Benefits Data Trust (BDT) assists older adults in applying for government benefits for which they qualify, but can fail to obtain because of difficulties in the application process. BDT is funded by and partners with grantmakers and government agencies to identify persons who need assistance accessing benefits, communicates with them, and develops systems to ease burdensome application processes. 1
BDT is one of the recipients of the $3,863,125,000 in gifts made by Mackenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, to 464 organizations that operate in communities with high food insecurity, racial inequity, poverty rates, and low access to philanthropic capital. 2
Background
Benefits Data Trust was founded in 2005 by Warren Kantor, a credit card executive, on the premise that older adults needed help in applying for government benefits for which they were eligible. The group uses techniques developed by the credit card industry to identify those eligible but not currently accessing benefits, communicates with them, and assists them in applying for multiple benefits at the same time via an automated application process. 3
The trust helps low-income individuals apply for benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC), Medicaid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and other programs. 1
BDT provides policy and practice consulting to multiple states and manages benefits centers in Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina to help those states streamline the benefits access process. The group also produces reports advocating for policy changes that would ease access to benefits programs. 4 5 6
The organization uses data and technology for integrated service delivery that streamlines the enrollment process for multiple benefits, encourages policy improvement to modernize the application process, works to influence government regulations, and conducts outcomes research to study the benefits of expanded access to benefits. 7 8
Partners
Benefits Data Trust’s partners include the Ballmer Group, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Rockefeller Foundation, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, United States Department of Agriculture, and Pew Charitable Trusts. 9
Funding
Benefits Data Trust is funded by philanthropic organizations, and fee for services contracts with government and private groups. 10
In 2022, BDT received a $20 million unrestricted gift from Mackenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Scott has signed the “Giving Pledge” promising to give away at least half of her wealth. Working with the Bridgespan Group, Scott is giving priority to groups working with those in poverty, facing food insecurity, or racial inequity. 11
BDT received a five-year $5 million grant from the Ballmer Group, an organization founded by the former CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, and his wife Connie Ballmer. 12
Leadership
The CEO of Benefits Data Trust is Trooper Sanders, a fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation who formerly headed Wise Whisper, an advisory firm to technology startup companies and philanthropic initiatives. Sanders is on the national board of Girl Scouts of USA and on the advisory board of Military Family Research Institute. 13
Finances
Benefits Data Trust generated $26,526,932 in 2020 revenue consisting of $16,550,735 in contributions and grants and $9,754,528 in program services revenue. 14
The organization reported 2020 expenses of $21,487,003 with $14,751,818 paid in salaries and benefits. 15
BDT’s net assets at the end of 2020 were $21,415,909. 16
References
- “Benefits Data Trust.” Center for High Impact Philanthropy – University of Pennsylvania. January 26, 2022. https://www.impact.upenn.edu/benefits-data-trust/.
- Scott, MacKenzie. “Helping Any of Us Can Help Us All.” Medium. March 23, 2022. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/helping-any-of-us-can-help-us-all-f4c7487818d9.
- “Home.” Center for High Impact Philanthropy – University of Pennsylvania. May 2, 2022. https://www.impact.upenn.edu/.
- “Where We Work.” Benefits Data Trust. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://bdtrust.org/where-we-work/.
- “Policy Tools.” Benefits Data Trust. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://bdtrust.org/policy/.
- “Healthcare Innovation.” Benefits Data Trust. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://bdtrust.org/healthcare-innovation/.
- “System Change Efforts.” Benefits Data Trust. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://bdtrust.org/system-change/.
- “Research.” Benefits Data Trust. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://bdtrust.org/research/.
- “Our Partners.” Benefits Data Trust. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://bdtrust.org/our-partners/.
- “Benefits Data Trust,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part I, Lines 8, 9.
- Brubaker, Harold. “Mackenzie Scott Gives Philly Nonprofit $20M to Help Needy Get Government Benefits.” Philadelphia Inquirer. March 22, 2022.
- Ballmer Group Awards $5 Million to Benefits Data Trust.” Philanthropy News Digest. January 20, 2022. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/ballmer-group-awards-5-million-to-benefits-data-trust.
- “Trooper Sanders.” Benefits Data Trust. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://bdtrust.org/trooper-sanders/.
- “Benefits Data Trust,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part I, Lines 12, 8, 9.
- “Benefits Data Trust,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part I, Lines 15, 18.
- “Benefits Data Trust,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part I, Line 22.