Steve & Connie Ballmer

Steve Ballmer

Steve Ballmer is the Co-Founder of Ballmer Group, a philanthropic organization committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States. Prior to launching the philanthropy with his wife Connie in 2015, Steve was the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, serving from 2000 to 2014. A dynamic and passionate leader, Ballmer played a pivotal role in driving Microsoft’s growth and expanding its reach into enterprise software, devices, and cloud services during a critical phase in the tech industry.

Ballmer Group works at the intersection of philanthropy, policy, and technology, providing funding and support to nonprofits and public sector organizations that are transforming systems to create more opportunity for underserved communities. Under Steve’s leadership, the organization is particularly focused on advancing racial equity and ensuring that governments have the necessary tools and data infrastructure to serve their constituents effectively.

Steve is also the founder of USAFacts, a nonpartisan civic initiative that aggregates and visualizes government data to make it more accessible to the American public. The project reflects Steve’s belief in data transparency and the importance of informed civic engagement.

In addition to his philanthropic work, Steve is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, bringing the same passion and energy to the NBA as he did during his tenure at Microsoft. He remains a prominent voice in the intersection of business, civic engagement, and data innovation.

Connie Ballmer

Connie Ballmer is the Co-Founder of Ballmer Group, an organization dedicated to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States. Ballmer Group focuses its philanthropic efforts on ensuring that individuals thrive through a healthy start at birth, stable family environments, safe childhoods and adolescence, quality education, and careers that can support their families.

In addition, Connie is the Co-Founder of Rainier Climate, a new philanthropic initiative that supports climate change solutions operating at the necessary speed and scale to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while promoting the well-being of both people and the planet.

Connie’s longstanding philanthropic passion has been aimed at supporting the well-being of children, particularly those in the foster care system. She is a general partner and founding investor at Blue Meridian Partners, a funding collaborative that seeks to make strategic investments to transform the lives of America’s most economically disadvantaged children. She also serves on the boards of the Obama Foundation and StriveTogether.

Originally from Oregon, Connie served for seven years as a founding member of the governing board at the University of Oregon, where she earned a B.S. in journalism. Before transitioning to her philanthropic work, she had a career in public relations and marketing within the technology sector. In 2019, Connie received the University of Oregon’s Pioneer Award and was inducted into the School of Journalism’s Hall of Achievement. Connie and her husband, Steve, have three sons and currently reside in Bellevue, WA.