GE Aerospace Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $10.6 million (Foundation contributions, 2024) / $21.5 million (total family giving including employee/company contributions)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only model)
• Grant Range: $25 - $1,000,000+ (varies by program; employee matching: $25-$5,000; strategic grants: $50,000-$1,000,000+)
• Geographic Focus: Global (with concentrations in GE Aerospace employee communities)

Contact Details

Email: philanthropy.inquiries@geaerospace.com
Website: https://www.geaerospace.com/company/philanthropy
Address: 901 Main Ave # 801-4, Norwalk, CT 06851-1168

Note: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Contact email is for general inquiries only.

Overview

The GE Aerospace Foundation launched in May 2024, building on the 100+ year legacy of the former GE Foundation (established 1952). As an independent charitable organization funded by GE Aerospace, the Foundation committed $22 million in new programming through 2030 at its launch. In 2024, total family giving reached $21.5 million, including $10.6 million in Foundation contributions, $4.9 million in company contributions, and $5.8 million in employee/retiree giving. The Foundation operates with the mission to "lift people up" in communities where GE Aerospace employees live and work globally. Leadership includes President Meg Thurlow, Chairman Christian Meisner, Secretary Kathleen Mayglothling, and Treasurer Jen Bessler. The Foundation focuses on three strategic pillars: engineering education, workforce development, and disaster relief, working primarily through partnerships and signature programs rather than open application processes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Next Engineers Program (2024-2030: $20 million commitment)

• STEM education program for students ages 13-18
• Currently operating in Cincinnati OH, Greenville SC, Staffordshire UK, Johannesburg South Africa, Warsaw Poland, Bengaluru India, New York Capital Region
• Expanding to additional cities through 2026

Workforce Development Initiative (Multi-year: $30 million over 5 years)

• Aims to increase skilled manufacturing workers by 10,000 beginning in 2026
• Supports community colleges, technical programs, and training facilities
• Recent grants: $250,000 to Cincinnati State and Tarrant County Community College for aviation maintenance programs; $1 million to United Way of Greater Cincinnati's Future of Manufacturing Fund; $1 million to Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program (AMTEP) in Massachusetts

Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid (2024: $2 million)

• Rapid response to major global disasters and humanitarian crises
• Example: $1 million grant to Airlink for emergency airlift services

Employee Matching Gifts Program

• 1:1 match from $25 to $5,000 per employee, per year
• In 2024: 6,700+ gifts to 2,100+ organizations across 20 countries, totaling $6 million+ with matching
• Created the corporate matching gift concept in 1954; $1.5 billion matched since inception

STAR Awards Scholarship Program

• Competitive scholarships for children of eligible GE Aerospace employees worldwide
• Since 1984: 15,000+ scholarships awarded, totaling $21 million+
• Recent example: GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program awards $10,000/year for up to 4 years

Priority Areas

• STEM Education: Engineering programs, technology training, science education
• Workforce Training and Development: Advanced manufacturing, aviation maintenance, technical skills
• Military and Veterans Causes: Veteran workforce training and support programs
• Disaster Relief: Emergency response, humanitarian crises
• Community Development: Programs in GE Aerospace employee communities globally

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited proposals from organizations without pre-existing relationships or partnerships
• General operating support for organizations outside their strategic focus areas
• Individual requests (except through employee-related programs like STAR Awards)
• Religious or political organizations (typically)

Governance and Leadership

Foundation Officers (all serve with $0 compensation):

• Meg Thurlow, President
• Christian Meisner, Chairman
• Kathleen Mayglothling, Secretary
• Jen Bessler, Treasurer

Corporate Leadership (GE Aerospace):

• H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman & CEO of GE Aerospace

The Foundation operates independently but is funded by GE Aerospace and aligns with the company's mission and employee communities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The GE Aerospace Foundation does not have a public application process. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications for funding.

Instead, the Foundation operates through:

• Strategic partnerships: The Foundation proactively identifies and approaches organizations aligned with its priorities
• Signature programs: Multi-year commitments to specific initiatives (Next Engineers, workforce development programs)
• Employee-driven programs: Matching gifts and STAR Awards for employee families
• Board/trustee discretion: Grants awarded based on Foundation leadership decisions

Organizations cannot apply directly for funding. General inquiries may be sent to philanthropy.inquiries@geaerospace.com, but this does not constitute an application process.

Getting on Their Radar

Employee Connections: GE Aerospace employees and directors may recommend nonprofits for the matching gifts program. Building relationships with GE Aerospace employees who are familiar with your work is the most direct pathway, as the Foundation's giving is concentrated in communities where employees live and work.

Alignment with Strategic Focus: The Foundation partners with organizations that demonstrate expertise in engineering education, workforce development (particularly advanced manufacturing and aviation), or disaster relief. Organizations working in these sectors in GE Aerospace employee communities (Cincinnati, Greenville SC, Massachusetts North Shore, Albany NY, North Carolina, international locations) may be better positioned for consideration.

