Outward Bound USA Receives Transformational $15 Million Grant from Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to Expand Access to Outdoor Education

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ATLANTA – Outward Bound USA is proud to announce that it has been awarded a transformational $15 million grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. This record-setting gift will propel Outward Bound USA’s Advancing Access to the Outdoors initiative—a comprehensive effort designed to expand and innovate its community-based outdoor education programs and ensure fair access for students across the country.

The grant will launch the new Center of Excellence, which will strengthen programs across all nine regional Outward Bound Schools. It will also fuel capacity-building efforts, including the expansion of 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. Over the next five years, this investment is set to double the number of students reached annually—engaging 75,000 young people each year by 2029 and providing transformational outdoor learning experiences for a total of 275,000 students nationwide.

“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 Ginger Naylor, CEO of Outward Bound USA. “We are deeply grateful for the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s shared vision and commitment. This grant directly enhances our ability to expand our programs into communities across America, empowering more youth—especially the 90% 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.”

Arthur M. Blank, chairman of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, added, “Outward Bound has had a profound impact on my life, teaching me the invaluable lesson that we are all capable of far more than we realize. Outward Bound USA has consistently demonstrated excellence in fostering the courageous leaders of tomorrow through the transformative power of outdoor education. We are proud to support their efforts and firmly believe their programs provide important avenues for youth development.”

Justin Ennis, Executive Director at the Philadelphia Outward Bound School shares, “This grant is a game-changer. There is tremendous demand for our programming, and this grant will enable us to provide many more students with unique and challenging learning experiences that build resilience, leadership, and a lifelong connection to nature. Our crew is thrilled to see the impact this transformational investment will have on the schools and community organizations we serve.”

By launching the Center of Excellence and expanding its community-centered programs, Outward Bound USA is reaffirming its commitment to accessible, sustainable, and inclusive outdoor learning. This initiative comes at a critical time when ensuring fair access to skill-building learning experiences can increase youths’ confidence to navigate their future in school, life, and beyond.

For more information about Outward Bound USA and its innovative programs, please visit www.outwardbound.org.

About Outward Bound USA
Outward Bound USA is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the transformative power of outdoor education. With a network of nine regional schools across the United States, Outward Bound inspires young people to develop resilience, leadership, and a profound connection to the natural world through challenging and meaningful experiences. To learn more, visit www.outwardbound.org.

About the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is a philanthropy founded to help transform lives and communities by uniting people across differences to find common cause. Started in 1995 by Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot, the foundation has granted more than $1.3 billion to charitable causes. Our collective giving areas are Atlanta’s Westside, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health and Well-Being, and Youth Development. Across these areas, we take on tough challenges by uniting the courage and compassion of our communities so we can all thrive together. In addition to the priority areas of giving, the foundation oversees a large portfolio of grants including support of essential Atlanta nonprofit institutions, such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center, and enduring founder-led initiatives, such as veterans and the military and stuttering, among others. For more, visit www.blankfoundation.org. 

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