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Akamai Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.9M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.3M
Decision Time
4mo

Akamai Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.9M (2024)
  • Total Assets: $64.1M
  • Grant Range: $575 - $250,000
  • Empower Grants: $50,000 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Global (US focus on Massachusetts; international priority on Poland, Costa Rica, India)
  • Decision Timeline: Applications accepted in fall; announcements in early spring
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed

Contact Details

Overview

The Akamai Foundation was established in 2000 as the philanthropic arm of Akamai Technologies, Inc., the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based content delivery, cybersecurity, and cloud service provider. In 2018, Akamai Technologies established a $50 million endowment to support the foundation and expand its global reach. The foundation honors the memory of co-founder Danny Lewin, who was killed on September 11, 2001, by maintaining his passion for mathematics and innovation at the core of its mission.

With total assets of approximately $64.1 million and annual giving of nearly $2.9 million through 107 grants, the Akamai Foundation is dedicated to encouraging the next generation of technology innovators by supporting STEM education, with a particular focus on excellence in mathematics for grades K-12. The foundation prioritizes digital equity, inclusion, and creating pathways for underrepresented populations to enter technology careers. In 2024, the foundation awarded more than $2.2 million in STEM grant funding to 62 organizations worldwide.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Early Learner STEM Education Grants

  • Amount: $575 - $250,000 (median: $10,000)
  • Focus: K-12 STEM education with emphasis on mathematics excellence
  • Application: Open application process; typically accepted in fall with announcements in early spring

2. Empower STEM Grant Program

  • Amount: $50,000 - $100,000
  • Focus: Diversifying the tech talent pipeline through support for underrepresented populations in college, tech career pathways, and technology entrepreneurship
  • Application: Invite-only program

3. ERG Community Grants

  • Amount: $100,000+ distributed across approximately 31 organizations
  • Focus: Community organizations selected by Akamai Employee Resource Groups

4. Employee Matching Gift Program

  • Combined employee and foundation giving of approximately $450,000 annually

5. Akamai Compassion Fund

  • Amount: $100,000+ in hardship grants to employees facing unexpected challenges

Priority Areas

  • Mathematics education (K-12)
  • Digital equity and inclusion
  • STEM education access for underserved populations
  • Cybersecurity education and training
  • AI skill development
  • Computer science training
  • Tech career pathway development
  • Women and girls in STEM
  • Disaster relief and humanitarian aid (secondary focus)

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation focuses specifically on STEM education; general operating support outside this focus is unlikely
  • Organizations not meeting 501(c)(3) or equivalent international tax-exempt status
  • Multiple requests from the same organization within a calendar year
  • Organizations without completed final grant reports (for previous grantees)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Kara DiGiacomo, Director of Corporate Philanthropy at Akamai Technologies

  • Over 18 years of experience in citizenship strategy, high-impact foundation and community grant-making, employee engagement, and STEM education programming
  • Previously Executive Director of the Biogen Foundation (2010-2015)
  • Compensation: $212,787 salary plus $63,072 other compensation (2023)

Board Composition: Eight Akamai leaders from global communities (volunteer, uncompensated)

Site-Specific Employee Review Teams: Key part of the grant process, evaluating applications and conducting community outreach across the US, Costa Rica, Poland, India, UK, Japan, Israel, and beyond

Kara DiGiacomo has stated: "We accomplish more together" through deepened grantee relationships, resource sharing, and understanding combined impact. The foundation emphasizes creating partnerships beyond funding, with organizations becoming "part of our communities" through volunteer engagement and mentorship opportunities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Early Learner STEM Education Grants:

  1. Visit akamaifoundation.com for current guidelines and application portal
  2. Applications typically open in fall
  3. Submit proposal through the online application system
  4. Site-specific employee review teams evaluate applications and nominate organizations for funding

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be tax-exempt under sections 501(c)(3) or 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Must be classified as a public charity under section 509(a) (or equivalent international status)
  • Must demonstrate direct impact in mathematics education or other STEM areas for K-12 students
  • Priority given to programs focused on underserved populations
  • Organizations may request funds only once per calendar year
  • Previous grantees must submit final grant reports before receiving additional funds

Empower Grants: Invitation-only; organizations cannot apply directly

Decision Timeline

  • Application Window: Fall (typically first quarter opens for proposals)
  • Review Period: Winter months
  • Grant Announcements: Early spring (typically December-January for the following year's grants)
  • Notification: Grant recipients announced publicly via press release

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations may request funds only once during a calendar year
  • Previous grantees must submit a final grant report before receiving additional funds
  • 85% of partners are returning grant recipients, indicating the foundation values long-term relationships

Application Success Factors

Partner Profile Analysis (from 2024 data):

  • 100% of surveyed STEM partners prioritize building inclusive workplaces
  • 100% include and benefit low-income participants
  • 96% support underrepresented backgrounds
  • 84% address basic educational needs
  • 74% have received prior Akamai funding
  • 45% engage Akamai volunteers, speakers, or site tours

What Successful Organizations Demonstrate:

  • Clear alignment with Akamai's giving mission and ID&E (Inclusion, Diversity & Equity) philosophy
  • Focus on underrepresented populations in STEM
  • Provision of essential services and basic educational needs
  • Strong track record of measurable impact
  • Digital inclusion strategy addressing barriers to technology access in learning
  • Comprehensive STEM education program goals

Examples of Recently Funded Organizations:

  • Northeastern University: $250,000 for the Akamai Foundation A2M4Tech Fund
  • NPower: $125,000+ for Advanced Training Programs (81% of graduates begin tech careers)
  • FFWD (Fast Forward): $100,000 for continued support of tech nonprofits
  • Tech Kids Unlimited: 500+ students served in NYC; 75% eligible for financial aid
  • Women Who Code: 360,000+ diverse technologists globally
  • Science Journal for Kids: 8 million student reach

Advantage Factors:

  • Willingness to engage Akamai employees as volunteers, speakers, or site tour hosts
  • Programs that can demonstrate quantifiable outcomes (e.g., career placement rates, student reach)
  • Geographic presence in Akamai priority regions (Massachusetts, Poland, Costa Rica, India)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Mathematics Focus is Central: The foundation honors co-founder Danny Lewin's passion for mathematics—proposals should emphasize math education or clearly connect STEM programs to mathematical foundations

  2. Prioritize Underserved Populations: 100% of funded partners serve low-income or underrepresented communities; this is non-negotiable for alignment

  3. Build for Long-Term Partnership: With 74-85% of grantees being returning partners, the foundation values relationship-building over one-time grants

  4. Offer Volunteer Engagement Opportunities: Nearly half of funded organizations engage Akamai employees—incorporate volunteer, mentorship, or site visit opportunities in your proposal

  5. Application Timing is Critical: Applications typically open in fall; monitor akamaifoundation.com starting in Q3-Q4 for deadlines

  6. Demonstrate Measurable Impact: Include concrete outcomes data (student reach, career placement rates, completion rates) in proposals

  7. Empower Grants Require Relationship: This higher-value program ($50K-$100K) is invitation-only; building visibility with the foundation through Early Learner grants or volunteer connections may create pathways to these larger opportunities

References

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