Existing Partnerships: The Foundation works through established organizations like United Way, Institute of International Education (for STAR Awards), community colleges, and disaster relief organizations like Airlink. Partnering with these intermediary organizations may provide indirect access to Foundation resources.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as the Foundation operates on a partnership/invitation model rather than grant cycles.

For STAR Awards (employee family scholarships): Applications open mid-December with notifications by end of May.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The Foundation made 2,669 awards in 2023 with total grants of $4.3 million (average $1,622, though this includes many small employee matching gifts alongside large strategic grants).

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process. Organizations working with the Foundation through established partnerships would maintain ongoing relationships rather than reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Since the GE Aerospace Foundation operates through partnerships rather than applications, traditional success factors don't apply. However, organizations that have successfully partnered with the Foundation share these characteristics:

Strategic Alignment: The Foundation is laser-focused on three areas: engineering education for youth, workforce development in advanced manufacturing/aviation, and disaster relief. Organizations outside these areas are unlikely to be considered. Successful partners like United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati State, Tarrant County Community College, AMTEP, and Airlink all demonstrate clear expertise in Foundation priority areas.

Geographic Relevance: The Foundation concentrates giving in communities where GE Aerospace employees live and work. Recent grants have been concentrated in Cincinnati OH, Greenville SC, North Carolina, Massachusetts North Shore, Albany NY, and international locations where GE Aerospace has operations (UK, Poland, India, South Africa).

Scale and Capacity: According to Inside Philanthropy, "The foundation is a bit bureaucratic and not particularly inclined to take risks, preferring to support bigger outfits, so small and grassroots organizations may have difficulty securing funding." Successful partners tend to be established institutions (community colleges, United Way chapters, major disaster relief organizations) with proven track records.

Multi-Year Impact Potential: The Foundation favors long-term partnerships over one-off grants. Their signature programs involve multi-year commitments: $20 million for Next Engineers through 2030, $30 million for workforce development over 5 years, multi-year support for AMTEP. Organizations should be prepared to demonstrate sustainable, scalable impact.

Collaboration Approach: The Foundation "likes to partner with other organizations to maximize its impact." Organizations that can bring additional funders, leverage other resources, or coordinate with multiple stakeholders may be more attractive partners.

Employee Engagement: In 2024, 8,100+ GE Aerospace employees contributed 30,000+ volunteer hours across 725 projects. Partners that can engage GE Aerospace employees through volunteering or skills-based service alongside financial support may strengthen relationships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Do not submit unsolicited proposals – The Foundation explicitly does not accept them; focus instead on relationship-building with GE Aerospace employees or partnering with organizations already in their network
• Geographic targeting is critical – Concentrate efforts if your organization operates in GE Aerospace employee communities (Cincinnati, Greenville SC, Massachusetts North Shore, Albany NY, North Carolina, or international GE locations)
• Align with the three pillars – Engineering education for youth (ages 13-18), workforce development in manufacturing/aviation, or disaster relief are non-negotiable focus areas
• Think scale and sustainability – The Foundation prefers established organizations with capacity for multi-year, scalable programs; grassroots organizations face significant barriers
• Leverage employee connections – GE Aerospace employees can recommend organizations for matching gifts; building these relationships is the most accessible entry point
• Consider intermediary partnerships – Working through United Way chapters, community colleges, or other established Foundation partners may provide indirect access to funding
• Demonstrate partnership value – The Foundation seeks collaborative partners who can leverage additional resources and coordinate with other stakeholders, not just grant recipients

References

1. GE Aerospace Philanthropy Page - https://www.geaerospace.com/company/philanthropy - Accessed January 2026
2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: GE Foundation (EIN 222621967) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/222621967 - Accessed January 2026
3. "GE Aerospace Foundation Launches with New $22 Million Commitment" - https://www.geaerospace.com/news/articles/lifting-communities-ge-aerospace-foundation-launches-new-22-million-commitment-next - May 2024
4. "GE Aerospace Foundation Launches Multi-Year, $30M Workforce Program" - https://www.geaerospace.com/news/press-releases/ge-aerospace-foundation-launches-multi-year-30m-workforce-program - October 2024
5. "GE Aerospace & Foundation Award $2.3M to Build Skilled Workforce" - https://www.geaerospace.com/news/press-releases/ge-aerospace-foundation-award-23m-build-skilled-workforce-survey-identifies-urgent - October 2024
6. Inside Philanthropy: GE Foundation Profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-g/ge-foundation - Accessed January 2026
7. Foundation Directory/Candid: GE Aerospace Foundation - https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=GENE002 - Accessed January 2026
8. Institute of International Education: STAR Awards - https://www.iie.org/programs/ge-aerospace/ - Accessed January 2026
9. Instrumentl 990 Report: GE Foundation - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/ge-foundation - Accessed January 2026