The Goldman Sachs Foundation

The Goldman Sachs Foundation was funded in 1999 with a $200 million donation from The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a leading global investment banking and securities firm. The Foundation’s mission is to promote excellence and innovation in education worldwide. The Foundation is an important extension of the tradition of philanthropy and public leadership at Goldman Sachs. The firm also makes direct contributions through its Charitable Services Group and encourages volunteerism through its Community TeamWorks program.

Our Program Interests
Funding priorities are determined by a periodic assessment of needs and opportunities in the field of education. Current priorities are:

• To develop the abilities of promising high potential youth worldwide
• To support high quality education for young people in leadership, entrepreneurship and business education
• To enhance academic performance and prospects for life achievement of students at the secondary school level

Candidates for Funding
The Foundation makes only a small number of large grants to effective, high quality organizations that:

• Implement achievement oriented education programs
• Produce substantial, measurable results
• Possess a well delineated plan for broad dissemination and outreach
• Demonstrate exceptional promise
• Employ strong leadership
• Command distinguished records of accomplishment
• Evidence a clear capacity to expend sizable grants wisely

The Foundation is able to respond favorably to an extremely small fraction of the requests that it receives. Rarely will a grant be made in response to an unsolicited proposal.

Ineligible Parties and Projects
The Foundation does not make grants to individuals; fraternal organizations; political causes, campaigns, or candidates; or fundraising events.

Letter of Inquiry
Prospective applicants are invited to explain their ideas informally by submitting to the Foundation a short letter (of about two pages) describing the program or organization for which a grant is sought, its mission, accomplishments, budget size and current funding needs. Documentation of results achieved to date is highly desirable. Submission of published program descriptions or brochures also is encouraged. On the basis of this information, staff will determine whether additional materials are required and contact prospective grantees accordingly.

Deadlines
With few exceptions, there are no fixed deadlines. The Foundation makes grants throughout the year.

Grant Inquiries Should be Directed to:
The Goldman Sachs Foundation
85 Broad Street, 22nd floor
New York, NY 10004