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Broadcom Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.5M

Broadcom Foundation Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,024,720 (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 226 awards (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only process)
  • Grant Range: $300 - $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily United States and United Kingdom, with selective international programs (Malaysia, India)

Contact Details

Website: https://broadcomfoundation.org/
Email: info@brcmfdn.org
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Location: Wilmington, DE (EIN: 26-4754581)

Overview

Established in 2009, the Broadcom Foundation is a corporate-sponsored 501(c)(3) nonprofit and subsidiary of Broadcom Inc. The foundation advances equitable access to STEM education, promoting digital literacy and responsible use of AI as critical 21st Century+ skills for underrepresented youth in urban, rural, and tribal communities. With annual giving exceeding $4 million, the foundation targets middle school students (grades 5-8) when they "make a critical turn in their thinking about education, their future, and their associations." The foundation has been the title sponsor of Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering as Rising Stars), the premier science and engineering competition for middle school students, since 2011. Recent strategic focus includes AI literacy, coding as a foundational skill, and closing the STEM education gap among women, ethnic, and minority populations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Broadcom Foundation operates through strategic partnerships and signature programs rather than traditional grant cycles:

Broadcom MASTERS® - Title sponsorship of national middle school STEM competition (partnership with Society for Science). Top awards include $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize. Competition includes 30 finalists who share over $100,000 in awards.

Broadcom Coding with Commitment® - Recognition program at 50 regional science and engineering fairs for grades 5-8 students who combine STEM knowledge with coding to address community problems aligned with UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Winners receive recognition and Raspberry Pi kits.

Raspberry Pi Code Clubs - After-school, project-based learning programs for grades 5-8 developing foundational coding skills. Partnership with Raspberry Pi Foundation chapters in U.S. and U.K.

Experience AI - AI literacy program in Malaysia (partnership with Raspberry Pi Foundation and Penang Science Cluster). To date, has trained over 1,300 teachers reaching an estimated 50,000 students.

Congressional App Challenge - District-wide coding competitions for middle and high school students. Winning teams demonstrate apps at Capitol Hill's #HOUSEOFCODE event.

University Research Support - Graduate-level engineering fellowships and research competitions at universities including UC Davis, George Mason University, and Portland State University.

Wiki Education Partnership - Supporting HBCUs, HSIs, and Tribal Colleges to research and provide content about unsung STEM pioneers on Wikipedia.

Science Buddies Partnership - Expanding free online science project library with coding-integrated projects.

Grant amounts range from $300 to $500,000, with many digital literacy and STEM programs receiving ongoing multiyear support.

Priority Areas

  • STEM Education: Middle school focus (grades 5-8); out-of-school learning programs; science fairs and STEM competitions
  • Digital Literacy & Coding: Basic coding as foundational 21st century skill; project-based technology education
  • AI Literacy: Responsible use of artificial intelligence education
  • Equity & Access: Programs targeting underrepresented populations including girls, ethnic minorities, under-resourced communities, and youth in urban, rural, and tribal communities
  • Broadband Access: Digital infrastructure to support STEM learning
  • Employee Engagement: Volunteerism and civic engagement opportunities for Broadcom employees

What They Don't Fund

Based on their focused mission, the foundation does not prioritize:

  • Non-STEM educational programs
  • In-school formal curriculum (focus is on out-of-school programs)
  • Programs outside primary geographic areas (U.S., U.K., and select international locations)
  • General operating support for organizations outside their pre-selected partnerships
  • Global health or humanitarian relief (though rare exceptions have been made for organizations like International Medical Corps and Médecins Sans Frontières)
  • Programs not targeting middle school students or university-level engineering research
  • Projects without coding or technology components

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Henry Samueli, Ph.D. - Chair of Broadcom Foundation; Chairman of the Board, Broadcom Inc.; Co-Founder and former Chief Technical Officer of Broadcom Corporation. A beneficiary of philanthropy throughout his entire academic experience at UCLA, Dr. Samueli has prioritized university research support as a foundation priority.
  • Paula Golden - President, Broadcom Foundation
  • DeAnn Fairfield Work - Chair, Audit Committee

Executive Team

  • Paula Golden - President. Trained as both a lawyer and teacher, Golden previously served as Director of Development Neurosciences at UCLA and Executive Director for The Engineering Center Education Trust. She helped establish the foundation in 2009.
  • Maria Wronski - Chief Financial Officer and Secretary; Associate Director for STEM Advancement
  • Cheryl Braun - Assistant Director of STEM Advancement

Staff

  • Melissa DeGandi - Program Coordinator
  • Carol McDonald - Executive Administrative Assistant

Leadership Philosophy: Dr. Henry Samueli emphasizes the importance of AI literacy and responsible technology use. Paula Golden has articulated the foundation's strategic focus on middle school: "We believe middle school is the space where kids will make a turn in the road as independent thinkers. They're waking up to their individuality and passions. And if we can inspire them to see that whatever they have as a passion is a pathway to a STEM career, it'll drive the choices they make going forward into high school." On diversity, Golden stated: "Broadcom Foundation believes that 'if you can't see it, you can't be it.' Our partnership with WikiEdu helps to ensure that Wikipedia includes a diverse and inspirational array of STEM heroes and heroines."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Broadcom Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and appears to support pre-selected organizations identified through trustee discretion, existing relationships, and strategic partnerships.

