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The Siegel Family Endowment

Annual Giving
$26.9M
Grant Range
$100K - $8.5M
Decision Time
7mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $26.9 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $500.2 million (2023)
  • Decision Time: 3-12 months
  • Grant Range: $100,000 - $8,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States)

Contact Details

Important Note: The Siegel Family Endowment does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation proactively identifies and reaches out to potential partners.

Overview

Founded in 2011 by David M. Siegel, co-founder of Two Sigma, the Siegel Family Endowment manages over $500 million in assets and distributed nearly $27 million in grants during 2023. The foundation's mission is to understand and shape the impact of technology on society. With an inquiry-driven approach informed by the scientific method, the endowment makes grants across three interconnected areas: learning, workforce, and infrastructure. The foundation views philanthropy as "society's risk capital" and takes an innovative approach by having staff members author grant proposals on behalf of prospective grantees to reduce burden on organizations. Recent strategic focuses include AI's impact on education and work, community-centric infrastructure design, and ensuring technological change benefits all people equitably.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Siegel Family Endowment does not operate traditional grant programs with set deadlines or application cycles. Instead, they use a relationship-driven, inquiry-based approach to identify and partner with organizations. Recent grants have ranged significantly:

  • Major Multi-Year Grants: $1,000,000 - $8,500,000 (typically 2-5 year commitments for significant research or implementation projects)
  • Standard Project Grants: $250,000 - $1,000,000 (for established organizations with proven track records)
  • Emerging Organization Grants: $100,000 - $500,000 (for newer organizations or pilot initiatives)

Examples of recent grants include: Cornell Tech ($8.5 million, 2025-2030), Center on Rural Innovation ($6 million, 2025-2028), Hasso Plattner Institute of Design ($4.2 million, 2025-2027), Khan Academy ($1 million, 2023-2024), and Break Through Tech ($250,000, 2025-2026).

Priority Areas

Learning/Education:

  • Lifelong learning opportunities in computer and data science
  • Future-ready learning environments centered on students
  • Education systems that address long-standing social and economic inequities
  • K-12 technology innovation and integration
  • Mastery-based and self-paced instructional models

Workforce:

  • Impact of AI and emerging technologies on work and workers
  • Worker perspectives on work-impacting technologies
  • Pilot programs and case studies on technology in the workplace
  • Worker rights in an era of digital automation
  • Equitable workplace innovation that prevents harm

Infrastructure:

  • Community-centric social, physical, and digital infrastructure
  • Public spaces and resilient social networks
  • Eliminating divides in access, design, and use of digital technologies
  • Community co-design and oversight of infrastructure
  • Rural technology and innovation ecosystems

Cross-cutting Themes:

  • Organizations working at the intersections of learning, workforce, and infrastructure
  • Technology ethics and governance
  • Ensuring technological change includes and benefits all people
  • Systems change and innovation from underrepresented backgrounds

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish a comprehensive exclusions list, their focused approach means they typically do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their three core focus areas (learning, workforce, infrastructure)
  • Projects without a clear technology component or connection to technology's societal impact
  • Unsolicited proposals from organizations they haven't proactively identified
  • Organizations that don't align with their inquiry-driven questions and strategic priorities
  • International work outside the United States (primary focus is domestic)

Governance and Leadership

David M. Siegel - Founder and Chairman. Co-founder and co-chairman of Two Sigma, Siegel studied computer science at Princeton and worked at MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, where his doctoral work explored new ways humans and machines might engage. Founded the endowment in 2011.

Katy Knight - President and Executive Director (since June 2019). Knight describes philanthropy as "society's risk capital" and has led the foundation's evolution toward more trust-based, grantee-centric practices.

Joshua Elder - Vice President and Head of Grantmaking. Elder emphasizes the foundation's relationship-driven approach, stating: "We're really invested in getting to know the organizations we work with" and "Philanthropy can take chances and risks that others aren't able to do for a variety of reasons. That can mean supporting fledgling organizations, or leaders that have been overlooked by traditional philanthropy."

