Grants for Education, with an emphasis on problem-solving and making measurable progress

Grants for Education, with an emphasis on problem-solving and making measurable progress is sponsored by The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. Funds schools and districts that directly serve or impact children or youth from urban low-income communities in the areas of education, with an emphasis on problem solving and making measurable progress.

How to get a grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation | Inside Philanthropy OVERVIEW: The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation supports K–12 education, college completion, workforce development, financial inclusion, healthcare and strong communities.

It makes grants and mission investments across Africa, India, Israel, Texas and the broader United States, with particularly deep commitments to Greater Austin and organizations serving children, young people and families with low incomes. IP TAKE: The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has grown into one of the country’s largest family foundations, with approximately $7. 77 billion in assets at the end of 2024.

It is also more accessible than many funders of comparable size: Nonprofits, schools, government entities and qualifying social enterprises may submit funding requests through a single online application covering all geographies. That does not make Dell an easy cold prospect. This funder is intensely focused on evidence, measurable outcomes and scale.

Applicants must define the problem with quantitative data, establish a baseline and explain how funding will produce demonstrable improvements. The foundation also says it generally will not fund more than 10% of an organization’s annual operating expenses. Strong applicants will define the problem with hard data, establish a clear baseline and show that their model already works.

They should connect the proposal to a named focus area and priority geography, then explain how funding will improve outcomes such as learning, graduation, employment, income, healthcare access or family stability. Requests should also respect the foundation’s general guideline of funding no more than 10% of an organization’s annual operating budget.

Dell’s largest grants often appear to grow from longstanding relationships, especially in education, healthcare and Greater Austin. A warm introduction through a current grantee, university, intermediary, employer network or regional coalition can help, though it is not required.

The best approach is to study Dell’s existing partners, demonstrate strong leadership and implementation capacity, and treat the application as a rigorous investment case—not a preliminary introduction. PROFILE: The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation was established by Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell and his wife, Susan , in 1999. Based in Austin, it is a private family foundation and is not affiliated with Dell Technologies.

The foundation’s overarching goal is to “accelerate opportunity for children growing up in urban poverty through improved education, health and family economic stability. ” Its work centers on creating pathways to education, employment, financial stability, health and broader opportunity.

The foundation currently organizes its work into seven focus areas: Quality Schools, Classroom Supports, University Success, Jobs & Livelihoods, Financial Services, Health Innovation, and Strong Communities. Its named community portfolios are Greater Austin and the Jewish Community . Its current geographic structure encompasses Africa, India, Israel, Texas and the United States.

Education is by far Dell’s largest area of funding, and grants support the programs of Quality Schools , Classroom Supports, and University Success . All three programs prioritize students of low socioeconomic status and aim to close achievement gaps for underserved students. Grantmaking focuses on data-driven interventions and the expansion of highly effective programs.

The education program also runs K-12 and higher education sub-initiatives that are exclusive to the Greater Austin area. Grants for K-12 Education K–12 grantmaking falls mainly under Quality Schools and Classroom Supports. Across both programs, Dell favors initiatives that can demonstrate improved learning outcomes and expand proven approaches to reach large numbers of students.

The Quality Schools program supports the growth of effective schools, literacy and STEM programs, education-to-employment pathways and partnerships that strengthen public education systems. Charter schools remain an important part of the U.S. portfolio, but the strategy is broader than charter expansion.

The foundation also backs public-school improvement, educator capacity and programs that prepare students for further education and work. One major intermediary is the Charter School Growth Fund, which supports the development and expansion of nonprofit charter-school organizations. Dell’s public grants database also shows support for charter authorizing, school innovation and AI-enabled educational models.

Applying to the Charter School Growth Fund is not the same as applying directly to Dell; the intermediary operates its own competitive funding processes. Classroom Supports focuses on education technology and data systems that help teachers and school leaders make better instructional decisions. Its current work includes equipping educators with usable student data and supporting technology that complements classroom instruction.

Major initiatives include the Ed-Fi Alliance and Data Driven Districts in South Africa. Recent education grantees and partners include the Charter School Growth Fund, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, Ed-Fi Alliance, Siyavula Foundation, Click Foundation and Springboard, as well as public-sector education partners in India.

Grants for Higher Education The University Success program supports college access, persistence, graduation and career preparation. Current strategies include scaling student-centered support and helping students build the technical, communication and problem-solving skills needed to secure strong employment after graduation.

The foundation also operates three scholarship and student-support programs: Dell Scholars serves U.S. students who have participated in an approved college-readiness program, qualify for a federal Pell Grant and meet other published eligibility requirements, including a minimum 2. 4 GPA. The program combines a flexible scholarship with technology, advising and other supports.

Dell Young Leaders supports university students in South Africa. Eligible students at participating universities are invited to apply; it is not an independently open nonprofit grant program. Dell Aspire Scholars serves eligible students at designated colleges in India.

Students are invited through participating institutions. Institutional grantmaking supports colleges, universities and student-success organizations working to improve graduation and employment outcomes. Current or recent partners include Let’s Get Ready, the University of Texas at Austin, Strathmore University and community colleges offering career-connected programs.

Grants for Economic and Global Development Jobs & Livelihoods supports workforce training, job placement, employer connections, entrepreneurship and other pathways to income. Dell stresses that training alone is not enough: It evaluates success based on tangible employment and livelihood outcomes, including job placements and income gains.

The best-fit workforce organizations will offer affordable, employer-informed training; connect participants directly to jobs, internships or customers; and track retention, wages or business growth. Current and recent partners include Skillpoint Alliance, JOBJack, Prelude, Young Africa Zimbabwe and Uncommon. org.

