The Lemelson Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The Lemelson Foundation is a private foundation in Portland, Oregon. In tax year 2024 it gave $21.7 million in 71 grants; the typical grant was $115,000 and the largest $3.0 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$21.7 million
- Number of grants71
- Typical grant$115,000
- Largest grant$3.0 million
- Assets$414 million
- New grantees37%
Giving in 2024 was up from $16.1 million the year before.
37% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $16.1 million | 60 | $417 million |
| 2024 | $21.7 million | 71 | $414 million |
How to apply
The Lemelson Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Lemelson Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 18 states, the most to Massachusetts. It also paid $2.2 million in 10 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 4 | $4.7 million |
| District of Columbia | 14 | $3.9 million |
| Virginia | 3 | $1.9 million |
| New York | 6 | $1.8 million |
| Oregon | 7 | $1.3 million |
| California | 8 | $1.0 million |
| Colorado | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Texas | 2 | $666,978 |
| Michigan | 3 | $467,656 |
| Maryland | 4 | $197,856 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance | To support inventive mindsets and skillsets among higher education students and to foster institutional conditions that nurture such students | $3.0 million |
| National Science Foundation | To enable innovative collaborative research on sustainability by fostering efforts to transform engineering education to prepare graduating engineers to address environmental and social sustainability | $1.6 million |
| Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy Inc | To support pre-development activities necessary to support tribes seeking to develop renewable energy projects on their lands | $1.3 million |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | To (1) support the lemelson-mits invention education work in developing the next generation of inventors, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and (2) advance the field of invention education | $1.1 million |
| Rocky Mountain Institute | To source, select, support, and scale promising startups through rmis third derivative and climate-aligned industries programs focused on decarbonizing three heavy industries: cement and concrete, petrochemicals, and steel | $1.0 million |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | To be used by rockefeller philanthropy advisors as fiscal sponsor for the urban movement innovation fund | $750,000 |
| William Marsh Rice University | To increase capacity and partnerships in kenyan higher education institutions to strengthen kenya's innovation system | $600,000 |
| Climate Breakthrough Inc | For general operating support | $500,000 |
| Kenya Impact Innovations Foundation | To support business incubation activities, develop a pipeline of invention-based enterprises, and strengthen an inclusive innovation ecosystem that will increase access to quality healthcare and other biotech innovations in east africa | $500,000 |
| Oil Change International | For general operating support | $500,000 |
| Rockefeller Family Fund Inc | To support industry accountability for cleanup and decommissioning of methane-leaking infrastructure | $500,000 |
| Seeding Justice | To be used for bridge funding to support the establishment of the oregon community climate investments fund | $500,000 |
| Sustainable Energy for All Verein Fur Nachhaltige Energie | For general operating support | $500,000 |
| Clearpath Inc | To continue support of the clean industrial technology campaign to accelerate the decarbonization of domestic industrial sectors | $400,000 |
| Selco Foundation | To support a climate-focused, inclusive technology innovation and incubation program and knowledge center | $395,740 |
| Villgro Innovations Foundation | To support the incubation and launch of high-impact, highly scalable, invention-based enterprises in india that improve lives of the poor as well address systemic barriers these ibes face in preparing to scale, and to strengthen the resilience of invention ecosystem in india | $375,594 |
| Windward Fund | To scale up cost-effective solutions in methane mitigation | $360,000 |
| Action for the Climate Emergency Inc | For general operating support | $350,000 |
| Portland State University Foundation | To support the invent oregon program activities and to implement statewide collegiate invention and prototyping competition in oregon | $334,045 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated | To support methanesat, an orbital eye in the sky that could monitor industrial methane leaks all over the planet | $300,000 |
| New Venture Fund | To support the catalytic capital community to strengthen disadvantaged communities, expand economic opportunity, and support innovation that advances the well-being of people and the planet in the united states and in low- and middle-income countries | $300,000 |
| Clean Air Task Force Inc | To support civil society organizations in africa working to address methane emissions | $250,000 |
| National Public Radio Inc | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| Society for Science and the Public | To support a multi-point engagement strategy with middle school students to inspire and educate them through science fairs held across the country | $225,000 |
| The Edison Institute Inc | To support the integration of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in their invention education work, in addition to sustaining a national network of invention convention affiliate programs | $205,907 |
| Tie Oregon Foundation | To continue the tie young entrepreneurs program and expand tie oregon's capacity through third-party evaluators | $203,177 |
| American Society for Engineering Education | To support the integration of engineering for one planet learning outcomes in diverse engineering courses and programs by supporting faculty curricular development efforts | $192,206 |
| The Edison Institute Inc | To increase access to and inclusivity in the invention convention worldwide program, particularly for young women, black americans, latinx, and american indian communities | $180,463 |
| Portland State University Foundation | To support the evolution and growth of current programmatic offerings and to develop a new strategic approach to integrate invention education into the school day | $162,500 |
| Smithsonian Institute | To support the lemelson center for the study of invention and innovation with the installation of a new exhibition, change your game, and to develop education outreach programs | $150,000 |
| The Aspen Institute Inc | To support the aspen network for development entrepreneurs (ande) to build climate change capacity and expertise so ande can advocate for and support climate entrepreneur support organizations in addressing climate change | $150,000 |
| Realize Impact | To support the development and launch of a program designed to support african and female climate tech innovators | $125,000 |
| STEM Next Opportunity Fund | To support the placement of senior policy fellows in federal government agencies to advance STEM, invention, and equity at the federal level | $125,000 |
| Villanova University | To (1) increase adoption of the engineering for one planet framework in diverse institutions, (2) develop models for faculty training, and (3) develop a flexible model for institutionalization | $125,000 |
| Editorial Projects in Education Inc | To support the development and dissemination of new education research focused on identifying the needs of diverse students in STEM and invention education | $120,000 |
| Impact Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation | To support a global network of entrepreneur support organizations with increased capacity and resources to foster invention-based enterprises that address the sustainable development goals and are selected for mentorship | $115,000 |
| African Venture Philanthropy Alliance | To support the mobilization of investment within sub-saharan african countries into enterprises offering climate adaptation solutions for vulnerable populations | $113,068 |
| Oregon State University Foundation | To provide invention education to diverse and rural youth in grades K-12 throughout oregon and research and test teaching approaches | $101,500 |
| Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc | To expand invention education programming adopted during the school day by building sustainable pathways for teachers serving underrepresented groups and teaching non-STEM subjects | $100,044 |
| Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc | To support the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the associations invention education work | $100,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Robert Schneider
- Brian Doran
- Eric Lemelson
- Robert Lemelson
- Susan Morse
- Jennifer Bruml
- Ann Morgan
Questions people ask
Does The Lemelson Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Lemelson Foundation give?
$21.7 million in tax year 2024, across 71 grants, with a typical grant of $115,000.
Who runs The Lemelson Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Robert Schneider (Executive Director, Asst. Secretary), Brian Doran (Chief Fin Admin Officer, Asst. Treas), Eric Lemelson (Pres., Board Chair, Treas., Asst. Sec.) and Robert Lemelson (VP, Secretary, Asst. Treas.) among 7 officers and trustees.
What does The Lemelson Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, environment and conservation and science and research.