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The BlackRock Foundation

Annual Giving
$30.7M
Grant Range
$37K - $2.0M

The BlackRock Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $30.7 million (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 31 grants (2023)
  • Grant Range: $37,000 - $2,000,000
  • Average Grant: ~$200,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily United States (with focus on New York, Washington DC, California) and United Kingdom
  • Application Process: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Phone: (212) 810-5729

Website: blackrock.com/corporate/about-us/social-impact

Address: New York, NY

Overview

The BlackRock Foundation was established in February 2020 with an initial endowment of 15.6 million shares of PennyMac Financial Services, valued at approximately $589 million. The foundation is the philanthropic arm of BlackRock, Inc., and holds assets of approximately $225.6 million (2023). The foundation focuses on helping low- to moderate-income households achieve economic mobility and financial resiliency through access to jobs with higher earning potential and tools to build savings. Led by BlackRock's Social Impact team under Managing Director Claire Chamberlain, the foundation has made notable commitments including a $100 million grant to Breakthrough Energy Catalyst for climate change initiatives—the largest grant since its creation. As of May 2025, the foundation has provided over $10 million in grants specifically focused on economic mobility initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates primarily through signature initiatives and strategic partnerships rather than open grant competitions:

Economic Mobility & Workforce Development: $100,000 - $2,000,000

  • Supports vocational training programs that prepare individuals for higher-paying careers
  • Focus on technology training, cybersecurity, data analysis, and other in-demand skills
  • Recent examples: Per Scholas ($1 million), Atlas School ($500,000), Chattanooga 2.0 ($500,000)

Financial Resiliency & Literacy: $37,000 - $3,750,000

  • Supports programs that help people build savings and access financial tools
  • Emphasis on early savings opportunities and emergency savings infrastructure
  • Recent example: NYC Kids RISE ($3.75 million)

Climate & Sustainability: $100 million (exceptional commitment)

  • Limited focus area with single major investment in Breakthrough Energy Catalyst
  • Addresses climate change's disproportionate effects on vulnerable communities

Disaster & Humanitarian Relief: Variable amounts

  • Occasional grants to established global organizations
  • Recent recipients: International Rescue Committee, Team Rubicon

Priority Areas

  • Vocational and technical training programs at national, regional, and community levels
  • Financial education and capability building for low- to moderate-income households
  • College and career readiness programs for youth
  • Workforce development in technology and high-growth sectors
  • Emergency savings infrastructure and programs
  • Early savings opportunities for children and families

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's 990 filings and public statements do not explicitly list exclusions, but their narrow focus on economic mobility and financial resiliency means they likely do not fund:

  • Arts and culture (unless connected to workforce development)
  • Healthcare or medical research
  • Religious organizations for religious purposes
  • Individual scholarships or direct aid to individuals
  • Capital campaigns or building projects unrelated to their mission
  • General operating support for organizations outside their strategic focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Claire Chamberlain serves as Managing Director, Global Head of Social Impact at BlackRock. She oversees the foundation's grantmaking as well as employee engagement programs. As a founding member of BlackRock's strategic philanthropy efforts in 2015, Chamberlain has been instrumental in developing major initiatives including the Emergency Savings Initiative launched in 2019.

The foundation operates within BlackRock's Global Corporate Affairs function and coordinates with Corporate Communications, Global Affairs & Public Policy, and Marketing teams. The BlackRock Foundation Board comprises senior leaders from across BlackRock and reports annually to the Nominating and Governance Committee of the BlackRock, Inc. Board of Directors.

CEO & Chairman Laurence Fink stated about the foundation: "The donation we're making today – in line with our purpose as a firm – will support our commitment to creating greater financial well-being and advancing sustainability."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The BlackRock Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding. This is a critical distinction for potential applicants. The foundation operates through established partnerships and signature programs rather than open grant competitions.

The foundation primarily gives through:

  • Signature initiatives: Multi-year strategic programs like the Emergency Savings Initiative (reaching ~10 million people with ~$2 billion in facilitated savings)
  • Ongoing partnerships: Relationships with well-established organizations
  • Employee-driven grants: BlackRock Gives Grant and Network Grant programs where employees develop partnerships with nonprofits
  • Strategic invitations: The foundation proactively identifies and invites organizations aligned with their mission

Getting on Their Radar

Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation, organizations working in economic mobility or financial resiliency may consider these specific approaches:

Employee Connections: BlackRock employees have significant influence through the company's giving programs. Employees can:

  • Recommend organizations through the BlackRock Gives Grant program
  • Direct Network Grants to nonprofits they support
  • Trigger matching donations (up to $10,000 annually per employee for donations or volunteer hours)

Established Networks: The foundation works through intermediary organizations like Commonwealth, Financial Health Network, and Common Cents Lab for their signature Emergency Savings Initiative. Organizations working in these networks may have better visibility.

Sector Visibility: Maintain visibility in the workforce development and financial capability sectors where BlackRock's Social Impact team operates. The foundation seeks organizations demonstrating impact in helping people "earn, save and invest—earlier, more often and for their futures."

Decision Timeline

No public information available. As an invitation-only funder with signature programs, decision timelines likely vary significantly based on strategic priorities and partnership discussions.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only model, traditional success rates are not applicable.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with strategic partners and may continue funding successful programs over multiple years.

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only funder, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, organizations seeking to position themselves for potential partnership should consider:

Alignment with Priority Areas: The foundation has consistently emphasized economic opportunity and financial security. Organizations should demonstrate clear outcomes in:

  • Helping people access jobs with higher earning potential
  • Providing tools and programs for building savings
  • Supporting low- to moderate-income households specifically

Program Scale and Impact: Recent grants suggest the foundation favors organizations that can demonstrate significant reach. The Emergency Savings Initiative, for example, reaches approximately 10 million people. Claire Chamberlain described the Atlas School grant as important because it "expands access to careers in technology and is critical for unlocking the potential of a new generation of technical leaders."

Established Track Record: Grant recipients like Per Scholas, Generation-You Employed Inc., and Black Economic Alliance Foundation are well-established national organizations. The foundation appears to prioritize proven programs with demonstrated impact.

Geographic Presence in Key Markets: While national organizations receive significant funding, the foundation also supports regional and community-level programs in specific markets including New York, Miami (Laboratoria), Hawaii (Hawaii Community Foundation), Houston (Per Scholas expansion), North Carolina, Tennessee (Chattanooga 2.0), Oklahoma (Atlas School/Holberton School Tulsa), and Georgia.

Technology and Skills Training Focus: Recent grants heavily emphasize technology sector training—software development, cybersecurity, data analysis. Organizations preparing workers for high-demand, higher-wage careers appear particularly aligned.

Financial Systems Integration: For financial resiliency programs, the foundation seeks systemic solutions like NYC Kids RISE's work "unlocking early college and career savings opportunities" rather than individual financial counseling services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists—this foundation operates exclusively through invitation and strategic partnerships
  • Employee connections matter significantly—BlackRock's Gives Grant, Network Grant, and matching programs provide alternative pathways to support
  • Focus is narrow but well-funded—economic mobility and financial resiliency for low- to moderate-income households is the clear priority
  • Scale and impact are valued—recent grants favor organizations with significant reach and demonstrated outcomes
  • Technology workforce development is a particularly strong area of current investment
  • Multi-year partnerships are the model—the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with organizations like Per Scholas and Commonwealth rather than making one-time grants
  • Average grant size of ~$200,000 suggests the foundation seeks substantial programs (with notable exceptions like the $100M climate commitment and $3.75M to NYC Kids RISE)

References

Accessed December 2025

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