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Bezos Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$157.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $21.0M

Bezos Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $156,961,900 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $21,000,000
  • Average Grant Size: $75,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily United States (California, New York, Washington prioritized)
  • Total Grants Awarded: 766 grants since 2003

Contact Details

Website: bezosfamilyfoundation.org
Phone: (206) 275-2048
Location: Seattle, WA
EIN: 91-2073258

Overview

The Bezos Family Foundation was founded in 2000 by Jackie and Mike Bezos (parents of Jeff Bezos) with a mission to invest in the science of learning and the experiences youth need from birth through high school to pursue their own path for success. With assets of $168.1 million and annual giving of approximately $157 million in 2023, the foundation operates with an impressive 95.4% giving rate. The foundation's vision is "a world in which all young people reach their full potential and meaningfully contribute to society." Jackie Bezos, who passed away in recent years, served as president for over 20 years, while Mike Bezos continues as co-founder and chair. In 2023, Dr. John Deasy was appointed president, bringing 40+ years of experience in public education and service. The foundation operates through both grantmaking and two in-house programs: Vroom (brain-building tools for families) and the Bezos Scholars Program (leadership development for exceptional high school students).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Early Learning Grants (Ages 0-8): $5,000 - $21,000,000

  • Basic research in child development and learning science
  • Programs translating research into action for parents and educators
  • Workforce development for the early education sector
  • Recent example: $21 million to Columbia University for the Center for the Transition to Parenthood

Adolescent Learning Grants (Ages 9-18): $5,000 - $14,600,000

  • Research on how adolescents learn best
  • Programs disseminating research findings to educators
  • Education system transformation initiatives
  • Programs recognizing adolescents as "co-creators of their learning"
  • Recent example: $14.6 million to expand virtual student-exchange programs

Recent Major Grants (2024-2025):

  • Texas Christian University: $3 million for education research endowment (December 2024)
  • Howard University School of Education: $747,000 over three years to strengthen research capabilities (Spring 2025)
  • Mount Sinai Health System Parenting Center: $2.2 million to educate healthcare providers on early childhood development

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on organizations and initiatives that:

  • Conduct rigorous, research-backed work in learning science
  • Serve underserved communities
  • Take innovative risks as "changemakers"
  • Reflect the communities they serve
  • Are ready to "take their work to the next level" and expand their reach
  • Address systemic inequities in education
  • Foster positive relationships between educators, families, caregivers, mentors, and peers
  • Can achieve transformational, society-wide scale

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation does not fund:

  • Organizations outside their focus on ages 0-18
  • Work unrelated to learning science and education
  • Organizations not prepared for significant growth and scale
  • Projects without strong empirical research foundations

Governance and Leadership

Co-Founders:

  • Miguel (Mike) Bezos - Co-Founder and Chair. Cuban immigrant with a 32+ year career at Exxon Mobil. Serves on boards of the Aspen Institute, National Constitution Center, and Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.
  • Jackie Bezos (Posthumous) - Founding President and Board Chairwoman who served for over 20 years. Believed that rigorous learning would enable students to apply education to action. Stated: "Our family foundation strives to strengthen educational opportunities for everyone, and cultivate learning as a life-long process that begins in early childhood."

Current Leadership:

  • Dr. John Deasy - President (appointed 2023). Brings 40+ years of experience in public education and public service.

The foundation describes its role using a tandem bicycle metaphor: "lending energy and support, while leaving the steering to the researchers, teachers, and families" who work directly with young people.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Bezos Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Proposals are by invitation only. The foundation explicitly states: "The Foundation has no obligation to review, accept, or return unsolicited materials."

The foundation takes a proactive approach to grantmaking, identifying and inviting potential partners rather than responding to open applications. Grantees tend to be large, well-established organizations and research institutes capable of conducting rigorous, scalable work. The foundation is described as "transparent, but not particularly approachable."

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation operates through a highly selective, invitation-only process where trustees and leadership proactively identify potential grantees. Based on research findings, organizations most likely to be invited for funding are:

Institutional Profile: Large, well-established organizations and research institutes—particularly universities with strong education research programs. Recent grantees include Columbia University, Texas Christian University, Howard University School of Education, and Mount Sinai Health System.

Research Capacity: Organizations conducting "big, scalable work" with strong empirical research foundations. The foundation champions the science of learning as their "north star," seeking partners who can advance knowledge about child and adolescent development.

Geographic Presence: While the foundation operates nationwide, they prioritize California, New York, and Washington. Organizations with significant presence in these states or with work that originated there may have increased visibility.

Network Connections: The foundation has strong ties to the Aspen Institute (through Mike Bezos's board service) and works with the Harvard Center on the Developing Child (Vroom partner). Organizations connected to these networks or with leadership from similar prestigious institutions may have natural pathways to visibility.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only nature and the foundation's emphasis on "thoughtful investments," the process likely involves extended due diligence periods for organizations they've identified as potential partners.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The invitation-only model means traditional success rates don't apply—organizations cannot independently apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, positioning an organization for consideration requires:

1. Research Excellence and Scale The foundation seeks organizations conducting rigorous, empirical research on learning science. Organizations should demonstrate capacity for work that can be "understood and applied at a transformational, society-wide scale." Recent grants to major research universities (Columbia, TCU, Howard) illustrate this priority.

2. Alignment with Developmental Focus Projects must clearly target either early learning (ages 0-8) or adolescent learning (ages 9-18), with particular emphasis on "the most rapid periods of development." The foundation values understanding how children learn, not just what they should learn.

3. Community-Centered Approach The foundation emphasizes: "Those closest to the issues bring firsthand insights and solutions and need to be centered and uplifted." Organizations should demonstrate that they "reflect the communities they serve" and center those most affected by educational inequity.

4. Readiness for Growth The foundation explicitly seeks "people and programs ready to take their work to the next level by helping organizations grow and expand their reach." Organizations should demonstrate existing success and capacity to scale with significant investment.

5. Relationship-Centered Programming Programs should foster "positive relationships" between educators, families, caregivers, mentors, and peers. The foundation sees relationships as central to effective learning environments.

6. Innovation and Risk-Taking The foundation partners with "changemakers taking innovative risks." Organizations should demonstrate willingness to try new approaches backed by learning science, rather than perpetuating traditional models.

7. Translation from Research to Practice Both grant categories emphasize "programs that translate research into action" for parents and educators. The foundation values the feedback loop between research insights and ground-level implementation through their dual approach of grantmaking and operating programs.

Recent Grant Examples for Context:

  • Texas Christian University's $3 million grant supports education research that can generate new findings about effective teaching
  • Howard University's $747,000 grant specifically strengthens research infrastructure to expand educational opportunities
  • Mount Sinai's $2.2 million grant trains healthcare providers to integrate learning science into early childhood health visits

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - the foundation operates entirely on an invitation-only basis, proactively identifying potential partners rather than accepting proposals
  • Target large, research-focused institutions - grantees are predominantly major universities and established research institutes with capacity for rigorous, scalable work
  • Geographic priorities matter - while nationwide in scope, the foundation prioritizes California, New York, and Washington
  • Learning science is the "north star" - all work must be grounded in empirical research on how children develop and learn, not just educational programming
  • Community representation is essential - organizations must "reflect the communities they serve" and center those closest to educational inequity
  • Scale and growth potential are critical - average grants of $75,000 but range up to $21 million for organizations ready to expand reach and impact
  • Build visibility through research excellence - since direct application isn't possible, organizations should focus on publishing rigorous research, speaking at major education conferences, and building reputations as leaders in learning science

References

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