Chime Scholars Foundation
Chime Scholars Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in September 2022 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation operates as the philanthropic arm of Chime, a consumer financial technology company, and focuses on providing educational scholarships and support to students pursuing various forms of higher education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
+16.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$796K
+19.8% YoY
Grant Count
87
+770.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-86.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on removing financial barriers to education and supporting students of all backgrounds in achieving their educational goals. The foundation supports a wide range of educational pathways, including:
- Traditional college degrees
- Apprenticeships
- Trade schools
- Technical certifications
Primary funding categories include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Arts, Culture & Humanities.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
** The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Applications for scholarships are opened annually for students, with the 2026-2027 academic year applications currently open.
Ready to take the next step with Chime Scholars Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, Ohio, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,654,914
- Total Revenue: $1,209,588
- Total Expenses: $976,807
- Total Giving: $796,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
Previous Year (FY 2023):
- Total Assets: $1,422,133
- Total Income: $1,528,634
Funding Source: The foundation is supported by Chime's 1% pledge, which commits 1% of the company's equity over a decade to fund the foundation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,654,914 | $1,422,133 | $599,750 |
| Revenue | $1,209,588 | $1,528,634 | $800,302 |
| Expenses | $976,807 | $706,251 | $200,552 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $976,715 | $706,247 | $200,552 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,588 | $6,634 | $302 |
| Distributable Amount | $44,243 | $46,769 | $4,173 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Christopher Britt – CEO and Co-founder of Chime (Director)
- Jeni Izuel – Director and President
- Amine Asmerom – Chief Financial Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amine Asmerom | Chief Financial Officer | — | — |
| Christopher Britt | Dir | 1 | — |
| Jeni Izuel | Dir, Pres | 40 | — |
| Ryan King | Dir | — | — |
| Jennifer Kuperman | Dir, Chief Corp Affairs Offcr | 1 | — |
| Cynthia Marshall | Dir | — | — |
| Apple Palarca | Sec | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced in January 2026 that applications for the 2026-2027 academic year scholarships are now open. This represents the continuation of an expanding program that welcomed its largest cohort to date in 2025-2026, awarding over $3 million in scholarships to 800 students. The foundation emphasizes its commitment to helping ambitious students achieve financial progress through access to educational opportunities.
Chime Scholars Foundation Applications for 2026-2027 Now OpenSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Ttee Trustees of Univ of Mass - Art 5
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$380K
Grants
1
Total Given
$14K
The Jonsson Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$784K
Grants
3
Total Given
$15K
Engineering Information Foundation Inc
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
13
Total Given
$220K
The Cucci Family Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$579K
Grants
4
Total Given
$45K
Caroline K Barber Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$257K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Give Back Brands Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
—
Grants
19
Total Given
$178K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Chime Scholars Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities