Blank Foundation awards $15 million to Outward Bound USA

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The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in Atlanta has announced a five-year, $15 million grant to Outward Bound USA in support of community-based outdoor education programs.

The grant to the outdoor education nonprofit will launch its Center of Excellence, which will strengthen programs across the organization’s nine regional schools. The funding aims to double the number of students in the program, engaging 75,000 young people annually by 2029 and provide outdoor learning experiences to a total of 275,000 students across the country. In addition, the grant will expand the organization’s five- to seven-day immersive expeditions, which focus on leadership and character development, as well as accessible one-day programs tailored for local schools and community organizations.

“Today marks a milestone in our journey toward ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to experience the life-changing impact of outdoor education,” said Outward Bound USA chief executive Ginger Naylor. “This grant directly enhances our ability to expand our programs into communities across America, empowering more youth—especially the 90 percent of families currently unable to afford an experience like Outward Bound—to build confidence and reconnect them to themselves, others, and with the natural world.”