Bezos Earth Fund Awards $73.7 Million, Pledges Additional $130 Million by Year End

Here are notable new grant awards compiled by the Chronicle:

Bezos Earth Fund

$203.7 million commitment to advance climate justice, push for environmentally sound strategies for the postpandemic economic recovery, and develop new decarbonization pathways.

The fund has awarded $73.7 million to 12 organizations now and pledged to make an additional $130 million in grants by the end of the year. The largest grant in this round is $18 million over three years to the Science Based Targets Initiative to expand its decarbonization solutions worldwide.

Edward Jones

$150 million commitment to charitable causes in the United States and Canada, including $50 million over 10 years to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Of this total, the financial-services firm plans to give $80 million in grants toward inclusive growth and community well-being at organizations near its headquarters in St. Louis.

Open Philanthropy

$42 million to Georgetown University to back the Center for Security and Emerging Technology, which is housed within the university’s School of Foreign Service.

Flu Lab

$18 million over five years to the Center for Open Science to increase the openness, integrity, and reproducibility of scientific research and scholarship.

Focusing Philanthropy, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

$13 million to the Opportunity Finance Network to support the Finance Justice Fund, which will make loans and grants to entrepreneurs of color in rural, urban, and Native communities through community-development financial institutions.

The commitment includes $5 million from Focusing Philanthropy, $5 million from the MacArthur Foundation, and $3 million from the Kellogg Foundation. The Truist Financial Corporation has also committed $10 million in long-term flexible debt capital.

Jacobs Foundation

$11 million over five years to the University of California at Irvine to create the EdTech Research EcoSystem, a network to bring together global leaders in computer science, psychology, neuroscience, education, and educational technology to develop digital technologies for children.

Ford Foundation and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

$5 million to LEAP Africa to create the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, which will offer training and support to young leaders in Nigeria.

Facebook

$3 million to the International Rescue Committee and other international and local organizations that are working to resettle Afghan refugees and provide humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.

Windgate Foundation

$3 million to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to support art education, acquire art from working artists to be kept in its permanent art collection, and endow the university’s Children International education and outreach programs.

Forever 21

$2 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America for its back-to-school campaign. The retailer has additionally pledged $1 from the proceeds of every T-shirt that has a graphic design on it sold to the youth group.

JPMorgan Chase

$1 million to support active-duty military service members and veterans, and to aid resettlement for Afghans. Recipients include the International Rescue Committee, Blue Star Families, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and Combat Stress.

The bank’s legal team will also provide pro bono assistance to Afghans on relocation and immigration issues.

ConocoPhillips

$1 million over five years to Texas A&M University to create an undergraduate certificate program in data analytics for the petroleum industry.

New Grant Opportunity

The Cigna Foundation has issued a call for applications for its Health and Well-Being grant program, which will award more than $3 million to nonprofit groups and community organizations to eliminate racial disparities in access to health care. Grants between $50,000 and $100,000 will be awarded for programs that increase access to health care (including mental, behavioral, and dental health) or that bolster health literacy. Applications are due September 24.

Send grant announcements to grants.editor@philanthropy.com.

Chronicle of Philanthropy subscribers also have full access to GrantStation’s searchable database of grant opportunities. For more information, visit our grants page.