Organizations interested in foundation support cannot simply apply for funding. According to industry sources, potential grantees should "network with board or staff members to gain their attention."

Contact for Inquiries: Organizations can reach out to the foundation at info@brcmfdn.org or (800) 839-1754 to inquire about their grant-making activities, though this does not constitute a formal application process.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding their partnership model provides insight into how organizations become funded partners:

Current Partnership Model: The foundation works with established national organizations and programs including:

  • Society for Science (Broadcom MASTERS title sponsorship since 2011)
  • Raspberry Pi Foundation (Code Clubs, Experience AI)
  • Science Buddies (coding-integrated science projects)
  • Wiki Education (STEM pioneer content at minority-serving institutions)
  • Regional science and engineering fairs (50 fairs sponsor Broadcom Coding with Commitment awards)
  • Universities with strong engineering programs (UC Davis, George Mason, Portland State)

Organizations They Fund: Recent recipients include Discovery Science Center of Orange County, San Jose Public Library, Renaissance Youth Center in the Bronx, and Detroit's Code 313. Community-based organizations serving underrepresented populations appear to receive support, particularly those offering out-of-school technology education programs.

Strategic Alignment: Organizations most likely to be considered appear to be those that:

  • Have established track records in STEM education for middle school students
  • Serve underrepresented populations in STEM
  • Offer out-of-school, hands-on technology learning
  • Incorporate coding and digital literacy
  • Align with the foundation's emphasis on equity and access
  • Operate in geographic areas with Broadcom employee presence

Connection to Broadcom Inc.: The foundation creates opportunities for volunteerism and civic engagement among Broadcom employees, suggesting that organizations in communities where Broadcom has operations may have increased visibility.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder with trustee discretion in grant-making, there are no fixed application deadlines or decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With 226 awards made in 2024 from pre-selected organizations, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only model. Organizations with existing relationships appear to receive ongoing multiyear support.

Application Success Factors

Since the Broadcom Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors are less relevant. However, understanding what the foundation values in its partnerships provides critical insight:

Middle School Focus is Non-Negotiable: Paula Golden has explicitly stated the foundation's belief that "middle school is the space where kids will make a turn in the road as independent thinkers." Programs targeting grades 5-8 are strongly preferred, with some support for university-level engineering research.

Equity and Representation Matter: The foundation actively seeks to "close the STEM education gap among women, ethnic, and minority populations." Programs serving girls, under-resourced communities, and underrepresented youth in urban, rural, and tribal communities align with core priorities.

Coding as Essential Skill: The foundation views coding not as an advanced specialty but as a "fundamental skill" and "critical 21st Century+ skill that everyone—including girls, under-resourced, and underrepresented youth—need to become digitally literate."

Connection to Real-World Problems: Broadcom Coding with Commitment requires students to address community problems aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, reflecting the foundation's emphasis on "think globally and act locally" and using STEM for social impact.

Out-of-School Learning Preference: According to research, "most of Broadcom's giving supports out-of-school learning programs for technology, science and digital literacy," suggesting after-school programs, summer programs, and competitions are preferred over in-school curricula.

Established Track Record: Current partners include nationally recognized organizations (Society for Science, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Science Buddies) and established community organizations, suggesting new organizations need demonstrated expertise and sustainability.

Alignment with Corporate Values: The foundation strengthens "Broadcom Corporation social responsibility and global citizenship" and creates "opportunities for volunteerism and civic engagement among Broadcom employees," indicating corporate alignment matters.

Recent Examples of Funded Work:

  • Training 1,300 teachers in Malaysia reaching 50,000 students in AI literacy (Experience AI)
  • 50 regional science fairs incorporating Broadcom Coding with Commitment awards
  • Raspberry Pi Code Clubs for after-school project-based coding education
  • Wiki Education partnership creating content about unsung STEM pioneers at HBCUs, HSIs, and Tribal Colleges

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This is an invitation-only funder. Traditional grant applications will not be accepted. Networking and relationship-building with foundation leadership is the only pathway to funding.

  • Middle school is the strategic priority - Grades 5-8 programming receives overwhelming preference. If your organization doesn't serve this age group, you're unlikely to align with current priorities.

  • Equity isn't optional, it's central - Programs must demonstrably serve underrepresented populations in STEM: girls, ethnic minorities, under-resourced communities, and youth in urban, rural, or tribal communities.

  • Multi-year partnerships over one-off grants - The foundation supports ongoing relationships with organizations like Society for Science (since 2011) and Raspberry Pi Foundation. They seek sustainable, scalable impact.

  • Coding and digital literacy are non-negotiable - Every funded program incorporates technology and computational thinking. Pure science programs without coding components don't align.

  • Think nationally or internationally, but execute locally - While the foundation supports large national programs (Broadcom MASTERS, Congressional App Challenge), they also fund community organizations (Detroit's Code 313, Renaissance Youth Center in the Bronx) that deliver hands-on, local impact.

  • Connection to Broadcom Inc. may help - The foundation creates employee volunteer opportunities and strengthens corporate social responsibility. Organizations in communities where Broadcom operates may have increased visibility.

References

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