Case Foundation

Case Foundation
Name	Case Foundation
Type	Philanthropic organization
Founder	Steve Case, Jean Case
Founded	1997
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Focus	Philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, civic engagement, impact investing

Case Foundation The Case Foundation is a private philanthropic organization established by Steve Case and Jean Case to support innovation in philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. The foundation has operated programs that connect capital, expertise, and networks to accelerate social entrepreneurship, promote philanthropic investment strategies, and expand participatory platforms for public problem‑solving. Its activities have intersected with prominent initiatives and institutions across the United States and internationally, influencing practice among funders, technology platforms, and nonprofit intermediaries.

History

The foundation was created following Steve Case's tenure as co‑founder of America Online and subsequent involvement with Revolution LLC, while Jean Case brought experience from roles tied to National Geographic Society and urban civic projects. Early activity drew on relationships with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, and networks linked to Philanthropy Roundtable, aiming to modernize philanthropic tools during the rise of social media and digital platforms. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s the foundation launched campaigns that engaged with actors such as Obama for America, Sandy Hook Promise, United Way, and technology partners including Google, Facebook, and Twitter-related coalitions to expand participatory giving and online volunteerism. The foundation’s timeline reflects shifts in philanthropic strategy toward impact investing and blended capital models advocated by institutions like Rockefeller Foundation and Kresge Foundation.

Mission and Programs

The foundation’s mission emphasizes catalyzing scalable solutions at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and civic life. Programs have focused on accelerating social enterprise leaders associated with accelerators akin to Echoing Green and Fast Forward, supporting policy and advocacy campaigns similar to efforts by Aspen Institute and Brookings Institution, and developing public engagement platforms used by municipal actors such as City of Boston and City of Philadelphia. Initiatives often drew on collaborations with media organizations including The Washington Post, NPR, and HuffPost to expand reach, and with academic partners like Harvard Kennedy School, MIT Media Lab, and Georgetown University to evaluate outcomes.

Grantmaking and Initiatives

Grantmaking has targeted nonprofit organizations, social entrepreneurs, and intermediary groups. The foundation funded projects aligned with models practiced by Skoll Foundation and Omidyar Network, and supported capacity building through partnerships with Independent Sector, National Council of Nonprofits, and regional community foundations such as Cleveland Foundation and Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Initiatives included challenge grants and prize competitions inspired by XPRIZE Foundation and programmatic investments in civic technology reminiscent of Code for America. The foundation made use of program-related investments alongside traditional grants, mirroring frameworks from Calvert Foundation and RSF Social Finance.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Collaborative work connected the foundation to corporate, nonprofit, and public sector partners. Corporate partners included Microsoft, Intel, and AT&T on digital inclusion efforts, while philanthropic peers and donor networks such as Giving USA Foundation and Council on Foundations informed sector strategy. The foundation engaged with large humanitarian and development organizations like United Nations Foundation and USAID on global civic campaigns, and worked with local government networks such as National League of Cities and Local Initiatives Support Corporation for community resilience projects. Academic evaluation partnerships involved Johns Hopkins University and University of Pennsylvania for impact measurement.

Notable Projects and Impact

Notable projects encompassed participatory campaigns that mobilized online volunteers and donors, civic engagement platforms that increased turnout and community volunteering in pilot cities, and investments in social enterprises that scaled services addressing digital access and small business support. Programs drew attention alongside similar high‑profile efforts by Tides Foundation and Charity: water, and the foundation’s challenge competitions produced grantees later backed by investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital. Impact reporting and external evaluations referenced methodologies used by Social Finance and The Rockefeller Foundation to assess outcomes in areas such as broadband access, civic technology adoption, and nonprofit capacity.

Leadership and Organization

Governance has included founders Steve Case and Jean Case in leadership roles, supported by an executive team with experience in venture philanthropy, digital campaigning, and nonprofit management. Board and advisory relationships connected the foundation to leaders from Revolution LLC, National Geographic Partners, and institutions like The Aspen Institute and Harvard Business School. Staff recruited talent from organizations such as Oxfam, Teach For America, and technology firms like Amazon and PayPal to bridge philanthropy with startup and policy expertise.

Funding and Financials

Funding derives primarily from the founders’ endowment and family office structures comparable to Gates Ventures and Emerson Collective. Financial strategies have encompassed grants, program-related investments, and catalytic co‑investments alongside institutional partners like JP Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs in blended finance transactions. Public filings and sector reports placed the foundation among mid‑sized private foundations that deploy multiyear commitments to seed scalable initiatives and absorb early‑stage risk to attract subsequent capital from impact investors and philanthropic peers.

Category:Foundations based in Washington, D.C.