Connie Ballmer

Co-Founder

Steve Ballmer

The Ballmer family has launched the Rainier Climate Group, a new philanthropic initiative dedicated to combating the global climate crisis

Ballmer Family Launches Rainier Climate Group to Address Global Climate Crisis

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The Ballmer family has launched the Rainier Climate Group, a new philanthropic initiative dedicated to combating the global climate crisis. 

Ballmer Family Launches Rainier Climate Group with $1 Billion in Global Climate Funding

Supporting national network to extend philanthropic reach and catalyze economic mobility for 4 million youth

Ballmer Group Invests $175 Million for StriveTogether's Vision 2030

Ballmer Group is investing $175 million in StriveTogether to support their work increasing economic mobility for children and families

Industry leaders New Profit and Echoing Green are introducing a five-year project with seed funding from Ballmer Group to build Black leadership in the economic mobility field. 

Ballmer Group Invests in Black-Led Nonprofits Committed to Addressing Economic Mobility 

New Profit and Echoing Green are partnering with Ballmer Group to address chronic underfunding of Black-led nonprofits due to racialized disparities. 

Investing in Black-Led Nonprofits Addressing Economic Mobility

We are excited to share this set of grants designed to build, strengthen, and diversify Washington State’s early childhood education workforce so that our youngest learners are set up for future success.

Investing $43 Million to Build Washington’s Early Childhood Education Workforce

Ballmer Group is pledging $43 million in grants to build, strengthen, and diversify Washington State's early childhood education workforce. 

Investing in WA's Early Childhood Education Workforce

Steve and Connie Ballmer have announced a $400 million investment with four organizations focused on Black investment managers and Black businesses. This commitment targets an undercapitalized market, and it aligns with their philanthropic focus.

Steve and Connie Ballmer Invest $400 Million Into Black Investment Managers

Steve and Connie Ballmer have announced a $400 million investment with four organizations focused on Black investment managers and Black businesses. 

Ballmer Group Invests $400 Million in Black Investment Firms

Steve and Connie Ballmer Invest $400 Million into Black Investment Managers

Today, we are excited to announce that we are expanding our giving to help address another critical challenge facing families in the U.S. and around the world: climate change.

The Next Step for Ballmer Group: Helping Children and Families by Fighting Climate Change

Ballmer Group is excited to announce we are expanding our giving to help address another critical challenge facing families around the world: climate change.

Helping Children and Families by Fighting Climate Change | Ballmer Group

Ballmer Group is thrilled to welcome Mekaelia Davis as our Director of Black Family Economic Mobility, working to remove barriers and expand pathways to opportunity.

Welcome Mekaelia Davis

Mekaelia Davis

Davis joins Ballmer Group as Dir. of Black Family Economic Mobility, leading a nationwide strategy to expand pathways to economic mobility for Black families.

Ballmer Group Welcomes Mekaelia Davis 

Welcome Mekaelia Davis, National Director - Black Family Economic Mobility

Terri Ludwig

President of Philanthropy

I’m always grateful for new beginnings, as they give me the opportunity to reflect and look forward to what’s ahead. 

New Beginnings

After my first two weeks at Ballmer Group, I’d like to share a few initial thoughts on what makes me most excited about our work.

Terri Ludwig: New Beginnings

Ballmer Group is proud to announce that we are renewing a suite of grants to 18 stellar organizations working nationally to improve economic mobility. 

Five Years Later: Renewing Our Commitment to Large-Scale, Flexible Funding 

Flexible, multi-year grants have demonstrated that this type of funding model helps organizations to adapt quickly in changing and emergency circumstances.

Renewing Our Commitment to Large-Scale, Flexible Funding

Five Years Later: Renewing Our Commitment to Large-Scale, Flexible Funding

We are pleased to announce five new team members at Ballmer Group Philanthropy. 

Welcome to Five New Team Members

We are pleased to welcome Allie Armstrong, Jennifer Baugh, Leslie Dozono, Nick Munoz, and Kody Russell to Ballmer Group Philanthropy

Ballmer Group Welcomes Five New Team Members

Jeff Edmondson

Executive Director, Community Impact

Eshauna Smith

Director, Community Impact

We have seen significant early success in improving community-wide outcomes through investment in what are called Place-Based Partnerships.

