The Blackstone Charitable Foundation

In 2010, the Foundation launched "The Blackstone Entrepreneurship Initiative" (the "Initiative"), to create connected networks, or "ecosystems," of master coaches in regions across the nation and around the world. Through these connecting ecosystems, the Foundation's goal is to build an elite global network of master coaches and entrepreneurial support for aspiring entrepreneurs, and in turn, the high-growth businesses and industries that are most known to spark economic growth. Accordingly, the Foundation has directed its support, within the Initiative, toward the following programs: Blackstone LaunchPad is a national model for fostering entrepreneurship through higher education. Based on a successful program at the University of Miami, it encourages entrepreneurial thinking and activity among undergraduate and graduate students, as well as among faculty and alumni, for the purpose of incubating a new generation of entrepreneurs who will contribute to the economic revitalization of distressed regions. The Foundation has awarded $12,000,000 in conditional funding for Blackstone LaunchPad, of which $6,856,000 had been paid through June 30, 2014. Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network is an initiative to strengthen existing entrepreneurial ecosystems in struggling areas by building a network of master entrepreneurs and connecting them with a pipeline of potential high-growth ventures. The Foundation has awarded $7,640,500 in conditional funding for Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network, of which $4,992,000 had been paid through June 30, 2014. Blackstone Accelerates Growth spurs economic growth and is designed to help historically resource-based economies transition to innovation economies. Rural economies in the United States must overcome unique challenges, including geographically dispersed population centers and lower levels of innovation and R&D investments. Blackstone Accelerates Growth promotes entrepreneurship by coordinating a critical network of entrepreneurial services to high-potential companies in newly created innovation hubs. The Foundation has awarded $3,000,000 in conditional funding for Blackstone Accelerates Growth, of which $1,266,000 had been paid through June 30, 2014. The Blackstone Innovation Grants program makes targeted grants to entrepreneurial organizations that spread the ideals of entrepreneurship and benefit local communities. In coordination with its regional efforts to spur entrepreneurship around the country and the world, the Foundation is creating a national and global network in which the participating organizations can share best practices, methodologies, and contacts, and are connected with Blackstone's intellectual capital and resources. The Foundation has awarded $2,600,000 in conditional funding for Innovation Grants, of which $1,825,000 had been paid through June 30, 2014.

Grantmaking