Blue Meridian Partners seeks to transform the life trajectories of young people and families in poverty by investing in strategies that advance economic and social mobility and access to opportunity for all.
Blue Meridian Partners Inc puts unusually large checks behind organizations that are already built to scale. Its recent awards show repeated seven- and eight-figure commitments for scaling plans, strategic planning, and economic mobility work, with multiple recipients returning across years. Youth Villages received $37,000,000 in 2025 and additional support in 2024 and 2023, while Tulsa Community Foundation received three separate awards between 2023 and 2025, including $22,000,000 in both 2023 and 2024 and $18,000,000 in 2025. The pattern points to long-horizon backing for expansion rather than one-time project support. The foundation’s portfolio centers on young people and families in poverty, with grantmaking tied to access to opportunity, education, workforce development, foster care and adoption systems, criminal justice reform and reentry, and reproductive health. Blue Meridian Partners Inc also supports place-based and intermediary organizations that can move large strategies forward, such as community foundations, policy groups, and national nonprofits. Awards in the recent list include major support for Grameen America, Harlem Children’s Zone, Merit America, and the Center for Employment Opportunities, each positioned within a broader effort to advance economic and social mobility.
In economic mobility work, Blue Meridian Partners Inc gave $21,816,000 to Oakland Promise for economic mobility and $14,349,742 to Policylink for economic mobility. It also supported The Commit Partnership with $10,000,000 for economic mobility, showing attention to organizations working at community and systems levels. Education is another clear line of giving. The foundation awarded $14,600,000 to Chiefs for Change Inc for education investments and $14,500,000 to Tides Centergeo for education investments. It also backed Partnership for Education Advancement with $11,420,000 and Thurgood Marshall College Fund with $14,430,000 and $11,010,000 across separate years. Its portfolio also includes early-childhood and family-support strategies, with $21,000,000 to Zero to Three and $16,000,000 to Nurse-family Partnership, both for scaling plan support.
Blue Meridian Partners Inc gives at a very large scale: the typical grant size is $500,000 at the 25th percentile, $2,156,091 at the median, and $4,262,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent list is dominated by repeated, multiyear awards to the same organizations, including Youth Villages, Tulsa Community Foundation, Zero to Three, Nurse-family Partnership, Policylink, and Thurgood Marshall College Fund. That repeat pattern aligns with its role as a regular funder and its stated emphasis on scaling plan funding, capacity building, and strategic planning support. The foundation also makes program-related investments, indicating it uses more than one capital tool.
$352.9M
$2.1B
$199.5M
$404.5M
Most grants fall between $500K and $4.3M, with a median of $2.2M.
25th Percentile
$500K
Median
$2.2M
75th Percentile
$4.3M
About 19% of grants go to recipients in CA.
KAY NEMOTO
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Grantmaking is national, with every listed recipient in the United States. California appears most often by grant count, and recent awards landed in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other California locations. New York recipients include New York City organizations such as Grameen America, Harlem Children’s Zone, and Partnership for Education Advancement. Other recurring destinations include Washington, DC; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Denver, Colorado; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Dallas, Texas, showing a broad spread across major metros and intermediary organizations.
The typical grant size is large: $500,000 at the 25th percentile, $2,156,091 at the median, and $4,262,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include many multi-million-dollar commitments, especially for scaling plans and strategic support.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Youth Villages, Tulsa Community Foundation, Zero to Three, Nurse-family Partnership, Policylink, and Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The repeated awards suggest ongoing support rather than isolated one-time grants.
It funds nonprofit grantees and service providers working on economic mobility, education, foster care and adoption systems, criminal justice reform and reentry, workforce development, place-based strategies, and reproductive health. Recent grants also show support for intermediary organizations such as community foundations and policy groups.
The foundation gives nationally, with 100% of listed grants going to U.S. recipients. California is the top state by grant count, while 19% of grants go to recipients in New York. Recent recipient cities include Oakland, New York, Washington, DC, Tulsa, Denver, and Dallas.
