IBM International Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $17.9 million (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $2,000 - $5,051,474
Geographic Focus: United States and international
Total Assets: $357.7 million

Contact Details

Headquarters: IBM Tax Dept, North Castle Drive, Armonk, NY 10504
EIN: 13-3267906
Established: 1985

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The IBM International Foundation, established in 1985, is the philanthropic arm of IBM Corporation with total assets of $357.7 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $17.9 million. The foundation focuses on education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), arts and culture, health, public affairs, environmental issues, and international human rights. The foundation operates primarily through invitation-only grants determined by foundation leadership and IBM's strategic priorities, and also administers a significant matching gifts program for IBM employees and retirees. Revenue sources are primarily investment-based, with 68.1% from asset sales, 30.8% from dividends, and 1.1% from interest income.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates multiple grant mechanisms:

Direct Grant Program (Invitation Only)

Range: $2,000 - $5,051,474
Median grant: $130,000
Recent activity: 20 grants awarded in 2023 and 2024
Applications: Not accepted from the general public

IBM Matching Grants Program

Matches employee and retiree donations dollar-for-dollar
Eligible recipients: Educational institutions, hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, cultural organizations, and environmental organizations
Special programs for United Negro College Fund, American Indian College Fund, and Hispanic Association of Colleges

IBM Education Security Preparedness Grant Program

$5 million in-kind support
Focus: Cybersecurity resiliency for K-12 public schools
Includes IBM SkillsBuild training on AI and cybersecurity
Geographic reach: U.S. and international (Brazil, Costa Rica, Ireland, UAE)
Impact: 350,000 students benefited globally

Supplier Connection Initiative

$10 million grant to establish free web platform
Purpose: Help small businesses sell goods and services to global companies

Priority Areas

Education: K-12 education, STEM education, AI and technology skills training
Science & Technology: Support for science education and technology access
Arts & Culture: Cultural institutions and programs
Health: Healthcare institutions, hospitals, hospices, nursing homes
Environment: Environmental organizations and sustainability initiatives
Employment & Economic Development: Workforce development, small business support
Diversity & Inclusion: Programs supporting minorities and underrepresented communities
Public Policy Research: Research organizations focused on public affairs
International Human Rights: Global human rights initiatives
People with Disabilities: Accessibility and inclusion programs

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation operates primarily through:

Strategic initiatives aligned with IBM's corporate mission
Employee/retiree matching gift requests
Invitation-only grants to pre-identified organizations

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership:

Arvind Krishna: Chairman and Director (also IBM Chairman and CEO)
Justina Nixon-Saintil: Director, President, and Vice Chair (also IBM Vice President and Chief Impact Officer)

The foundation is classified as a company-sponsored private foundation, with governance aligned with IBM's corporate structure and strategic priorities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The IBM International Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. Grants are awarded through:

Strategic initiatives identified by foundation leadership
Board and executive discretion based on IBM's corporate priorities
Partnerships developed through IBM's corporate relationships
Employee matching gifts program (for eligible donations by IBM employees and retirees)

Organizations cannot submit unsolicited grant applications to this foundation.

IBM SkillsBuild Partnership Opportunities

While direct grants are not available, organizations may be able to access IBM resources through partnership programs:

IBM SkillsBuild: Works with 90 nonprofit partners globally to deliver free AI and digital skills training
IBM Impact Accelerator: Supports communities through AI and expert collaborations
IBM AI for Impact: Helps nonprofits transform operations through AI

These programs may offer pathways to IBM support outside of traditional grant-making.

Employee Matching Gifts

IBM employees and retirees can direct foundation support through the matching gifts program by making donations to eligible organizations. Organizations should:

Verify eligibility as an educational institution, hospital, hospice, nursing home, cultural organization, or environmental organization
Encourage IBM employee/retiree donors to submit matching gift requests through IBM's internal portal

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received IBM International Foundation support tend to align with:

IBM's Strategic Priorities (2025-2030):

Training 30 million individuals by 2030, with 2 million focused on AI training by 2026
Distributing up to $75 million in cash and technology donations by 2028
Achieving 4 million volunteer hours by end of 2025

Funded Organization Examples:

Southern University System Foundation: Received social media strategy planning support (estimated value $32,000)
Mission 44 (Lewis Hamilton's foundation): Partnership for AI skills training
Girlstart (Austin nonprofit): SkillsBuild partner for STEM education
City & Guilds Foundation: Delivers SkillsBuild learning platform
Specialisterne North America: Neurodivergent job seekers STEM training

Common Characteristics of Supported Organizations:

Focus on education, particularly STEM and technology skills
Serve underrepresented communities or address equity gaps
Align with IBM's technology expertise (AI, cybersecurity, digital skills)
Operate in regions where IBM has significant corporate presence
Demonstrate scalable impact and sustainable programming

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals—grants are awarded by invitation only based on trustee discretion and IBM's strategic priorities
Employee Matching Gifts Pathway: The most accessible route to IBM International Foundation support is through IBM employee/retiree matching gifts for eligible organizations
Partnership Programs as Alternative: IBM SkillsBuild, IBM Impact Accelerator, and IBM AI for Impact offer non-grant pathways to access IBM resources and expertise
Strategic Alignment Critical: Organizations aligned with IBM's 2030 goals (30 million trained, $75 million in donations, AI/tech focus) may be more likely to be identified for invitation-only grants
Technology and Education Focus: Recent grants and partnerships heavily emphasize STEM education, AI skills training, cybersecurity, and workforce development
Equity and Access Priority: Programs serving minorities, people with disabilities, underrepresented communities, and addressing digital divides align with foundation priorities
Geographic Considerations: While the foundation has international reach, there is significant focus on U.S.-based initiatives, particularly in regions with IBM corporate presence

References

Accessed: December 24, 2025