Michael and Susan Dell Foundation

Michael and Susan Dell Foundation is a private non-profit organization founded by Michael Dell, the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, and his wife Susan Dell. The foundation was established to improve the lives of children living in urban poverty through education, health, and family economic stability initiatives, often in collaboration with organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation. The foundation's work is inspired by the Dell family's commitment to philanthropy, as seen in Michael Dell's involvement with the Giving Pledge, a campaign founded by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to encourage wealthy individuals to donate a significant portion of their wealth to charity. The foundation has also partnered with other notable organizations, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund.

● History

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation was founded in 1999, with an initial focus on supporting education and healthcare initiatives in Central Texas, particularly in the Austin Independent School District. Over time, the foundation expanded its reach to support programs in other parts of the United States, as well as in India and South Africa, often in collaboration with local organizations like the Tata Trusts and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The foundation has also been involved in various disaster relief efforts, including supporting the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army in response to Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters. The foundation's work has been recognized by various organizations, including the Council on Foundations and the National Philanthropic Trust.

● Mission and Objectives

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation's mission is to transform the lives of children living in urban poverty by supporting innovative and effective programs that improve their education, health, and family economic stability, often in partnership with organizations like the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The foundation's objectives include increasing access to quality education for disadvantaged children, improving health outcomes for children and families, and supporting economic empowerment initiatives that help families achieve financial stability, as seen in its work with the Microfinance Information Exchange and the Grameen Foundation. The foundation also seeks to support research and policy initiatives that inform and shape the social sector, often in collaboration with think tanks like the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute.

● Grantmaking and Programs

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation provides grants to support a range of programs and initiatives, including education and healthcare programs, as well as family economic stability initiatives, often in partnership with organizations like the United Way and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The foundation has supported programs like the Teach For America and the New Teacher Project, which aim to improve teacher quality and increase access to quality education for disadvantaged students. The foundation has also supported healthcare initiatives, such as the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Community Health Center program, which provide access to healthcare services for low-income children and families, often in collaboration with organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of Community Health Centers.

● Investments and Partnerships

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation invests in a range of initiatives and partnerships to support its mission and objectives, often in collaboration with organizations like the Social Venture Partners and the New Profit Inc.. The foundation has invested in social enterprises like the Dell Social Innovation Challenge, which supports innovative solutions to social problems, and the Skoll Foundation, which supports social entrepreneurs and their initiatives. The foundation has also partnered with other philanthropic organizations, such as the Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation, to support large-scale initiatives and programs, including the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

● Impact and Evaluation

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation evaluates the impact of its grantmaking and programs through a range of evaluation and research initiatives, often in collaboration with organizations like the Harvard Family Research Project and the National Center for Education Statistics. The foundation uses data and research to inform its grantmaking decisions and to assess the effectiveness of its programs, as seen in its work with the Urban Institute and the Center for American Progress. The foundation has also supported policy and advocacy initiatives, such as the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and the National Education Association, which aim to improve education outcomes and increase access to quality education for disadvantaged students. The foundation's work has been recognized by various organizations, including the Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Times. Category:Philanthropic organizations