Its recent giving leans toward scale-up support, strategic planning, capacity building, and technical assistance. Many grants explicitly cite support for a scaling plan, and the organization is classified as a regular funder that also makes program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Blue Meridian Partners that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Stand-alone nonprofit with history of service to young people and families in the U.S.; budget greater than $1,000,000; ability to satisfy Blue Meridian's six selection criteria (Compelling Vision, Strong Leadership, Track Record of Performance, Evidence of Effectiveness, Pathway to Scale, Sustainable Economic Model).
Who can apply: Not specified on site; completing the interest survey allows Blue Meridian to learn about organizations but does not guarantee funding.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YOUTH VILLAGES | BARLETT, TN | $37,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| GRAMEEN AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $22,365,600 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| OAKLAND PROMISE | OAKLAND, CA | $21,816,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY |
| TULSA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | TULSA, OK | $18,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| MERIT AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| POLICYLINK | OAKLAND, CA | $14,800,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY |
| HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE | NEW YORK, NY | $12,925,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY |
| UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $12,470,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION ADVANCEMENT | NEW YORK, NY | $11,420,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| THE COMMIT PARTNERSHIP | DALLAS, TX | $10,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY |
| NATIONAL DOMESTICE WORKERS ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $9,100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $9,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION | DUBLIN, OH | $8,889,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| PURPOSE BUILT COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $8,551,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY |
| UPSTREAM USA INC | OAKLAND, CA | $7,200,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| CODEPATH | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $7,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| CATALYST EDUCATION INC | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $6,975,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION INVESTMENTS |
| ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE | OAKLAND, CA | $6,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| SOCIAL FINANCE INC | BOSTON, MA | $6,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES | NEW YORK, NY | $5,500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| COMPASS WORKING CAPITAL INC | BOSTON, MA | $5,352,293 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC PLANNING |
| THE BRIDGESPAN GROUP | NEW YORK, NY | $5,127,363 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE GRANTEE TECHINCAL ASSISTANCE |
| JOBS FOR THE FUTURE | BOSTON, MA | $5,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC PLANNING |
| POWER TO DECIDE | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,003,043 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC PLANNING |
| CLEAN SLATE INITIATIVE INC | ORLANDO, FL | $4,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| CODE FOR AMERICA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,840,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,770,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP | DENVER, CO | $3,200,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| MCKINSEY & COMPANY INC | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $3,188,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION INVESTMENTS |
| ROBERTS ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC PLANNING |
| STRIVETOGETHER | CINCINNATI, OH | $2,908,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY |
| NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $2,900,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC PLANNING |
| THE BAIL PROJECT | VENICE, CA | $2,900,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $2,850,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| CENTERING HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE INC | BOSTON, MA | $2,802,981 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC PLANNING |
| OIC OF AMERICA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,800,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,800,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| RESULTS FOR AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,800,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY |
| PUBLIC DEFENDER ASSOCIATION | SEATTLE, WA | $2,500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| RACE FORWARD | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| FOUNDATION FOR LOUISIANA | BATON ROUGE, LA | $2,500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| YEAR UP | BOSTON, MA | $2,300,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION INVESTMENTS |
| SAGA INNOVATIONS INC | FRAMINGHAM, MA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,850,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH QUALITY INC | BOSTON, MA | $1,702,906 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC PLANNING |
| A NEW WAY OF LIFE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,575,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| W HAYWOOD BURNS INSTITUTE | OAKLAND, CA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| YOUTH GUIDANCE | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL GOVERNMENT | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION INVESTMENTS |
TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY
PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION ADVANCEMENT
$11,420,000TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN
PURPOSE BUILT COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION INC
$8,551,000TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY
CLEAN SLATE INITIATIVE INC
$4,000,000TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN
MCKINSEY & COMPANY INC
$3,188,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATION INVESTMENTS
CENTERING HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE INC
$2,802,981TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC PLANNING
OIC OF AMERICA
$2,800,000TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH QUALITY INC
$1,702,906TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC PLANNING
