Akamai Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Akamai Foundation, based in Cambridge, MA, suits small organisations whose work gives elementary through high-school-aged children access to mathematics, science or technology education, particularly where it serves underserved populations.
- Its typical grants fall between $2,000 and $75,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $10,000 or less, so a modest request fits well within what it usually gives.
- The Early Learner STEM grant accepts applications through its portal only from early February until late March, and applicants must be tax-exempt public charities (or have equivalent status outside the United States), so an organisation that is not a public charity should not apply to that grant.
- Repeat giving is strong: 77% of its grant dollars to organisations in the filing went to groups it had also funded in earlier years, so an established relationship and any final grant report it requests matter more than a cold approach.
- Its Empower programme, stated at $50,000 to $100,000, supports learners in college, later career pathways and entrepreneurship, so check which programme matches your work before you write.
Overview
Akamai Foundation is a US private foundation based in Cambridge, MA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website and other web pages about the foundation (akamaifoundation.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Akamai Foundation supports digital inclusion and equitable access to STEM education, with the aim of diversifying the technology industry. Its early learner work gives children from underrepresented populations access to quality STEM education; its Empower programme supports learners in college, later career pathways and entrepreneurship. For younger learners it focuses on mathematics, science and technology education for elementary through high-school-aged children, prioritising programmes serving underserved populations. It works globally and its giving also includes disaster relief and employee matching.
Themes
- Digital inclusion
- STEM education
- Technology industry diversity
- Disaster relief
Geographic Focus
Around the world. (as reported in other published sources)
What They Don't Fund
- Illegal or invidious discrimination against individuals based on their age, employment status, socioeconomic status, military status, religion, pregnancy status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, race, ethnicity or national origin
- Early Learner STEM Grant only: Underwriting or contributions to luncheons, galas, and social fundraisers; Support for capital campaigns or endowments; Requests to support candidates for political office, political parties, or PACs; Requests for individual scholarships; Major arts organizations; Grants to local, national, or international organizations’ annual giving or holiday campaigns; Grants to 509(a)(3) Type III supporting organizations
How to apply
Organisations can apply to the Early Learner STEM grant through its grant portal, which opens annually from early February until late March. Applicants must be tax-exempt public charities (or have equivalent status outside the United States) and show direct impact in mathematics education or other science or technology for elementary through high-school-aged children.
Deadlines: The Early Learner STEM grant portal opens annually from early February until late March.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 332 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation prioritises programmes focused on underserved populations.
- Organisations must demonstrate direct impact in mathematics education or other science or technology for elementary through high-school-aged children.
- Previously funded organisations may have to submit a final grant report before receiving additional funds.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 12%
- The largest single recipient received 7% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations Akamai Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 12% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Poland, Costa Rica, India, Colombia).
- 20% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 118 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Givinga Foundation · Employee Matching Gifts program$225,0002024 tax year
- Emergency Assistance Foundation · The grant payment is intended for the Akamai Compassion Fund$129,6402024 tax year
- NPower NY · Support for Advanced Training Programs$125,0002024 tax year
- FFWD · Continued support for vertical of Fast Forward alumni tech nonprofits$125,0002024 tax year
- Northeastern University · Support A2M4Tech Fund$100,0002024 tax year
- Fab Foundation · Fab In A Box program (FIAB)$100,0002024 tax year
- Society for Science · Grand Award Category in Mathematics at the International Science and Engineering Fair$100,0002024 tax year
- Per Scholas · information technology training and professional development$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Anthony Williams — Director
- Lauren Van Wazer — Director
- Khalil Smith — President
- Saskia Schwartz — Secretary
- Kim Salem-Jackson — Director
- David Neshat — Treasurer
- Prasad Mandava — Director
- F Thomson Leighton — Director
- James Kretchmar — Director
- Kara DiGiacomo — Assistant Secretary, Executive Director
- George Conrades — Director
- Natalie Billingham — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,669,060 | $2,690,408 | $62,947,035 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,828,951 | $2,875,968 | $69,262,310 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,600,312 | $2,696,840 | $73,368,870 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Akamai Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (800) 839-1754
- akamaifoundation@akamai.com
- Cambridge, MA
- akamai.com/company/corporate-responsibility/akamai-foundation
Applying to Akamai Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (800) 839-1754
- akamaifoundation@akamai.com
- Cambridge, MA
- akamai.com/company/corporate-responsibility/akamai-foundation