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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chime Scholars Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Kipp Metro Atlanta Collaborative Inc ($85,000), Bay Area Hybrid College Initiative ($40,000), Beyond 12 Education Inc ($32,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Andrea Saravia ABILENE, TX | Scholarship Grant | $5,000 |
| Madison Baker NORMAL, AL | Scholarship Grant | $2,500 |
| BAY AREA HYBRID COLLEGE INITIATIVE RICHMOND, CA | Establishing the "Chime Scholarship" fund | $40,000 |
| BEYOND 12 EDUCATION INC OAKLAND, CA | Coaching Services | $32,500 |
| Kathya Correa Almanza BOSTON, MA | Scholarship Grant | $2,500 |
| Elizabeth Wutzler COLUMBUS, OH | Scholarship Grant | $2,500 |
| Nigel Woode COLUMBUS, OH | Scholarship Grant | $2,500 |
| Kadija Conde Traore COLUMBUS, OH | Scholarship Grant | $2,500 |
| Mariye Sharif COLUMBUS, OH | Scholarship Grant | $2,500 |
| Josh Kollie COLUMBUS, OH | Scholarship Grant | $2,500 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chime Scholars Foundation fund?
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.
How do I apply for a grant from Chime Scholars Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Scholarships of up to $20,000 per student. Historical grant data shows typical awards ranging from $2,500 to $130,000 to partner organizations. **Recent Grant Activity:** • 2024-2025: Made grants including $85,000 to KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools for the "KIPP-Chime Campus Ambassador Scholars" Scholarship Fund, $80,000 to ScholarShot for continuing scholarship fund support, and $55,000 to The Opportunity Network for the "Chime Scholarship" Fund **Application Process:** The found…
Where does Chime Scholars Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, Ohio, and New York.
What size grants does Chime Scholars Foundation award?
In 2024, Chime Scholars Foundation awarded 87 grants totaling $796K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Chime Scholars Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Chime Scholars Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Chime Scholars Foundation's EIN?
Chime Scholars Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-1599060. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chime Scholars Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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