BlackRock Philanthropy
/OVERVIEW: BlackRock Philanthropy typically supports larger global development organizations.
IP TAKE: This funder awards grants to organizations in which BlackRock has a business presence. The company currently has offices in 30 countries around the globe. While it’s not a particularly accessible funder, BlackRock does consider networking and contact. Don’t hesitate to contact them, learn more about how they fund and briefly discuss your work to get on their radar.
PROFILE: BlackRock Philanthropy is the philanthropic arm of the financial services and investment firm BlackRock. BlackRock’s social responsibility commitment consists in “advancing inclusive and sustainable communities” by partnering with not only non-profits, but also start-ups and larger corporations. The primary focus of BlackRock’s philanthropy is economic mobility, but it also funds humanitarian relief efforts in areas stricken by conflict and natural disasters
Grants for Work and Opportunity
BlackRock offers grants to organizations offering skills training to underserved young adults, scaling interventions that help building savings and making local nonprofits more resilient. Its two-pronged strategy focuses on jobs by supporting workforce development and training programs, and savings, with financial literacy and independence efforts. One featured grantee is Laboratoria, which promotes careers for women with “training and job placement initiatives in technology.” Other partners include Upwardly Global, Women for Women, Year Up, Center for Financial Services, Common Cents Lab, and Onward Financial.
Grants for Global Development
In the global development space, BlackRock typically focuses its grantmaking on economic development and entrepreneurship in developing countries. It also broadly focuses its development grantmaking on humanitarian causes without naming specifics. Past grantees include Living Goods, a “social enterprise that empowers health entrepreneurs to deliver live-saving products to families” in sub-Saharan Africa, and Women for Women International, which received funding for its skills building and empowerment training for some of the world’s most marginalized women.
Grants for Humanitarian Relief
BlackRock supports humanitarian and disaster relief efforts by funding “effective organizations to help respond and rebuild” in regions affected by wars, conflict, or natural disasters. Past humanitarian and disaster relief organizations receiving support from BlackRock include the International Rescue Committee, which received funding for its global humanitarian work, and Team Rubicon, which received support for its rapid emergency response efforts.
Other
Like many corporate funders, BlackRock encourages philanthropy among its employees with various programs, including volunteership initiatives, donation matching programs, and BlackRock Gives, a system of committees at each of the firm’s locations that awards grants to local nonprofits nominated by employees.
Important Grant Details:
BlackRock’s grant amounts vary widely from around $25,000 to $250,000. While BlackRock has no stated geographic restrictions to its grantmaking, it generally prioritizes programs in areas where the firm has a business presence. Grantseekers may consult BlackRock’s locations for more information on its giving regions.
BlackRock does not accept unsolicited proposals, but it does welcome interested grantseekers to reach out informally.
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