The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation provides funding to support projects that create opportunities for children and families in urban poverty, focusing on measurable impact in education, health, and family economic stability. The foundation collaborates with a variety of organizations, including charitable trusts, social enterprises, government entities, and community foundations, to advance projects in the United States, India, and South Africa. Grants are awarded to initiatives that are already making significant progress in these areas and aim to either support ongoing work or scale up existing projects.

Eligible projects must be located in one of the foundation's focus areas: education (across all eligible locations), health and wellness (U.S. only), or family economic stability (India, South Africa, and specific U.S. regions). The foundation considers proposals where the requested funding is $50,000 or more and supports organizations that align with its core values, particularly in standing against racism, antisemitism, and hate. Proposals are expected to clearly outline how they will achieve measurable outcomes, with detailed problem statements backed by data on the target population and geographic area.

The foundation prioritizes projects that directly serve children or youth from low-income, urban communities and aims to fund social enterprises, both for-profit and nonprofit, that work in education, health, and economic stability. However, there are several types of requests that will not receive funding, including those from individuals, medical research projects, fundraising events, endowments, lobbying activities, and requests for infrastructure or technology equipment. The foundation emphasizes that it is not affiliated with Dell Technologies and does not provide computers or other hardware.

Grant applications must demonstrate a clear plan for achieving measurable outcomes, supported by baseline data that defines the current state of the problem and the desired improvements. Organizations are asked to submit detailed problem statements that quantify the need in their community and describe how their work addresses it. The foundation expects applicants to show how their programs can lead to significant improvements in the lives of children and families by outlining a clear path from the problem’s baseline to the desired outcomes.

In terms of funding, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation typically contributes no more than 25% of a project’s total budget and no more than 10% of an organization’s total operating expenses. The foundation does not disclose a specific amount of annual contributions, as it varies depending on the needs and programs it supports each year. Applications for all eligible countries follow the same process, and applicants are notified of their submission's status after an internal review. Proposals are submitted online, and confirmation of receipt is provided immediately after submission.

For organizations considering applying, it is important to ensure that their work fits within the foundation’s key focus areas and that they can provide evidence of past or potential measurable impact. Detailed guidance on the application process, including creating a strong problem statement and demonstrating outcomes, is available on the foundation's website.