While not grant funding, Casey's leadership development programs offer valuable opportunities for professional growth and entry into the Foundation's network of 155+ influential alumni.

References

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