Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
An American private foundation established by Michael and Susan Dell that funds initiatives focused chiefly on children's education, health, economic opportunity, and community development.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is an American private foundation established in 1999 by Michael Dell, founder of Dell Inc., and his wife, Susan Dell. It is a philanthropic organization rather than a commercial product brand, and its work has concentrated on improving outcomes for children and families through education, health care, economic opportunity, and community initiatives. The foundation was initially closely associated with the Dells' philanthropic activity in the Austin, Texas, area. Its early grantmaking supported improved access to education and medical care, including major commitments to pediatric health infrastructure. In 2004, it contributed $25 million to the capital campaign for a new children's hospital in Austin. The hospital opened in 2007 as Dell Children's Medical Center. In 2006, the foundation committed $50 million to the University of Texas System for a pediatric health research center, a center for healthy living, and a computer science building on the university's Austin campus. The foundation later expanded its Austin portfolio. In 2013, it announced a $50 million commitment to establish the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, together with a further $10 million intended for community health programs in Austin and Travis County over the following decade. In 2015, it announced a $25 million matching grant for the downtown teaching hospital that subsequently opened as Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas. In 2020, the foundation made a 10-year, $100 million commitment intended to help improve graduation rates for low-income University of Texas students, including students eligible for Pell Grants. The same year, it offered a $30 million matching grant toward a major pediatric expansion at Dell Children's Medical Center. Alongside education and health, the foundation has supported responses to homelessness and housing insecurity. In 2021, it committed $38 million to three Austin nonprofits: $36.6 million for Mobile Loaves & Fishes' Community First! Village, $1 million for Foundation Communities, and $400,000 for LifeWorks. In 2025, it pledged a $1 million matching gift to Austin Habitat for Humanity for the construction of 25 affordable homes in Whisper Valley as part of the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. The foundation has also developed an international focus, particularly in India and South Africa, where it has supported education-access and learning-outcome initiatives. It participated as an outcome funder in the Educate Girls development impact bond launched in 2014. Under that structure, investors supplied capital in advance and outcome funders paid according to independently assessed progress against education targets. The foundation has been funded primarily through investments and sales of Dell Inc. shares. Reference material associated with the foundation estimates that, by 2025, it managed approximately $7.5 billion in assets and had given about $2.9 billion since its creation to children's issues and community initiatives. The OECD reported that its development financing increased by 11% in 2019 to $35 million. These figures are estimates or reported financing totals rather than public-company financial disclosures. The foundation's identity is therefore defined by long-term, evidence-oriented philanthropy, with education as a central theme and substantial place-based commitments in Austin.
History
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation was created in 1999 by Michael Dell and Susan Dell. Its resources have been generated primarily through investments and sales of Dell Inc. shares, allowing it to operate as a large private philanthropic institution independent of Dell's commercial operations. Its early work emphasized Austin, Texas, where the Dells' philanthropy supported children's health, education, and community institutions. A $25 million contribution in 2004 helped finance a new children's hospital, which opened in 2007 as Dell Children's Medical Center. In 2006, the foundation committed $50 million to the University of Texas System for pediatric health research, healthy-living programs, and a computer science building. The Austin portfolio expanded into medical education and public health. In 2013, the foundation announced $50 million for the creation of the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin and an additional $10 million for community health programs. In 2015, it announced a $25 million matching grant for the downtown teaching hospital later named Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas. The foundation subsequently supported student attainment and pediatric capacity: in 2020 it committed $100 million over ten years to improve graduation rates for low-income University of Texas students, while also providing a $30 million matching grant for a major Dell Children's Medical Center expansion. The foundation's community-development work has included homelessness and housing. In 2021, it committed $38 million to three Austin nonprofits, with the largest portion directed to Community First! Village operated by Mobile Loaves & Fishes, and additional grants to Foundation Communities and LifeWorks. In 2025, it announced a $1 million matching gift to Austin Habitat for Humanity to support 25 affordable homes in Whisper Valley. Over time, the foundation broadened its geographic scope to include India and South Africa, with education access and learning outcomes as important themes. Its participation in the Educate Girls development impact bond, launched in 2014, represented an interest in results-based financing: private investors supplied initial capital, while outcome funders paid when specified educational improvements were achieved. Reference material reports that the foundation had approximately $7.5 billion in assets under management and had distributed around $2.9 billion since 1999 by 2025. The OECD reported $35 million in development financing for 2019, an 11% increase from the previous year. These figures should be understood as reported estimates and financing measures, not audited public-company results. The foundation remains an active philanthropic organization whose principal public identity rests on long-term investments in children's education, health, and community well-being.