Jumee Song - Chief Operating Officer

Kyla Kasharian - Senior Associate, Knowledge and Impact

The foundation employs 23 staff members who take an active, collaborative approach to grantmaking. Grant recommendations are presented at monthly board meetings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Siegel Family Endowment does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, the foundation:

  1. Proactively identifies organizations aligned with their inquiry-driven questions
  2. Initiates contact with potential partners
  3. Engages in extensive relationship-building conversations
  4. Co-creates grant proposals with prospective grantees (foundation staff write the proposals)

Organizations interested in connecting with the foundation can reach out via their contact page (www.siegelendowment.org/contact/) to introduce their work, but there is no guarantee of a response or consideration for funding.

Decision Timeline

According to Joshua Elder, Head of Grantmaking, the decision process involves:

  • Initial conversations and relationship building: Several months
  • Due diligence period: "Over a few months, or sometimes a full year of diligence"
  • Internal review: "Several conversations, and then internal meetings on our side to reach a final decision"
  • Board approval: Grant recommendations are presented at monthly board meetings

Total typical timeline: 3-12 months from initial contact to grant decision

The foundation aims to be upfront if they determine there's not a fit, to avoid wasting organizations' time.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the foundation's proactive, invitation-only approach, traditional success rate metrics don't apply. The foundation identifies and reaches out to organizations rather than reviewing a pool of applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only grantmaking model. The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with grantee organizations and may provide renewed or follow-on funding based on continued alignment with inquiry questions and demonstrated impact.

Application Success Factors

Partnership Approach

The Siegel Family Endowment emphasizes that successful partnerships are built on:

Trust and Humility: As Elder notes, "We have a certain number of meetings, and this could be over a few months, or sometimes a full year of diligence." The foundation acknowledges they "don't have all the answers and are not always positioned to understand or wield the assets of the communities they serve."

Reducing Burden: The foundation's unique practice of having staff write grant proposals demonstrates their commitment to reducing administrative burden on partners. They also write grant reports "using an intentional mixture of data, storytelling, and lived experience."

Co-Design and Learning: The foundation employs an inquiry-driven approach that focuses on "learning" rather than predetermined "outcomes" or "metrics," generating knowledge that can be shared across the whole field.

What They Look For

Based on their approach and funded projects, the foundation seeks:

  1. Innovation at intersections: Organizations working where learning, workforce, and infrastructure overlap
  2. Technology-society connection: Clear understanding of how technology impacts and can improve society
  3. Equity focus: Projects addressing social and economic inequities, centering marginalized communities
  4. Forward-thinking approaches: Willingness to experiment and take risks
  5. Community-centric design: Solutions developed with and for communities, not imposed on them
  6. Research-informed practice: Evidence-based approaches that contribute to field-wide learning
  7. Systems-change orientation: Projects that go beyond individual interventions to address root causes

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

  • Modern Classrooms Project: Self-paced, mastery-based instructional model focused on student learning
  • AFL-CIO Tech Institute: Ensuring technological innovation in workplaces benefits workers
  • Center on Rural Innovation: Technology access and economic development in rural communities
  • Break Through Tech: Increasing representation in technology fields
  • BetaNYC: Civic technology and community engagement in digital infrastructure

Language and Terminology They Use

  • "Society's risk capital"
  • "Inquiry-driven approach"
  • "Community-centric"
  • "Future-ready learning"
  • "Technological change"
  • "Equitable access"
  • "Systems change"
  • "Co-design"
  • "Trust-based philanthropy"
  • "Reducing burden"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • You cannot apply directly: The Siegel Family Endowment does not accept unsolicited proposals. Focus instead on building visibility in the fields of technology, education, workforce development, or infrastructure—particularly at their intersections.

  • Multi-month relationship building: If the foundation does reach out, expect a 3-12 month process involving many conversations and due diligence. They value getting to know partners deeply before committing to funding.

