Gordon Foundation (Bernard M. Gordon Et Al Trustees)

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: ~$7,000,000 (2023: $6,998,500)
Grant Range: $35,000 - $4,133,500
Median Grant: $375,000
Geographic Focus: Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Tennessee
Number of Grants: 9 awards annually
Application Acceptance: Rolling/Year-round (written proposals)

Contact Details

Address: 16B Electronics Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923
Phone: (978) 750-6100
EIN: 04-2794647

Overview

The Gordon Foundation was established in 1983 by Bernard M. Gordon and his wife Sophia. Bernard M. Gordon (born 1927), known as "the father of high-speed analog-to-digital conversion," is an American engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, and recipient of the National Medal of Technology (1986). He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1991.

Through the Gordon Foundation, the Gordons have distributed more than $100 million since the early 1990s, primarily directed toward training outstanding engineers and scientists and supporting educational and medical initiatives. Despite reporting modest assets of approximately $1.3 million, the foundation maintains a significant annual grantmaking footprint exceeding $7 million, indicating pass-through funding from the Gordon family.

The foundation operates without dedicated staff and is managed by the Gordon family trustees. It awards unrestricted grants, providing flexibility to recipients in deploying funds.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides unrestricted grants across several areas:

Engineering Education: Major institutional grants ($1M - $4M+)
Healthcare/Medical Institutions: Mid-range grants ($75,000 - $500,000)
STEM Education & Youth Programs: Various sizes ($35,000 - $750,000)
Jewish Community Organizations: Smaller grants ($50,000+)
Community Development: Regional grants ($25,000 - $50,000)

Priority Areas

Based on historical giving patterns, the foundation focuses on:

Engineering Leadership Education: The foundation's primary focus, supporting programs at MIT, Northeastern University, Tufts University, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, and UC San Diego
STEM Education for Youth: Programs inspiring young people to pursue engineering careers
Medical Research and Healthcare: Support for hospitals and medical institutions, particularly in the Boston/Massachusetts area
Scientific Research and Technology: Supporting innovation and technology development

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusion criteria. However, based on grantmaking patterns:

Grants are concentrated among established institutions rather than small nonprofits
No evidence of funding for advocacy, policy, or lobbying organizations
Individual scholarships do not appear to be awarded directly (institutional grants support scholarship programs)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Bernard M. Gordon - Founder, Trustee
Sophia Gordon - Co-Founder, Trustee
Daniel Lewis Gordon - Trustee

About Bernard M. Gordon

Bernard Gordon's engineering philosophy centers on leadership development. He has stated:

"An engineering leader is the kind of person who takes the brilliant idea or invention, determines its worth, and carries it forward."

"A leader is the seed crystal around which everything else coalesces."

Gordon founded multiple technology companies including Epsco Incorporated, Analogic Corporation, and NeuroLogica Corporation, holding more than 200 patents worldwide. His inventions include the fetal monitor, high-speed analog-to-digital converter, instant imaging CAT scanner, digital Doppler radar, and advanced bomb-detection devices.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Gordon Foundation accepts applications submitted in writing indicating purpose. Applications are accepted at any time throughout the year.

Important Note: Some sources indicate the foundation "does not accept applications" or operates primarily through proactive grantmaking. The foundation appears to work primarily with organizations where they have existing relationships or institutional connections. Cold applications from unknown organizations appear to have a low success rate (approximately 12% for new applicants according to one source).

Submission Method: Written proposal submitted to: Bernard M. Gordon, Trustee 16B Electronics Avenue Danvers, MA 01923

Decision Timeline

The foundation provides notice of approval, rejection, or request for more information in writing. Specific timelines are not published.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's focus on engineering leadership and established institutional relationships:

Institutional Connections: The foundation has strong ties to MIT, Northeastern University, Tufts University, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, and the Museum of Science, Boston
Engineering Leadership Programs: Organizations working in engineering education or STEM leadership development align with the foundation's core mission
Massachusetts Organizations: Many grants go to organizations in the Greater Boston area and Massachusetts North Shore region
Healthcare Institutions: Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital have received support

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and grant patterns:

Alignment with Engineering Leadership Mission: The foundation's core purpose is developing engineering leaders. As Bernard Gordon has stated, the goal is to prepare individuals who can "take the brilliant idea or invention, determine its worth, and carry it forward."
Institutional Track Record: The foundation favors established institutions with demonstrated impact in engineering education or healthcare. Recent major recipients include:
- Northeastern University: $4,133,500 + $2,500,000 + $1,400,000 (2023)
- Salem State University: $1,000,000 (2023)
- Museum of Science: $750,000 (2023)
- American Society for Technion: $530,000 (2023)
Massachusetts Connection: Many grants support organizations in the Greater Boston area and North Shore region
Healthcare and Medical Research: Organizations like Massachusetts General Hospital, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center receive support
STEM Youth Programs: The Gordon Family Young Innovator Program at the Museum of Science reflects interest in inspiring young engineers
Jewish Community Organizations: Temple Ahavat Achim and American Society for Technion receive support

Recent Grant Recipients (2023)

Recipient	Amount	Purpose
Northeastern University	$4,133,500	Unrestricted
Northeastern University	$2,500,000	Unrestricted
Northeastern University	$1,400,000	Unrestricted
Salem State University	$1,000,000	Unrestricted
Museum of Science	$750,000	Unrestricted
American Society for Technion	$530,000	Unrestricted
Massachusetts General Hospital	$375,000	Unrestricted
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center	$75,000	Unrestricted
Eye Corps Inc	$50,000	Unrestricted
Temple Ahavat Achim	$50,000	Unrestricted
Gloucester Education Foundation	$35,000	Unrestricted

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Relationship-Driven Giving: The foundation primarily supports organizations with existing relationships or institutional connections. Cold applications have low success rates.
Engineering Leadership Focus: Applications should demonstrate clear alignment with developing engineering leaders who can translate innovation into practical impact.
Established Institutions Preferred: The foundation favors organizations with proven track records over startups or small nonprofits.
Massachusetts Priority: Organizations in the Greater Boston area and North Shore region have an advantage.
Unrestricted Grants: All grants are classified as "unrestricted," giving recipients flexibility—emphasize organizational capacity and mission alignment over specific project requests.
Large Grant Sizes: With a median grant of $375,000 and range up to $4+ million, this foundation suits major initiatives rather than small projects.
Limited Public Process: Given the private nature of the foundation's grantmaking, building relationships and institutional connections may be more effective than formal applications.

References

Accessed December 2025