- 2025
Affordable housing matching gift
[1]The foundation pledged a $1 million matching gift for 25 affordable homes in Austin's Whisper Valley development.
- 2021
Austin homelessness commitments
[1]The foundation committed $38 million to three Austin organizations addressing homelessness.
- 2020
University of Texas graduation initiative
[1]A 10-year, $100 million commitment targeted improved graduation outcomes for low-income students at the University of Texas at Austin.
- 2014
Educate Girls impact bond
[1]The foundation became an outcome funder for an education development impact bond associated with Educate Girls in India.
- 2013
Dell Medical School commitment
[1]The foundation announced $50 million for the Dell Medical School and $10 million for related community health programs.
- 2007
Dell Children's Medical Center opens
[1]The Austin children's hospital supported by the foundation opened as Dell Children's Medical Center.
- 2006
University of Texas health and research commitment
[1]The foundation committed $50 million to the University of Texas System for pediatric health research, healthy-living programs, and a computer science building.
- 2004
Austin children's hospital contribution
[1]The foundation contributed $25 million to the capital campaign for a new children's hospital in Austin.
- 1999
Foundation established
[1]Michael Dell and Susan Dell established the private foundation to support charitable initiatives, particularly those affecting children and communities.
Products and positioning
Evidence-oriented private philanthropy focused on improving outcomes for children and families, combining major place-based investments in Austin with education and development initiatives in India and South Africa.
Product categories. Philanthropic grants · Education initiatives · Pediatric health and medical research funding · Community development and homelessness programs · Impact-financing and outcome-funding partnerships
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Educate Girls development impact bond
India
The foundation served as an outcome funder for a development impact bond supporting Educate Girls. Investors supplied upfront capital, with payment tied to independently assessed improvements in education outcomes.
Outcome. The initiative established the foundation as a participant in results-based education financing.
Brand decisions
2020
Prioritize low-income student graduation outcomesStrategyBackground
The foundation continued its education focus while targeting access and completion for students from low-income households.
Action taken
It announced a 10-year, $100 million commitment to improve graduation rates for low-income University of Texas students.
Aftermath
The initiative broadened the foundation's education work from access toward measurable postsecondary completion outcomes.
Foundation commitment. $100 million over ten years (2020-2030 announced commitment)
2013
Expand into medical education and community healthStrategyBackground
The foundation had already made substantial Austin-area commitments in children's health and education.
Action taken
It committed $50 million to establish the Dell Medical School and an additional $10 million to community health programs.
Aftermath
The commitment helped create a major medical-education and public-health institution at the University of Texas at Austin.
Foundation commitment. $50 million for the medical school plus $10 million for community health programs (2013 announcement)
Recent events
Kaleidofin raises $10 million in Series B funding[3]
Reported:
Kaleidofin announced that it raised $10 million in a Series B funding round led by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, with existing institutional investors also participating.
- Unconfirmed
Foundations join ACT Grants as donors[4]
Reported:
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and Wadhwani Foundation joined ACT Grants as donors. The foundations will extend the initiative’s outreach, with the article specifying project selection and execution support from Gates Foundation and grants and consulting services from Wadhwani Foundation.
- Unconfirmed
NMI increases investment in Svasti Microfinance[5]
Reported:
Nordic Microfinance Initiative raised its investment in Svasti Microfinance. Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Bamboo Capital Partners exited in a $10 million share sale that included primary and secondary deals; the fresh investment raised Svasti's net worth to Rs 100 crore.
- Unconfirmed
SweepSouth raises more than R50 million in investment[6]
Reported:
SweepSouth raised more than R50 million in a funding round. The final deal in the round was a $1 million investment by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation; existing investors also reinvested.
Sources6 sources
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