  • Staff write the proposals: Unlike traditional grantmaking, SFE staff will author the grant proposal on your behalf to reduce burden. Be prepared to provide information and collaborate rather than write extensive proposals yourself.

  • Equity and community voice are central: Projects must demonstrate genuine community involvement, address systemic inequities, and ensure technology serves all people—not just early adopters or privileged communities.

  • Think at intersections: The strongest fit organizations work where learning, workforce, and infrastructure converge. Pure education projects or standalone workforce programs may be less aligned than those connecting multiple domains.

  • Embrace learning orientation: The foundation values inquiry, experimentation, and field-building over narrow metrics. Show how your work generates insights that benefit the broader field, not just your organization.

  • Long-term, flexible funding: Recent grants show multi-year commitments (2-5 years) with substantial amounts. The foundation seeks sustained partnerships rather than one-off projects, and values flexibility in how grants can be deployed.

References

  1. Siegel Family Endowment Official Website - Homepage. https://www.siegelendowment.org/ (Accessed November 2025)

  2. Siegel Family Endowment - Our Approach. https://www.siegelendowment.org/about-us/our-approach/ (Accessed November 2025)

  3. Siegel Family Endowment - About Us. https://www.siegelendowment.org/about-us/ (Accessed November 2025)

  4. Siegel Family Endowment - Our Chairman. https://www.siegelendowment.org/about-us/our-chairman/ (Accessed November 2025)

  5. Siegel Family Endowment - Grantees. https://www.siegelendowment.org/grantees/ (Accessed November 2025)

  6. "Siegel Family Endowment Grants Over $12 Million in National Effort to Strengthen Technology, Education, and Infrastructure." PR Newswire, May 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/siegel-family-endowment-grants-over-12-million-in-national-effort-to-strengthen-technology-education-and-infrastructure-302446211.html

  7. "Siegel Family Endowment Awards Over $16.3 Million to Strengthen Workforce Innovation, Infrastructure, and Philanthropy." PR Newswire, December 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/siegel-family-endowment-awards-over-16-3-million-to-strengthen-workforce-innovation-infrastructure-and-philanthropy-302332876.html

  8. "Siegel Family Endowment Awards Over $10.4 Million to Support Tech Innovation Across K-12 and Workforce." PR Newswire, August 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/siegel-family-endowment-awards-over-10-4-million-to-support-tech-innovation-across-k-12-and-workforce-302231102.html

  9. "A Tech-Focused Family Foundation Takes a Cerebral Approach to Education Funding." Inside Philanthropy, November 2022. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022-11-9-a-tech-focused-family-endowment-takes-a-cerebral-approach-to-education-funding

  10. Siegel Family Endowment Inc - Form 990-PF (2023). ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/451742989 (Accessed November 2025)

  11. Siegel Family Endowment Profile. InfluenceWatch. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/siegel-family-endowment/ (Accessed November 2025)

  12. "You Spoke, We Listened: What We Heard in Our 2024 Feedback Survey and How We Plan to Respond." Siegel Family Endowment. https://www.siegelendowment.org/insights/you-spoke-we-listened-what-we-heard-in-our-2024-feedback-survey-and-how-we-plan-to-respond/ (Accessed November 2025)

  13. Siegel Family Endowment. Learn & Work Ecosystem Library. https://learnworkecosystemlibrary.com/organizations/siegel-family-endowment/ (Accessed November 2025)

Key quotes referenced:

  • Katy Knight describing philanthropy as "society's risk capital"
  • Joshua Elder: "Philanthropy can take chances and risks that others aren't able to do for a variety of reasons. That can mean supporting fledgling organizations, or leaders that have been overlooked by traditional philanthropy."
  • Joshua Elder: "We're really invested in getting to know the organizations we work with" and "We have a certain number of meetings, and this could be over a few months, or sometimes a full year of diligence."
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