The Promise of Place-Based Partnerships

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Never before have the four organizations been funded to work together to bring their respective violence reduction strategy together in a particular city to create a CVI Ecosystem for public safety. 

Within Reach: Increasing Safety Through an Ecosystem of Community Violence Interventions

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Leading Community Violence Intervention (CVI) organizations focus on justice, restoration, and healing instead of systems that punish and control.

Four CVI Organizations Join Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence

The human brain is amazing, especially during the first few years of life when it is estimated infants make more than one million new neural connections per second.

Every Child Deserves High Quality, Fully Funded Early Education

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Here are a few ways some of Ballmer Group's early childhood grantees are tackling the challenge of underfunded public spending at every level of government.

Every Child Deserves High Quality, Fully Funded Early Education 

Kevin Bromer

Executive Director, Head of Technology & Data Strategy

Korey Klein

Portfolio Manager, Technology & Data

More access to vital public assistance through human-centered design and modern technology solutions.

Improving Benefits Access

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Philanthropic efforts can follow two strategies to ensure families can access the public benefits and resources they are eligible for. Learn more.

Improving Access to Public Benefits Programs | Ballmer Group

As I considered how to begin this blog post, I didn’t expect to feel so similarly to how I did one year ago. 2021 has been a rollercoaster of experiences and emotions.

An Opportunity to Create Systemic and Long-Lasting Change

In 2021, Ballmer Group has focused on supporting systemic, long-lasting change, so that opportunity is more accessible for generations to come.

Our Philanthropic Mission: An Opportunity for Systemic Change

In our home state of Washington, the need for behavioral health services is reaching critical levels, in large part due to the isolation, grief, and economic calamity caused by the COVID 19 pandemic.

It’s Time to Build Washington’s Behavioral Health Workforce

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Making communities safer. Paving more pathways to good jobs and careers. Increasing access to quality mental healthcare.

Increase Impact by Thinking Differently About How to Invest in Digital Infrastructure

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How do you sum up a year like 2020? One word that comes to mind is relentless.

Adapting to Face New Challenges in 2020

We doubled our grant commitments in 2020: over $420 million went directly to nonprofits, Learn about the impact our team and our grantees made in 2020. 

Ballmer Group Grants to Address Challenges of 2020

Kylee Mitchell Wells

Executive Director, SE Michigan

As the effects of coronavirus continue to compound, Ballmer Group grantee The Education Trust-Midwest is fighting to shield underserved students in Michigan from the effects of state budget shortfalls caused by the pandemic.

The Education Trust-Midwest: Standing Up For Equity in Education

Kylee Mitchell Wells, Executive Director, SE Michigan

We founded Ballmer Group in 2015 to focus our resources and civic activism on economic mobility in the United States. 

Black Lives Matter. Always.

When my son was born, I was fascinated by how quickly a baby's brain develops. 

Investing in Learning Begins at Birth

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Given the data, it's baffling why our nation underinvests in our little ones. The ROI for early childhood care and education is higher than any other stage of development.

Investing in Learning Begins at Birth | Ballmer Group

When asked why we believe philanthropy must work closely with government, the reason we give is simple. 

Why We Partner With Government to Give Every Child a Shot at Moving Up

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Government provides most of the funding, but philanthropies like Ballmer Group can provide the stimulus for innovation and change.

Why Philanthropy Must Work Closely With Government

There is momentum building among influential commentators to call out the power of communities coming together to address complex social problems.

Why Collective Impact is Much More Than Collaboration

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Consider an American family struggling to experience the American Dream of economic mobility, yet repeatedly running into setbacks. 

Why We're Investing $59 Million to Make it Easier for Social-Service Groups to Do More Good

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Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States. Learn about our focus areas and grant recipients.

Ballmer Group: Improving Economic Opportunity for All

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Economic opportunity for all.

Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States. We fund leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities.

Our grants focus on direct services that strengthen communities for today & levers of change that transform systems for tomorrow.

Systemic racism makes it harder for people of color to move up the economic ladder, and we seek to address barriers to racial equity in all we do.

News

Ballmer Family Launches Rainier Climate Group to Address Global Climate Crisis