The foundation’s work in Africa extends beyond South Africa and includes grants and partnerships in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Financial Services focuses on expanding responsible financial products for families, small businesses and nano-entrepreneurs that lack conventional credit histories or collateral.

The portfolio is especially concentrated in India , where Dell has supported microfinance institutions, lenders and technology platforms serving small retailers, manufacturers and women entrepreneurs. Support may take the form of either a grant or a mission investment.

Financial-services prospects should demonstrate responsible lending practices, measurable benefits for underserved borrowers, financial viability and the ability to scale without imposing harmful costs on customers.

Late in 2025, the foundation announced that it would support the U.S. Government’s Invest America Program by contributing $250 to the Invest America accounts of 25 million children under the age of ten in the U.S. who are not eligible for the standard federal deposit of $1,000. All told, Dell’s commitment to Invest America is expected to reach $6. 25 billion.

Health Innovation supports healthcare access, preventive health, community health and restorative treatment. The foundation takes a broad view of health, connecting clinical care with factors such as housing, food, education and family stability. Austin remains central to this work.

Longstanding institutional relationships include Dell Medical School, Dell Children’s Medical Center and the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, which operates through UTHealth Houston School of Public Health’s Austin location and focuses on community health in Central Texas.

Other major grantees in the Austin area include the Dell Seton Medical Center and Connxus, which received funding to strengthen the health care workforce infrastructure. Nationally, the foundation has supported the Partnership for a Healthier America, the Washington State Department of Health and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Globally, the foundation supports healthcare delivery and restorative treatment in Africa , including vision care and surgery. It has also funded nutrition and food-access organizations that connect healthy food with healthcare. The foundation’s funding FAQ states that it does not support standalone medical-research projects through its general grant process.

Organizations should therefore frame eligible health proposals around care delivery, access, prevention, community health or measurable patient outcomes rather than basic research. Grants for Disaster Relief and Greater Austin, Texas Dell’s Strong Communities is a formal focus area encompassing Greater Austin, Jewish community work and crisis response.

The program seeks to strengthen economic opportunity, identity, belonging and community resilience. The Greater Austin portfolio cuts across education, workforce development, health, housing and family stability. Dell says it has partnered with more than 400 community organizations in the region over time.

Current and longstanding partners include Foundation Communities, Communities In Schools, LifeWorks, Breakthrough Central Texas and Skillpoint Alliance. Best fits: Austin organizations have an important geographic advantage, but they still need a close programmatic fit. The strongest candidates will help children and families build lasting stability through educational success, employment, housing, health or coordinated social services.

The foundation also supports disaster relief and longer-term recovery, including responses to crises in Texas and abroad. No permanently open rapid-response fund for outside applicants was identified; this work appears to be activated as needs arise and often operates through established partners.

Grants for Jewish Communities and Israel The Jewish Community portfolio supports culturally responsive services for families, Jewish identity and engagement among teens and young adults, camps and community experiences, and efforts to help Jewish students feel safe and supported at school and on college campuses.

Featured partners include UJA-Federation of New York, the Natan Fund, the Dell Jewish Community Campus, Foundation for Jewish Camp and Moishe House. This portfolio should be distinguished from Dell’s separate Israel regional strategy. Israel grants include education, employment and community resilience, as well as humanitarian and recovery work following the October 7 attacks.

Organizations should identify whether their proposal aligns with Jewish community building, the Israel portfolio or both rather than treating these as interchangeable categories. Ongoing support goes to Austin’s Dell JCC. Grantees also include the Foundation for Jewish Camp, Shalom Austin, the Tamid Israel Investment Group, the American Israel Democracy Coalition and Israel on Campus.

In addition to grants, Dell makes mission investments in companies and social enterprises advancing its program goals. Its public portfolio includes equity, loans and loan guarantees across Africa, India, Israel and the United States. The foundation has also used convertible notes, subordinated or mezzanine debt, development impact bonds and pay-for-performance structures.

Equity investments generally target early-stage companies, often around Series A or Series B. Investment candidates are evaluated for measurable social impact, financial viability, scalability, risk and management strength. There is no prescribed pitch-deck format.

Social enterprises may begin with the same general funding intake used by nonprofit applicants. According to its 2024 Form 990-PF, the foundation reported approximately $163. 8 million in grants, $27 million in program-related investments and $247.

5 million in total qualifying distributions. Its assets totaled approximately $7. 77 billion at year-end.

According to its website , Dell has given more than $2. 4 billion since 1999. Grant sizes vary widely.

The portfolio includes scholarships, employee matching gifts, modest community awards, six-figure program grants and multimillion-dollar commitments to major institutions and intermediaries. A simple average is therefore not a particularly useful guide for applicants. Geographic Focus: Grantmaking is generally limited to the U.S., India, Israel and South Africa, and much of U.S. funding remains in Texas.

Accepts unsolicited funding requests through one online application for all regions. Considers both nonprofit and for-profit social enterprises. Requires applicants to document the problem, target population, geography, baseline conditions and measurable outcomes.

Generally does not fund more than 10% of an organization’s annual operating expenses. Does not support grants to individuals, event sponsorships, lobbying, endowments, infrastructure, hardware purchases or standalone medical-research projects. Maintains searchable grant and investment databases.

See the foundation’s FAQ section for additional information. General inquiries may be directed to foundation staff via email or contact form . Enable JavaScript to continue This site uses JavaScript to verify your account, display articles, and provide other features.

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