Missouri Youth Poverty Funding via Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

Missouri Youth Poverty Funding via Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is sponsored by Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Organizations working on education, health, or family economic stability for urban low-income children and youth in Missouri may be eligible for funding to support or scale projects. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation funds U.

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 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 can typically submit funding requests through an online application, although this until at least August 2026, according to the foundation’s website. That does not make Dell an easy prospect. This funder is intensely focused on evidence, measurable outcomes and scale.

Applicants must be able to quantify goals with data and clearly explain how funding will produce demonstrable improvements. Strong proposals will also connect to one of the foundation’s named focus areas and geographic priorities. The foundation also indicates that it generally does not fund more than 10% of an organization’s annual operating expenses.

Dell’s largest grants often appear to grow from longstanding relationships, especially in education, healthcare and Greater Austin. Recommendation by 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 mission is to “build pathways that change lives,” which it pursues by supporting education and economic opportunity for children and families living in poverty. 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 major and historically central area of giving, 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. It has received over $150 million from the foundation since $2007.

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 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. The Dell IL Tech Leaders program supports Israeli students pursuing “high tech” STEM degrees at leading Israeli universities. Scholarships are awarded in collaboration with the Planning and Budgeting Committee of Israel’s Council for Higher Education.

See the program page for application guidelines. 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 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 takes the form of grants and mission investments.

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 Michael and Susan Dell 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.

Funding for this initiative may not be sourced from the foundation, as the announcement only specifies a donation from the coupes “charitable funds. ” 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.

Support for the University of Texas at Austin has surpassed $1 billion . The University is home to the Dell Medical School and Dell Children’s Medical Center, a clinical affiliate of the school. In 2026, the foundation announced a new $750 million commitment to support the establishment of the UT Dell Campus for Advanced Research and additional investments in advanced computing, undergraduate scholarships and student housing.

Other commitments include the Dell Seton Medical Center, Connxus, which received for data sharing and care coordination for Travis County’s Accountable Health Communities initiative, 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.

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 frame 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 has partnered with hundreds of 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 Group, the America Israel Democracy Coalition and the Israel on Campus Coalition.

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, Michael and Susan Dell’s philanthropic commitments have surpassed $10 billion . 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 Africa, and much of U.S. funding remains in Texas. Eligibility and Application : The Dell Foundation typically accepts unsolicited funding requests through one online application for all regions.

The application page currently indicates a pause, but indicates that it will reopen in mid-August 2026. It considers both nonprofit and for-profit social enterprises. Applicants are required to clearly document a relevant problem, target population, geography, baseline conditions and measurable outcomes.

Dell generally does not fund more than 10% of an organization’s annual operating expenses. The foundation does not support grants to individuals, event sponsorships, lobbying, endowments, infrastructure, hardware purchases or standalone medical-research projects. See the foundation’s FAQ section for additional information.

This funder provides searchable grant and investment databases. 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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