Thomas J. Watson Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 35-7120359 · since 2017watson.foundation·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$2.7M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The Thomas J. Watson Foundation runs its own named fellowship programmes rather than offering a general grant scheme for nonprofits to apply to.
The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship supports graduating seniors nominated by partner institutions for independent exploration outside the United States; the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship engages undergraduates in cross-sector internships and mentorship; and Watson Futures backs new ideas associated with education innovation and human-development innovation.
The only application route given is for selection committees to submit nominee information by the first Tuesday in November, which is a student-nomination schedule rather than an organisational grant application process.
The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship is stated at $40,000, and the foundation paid $2,656,717 in total for the year reported, giving some sense of scale, though grant range and geographic focus are not stated.
For the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, funds are not to be used as a social change or development grant, so a nonprofit seeking that kind of support should bear this in mind; otherwise, engagement here runs through a partner institution's selection committee rather than a direct charity application.

Overview

Thomas J. Watson Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, JPMorgan Trust Company of Delaware, in Chicago, IL.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Thomas J. Watson Foundation describes its programmes as developing students’ potential and expanding their vision. Its Thomas J. Watson Fellowship supports graduating seniors nominated by partner institutions to undertake purposeful, independent exploration outside the United States. The Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship engages undergraduates earlier in their college careers through challenging, cross-sector internships and mentorship. Watson Futures takes bold risks on new ideas and is associated with education innovation and human-development innovation. The filings also record general payments to public charities, but do not identify the recipients or a charitable purpose. The public material describes student fellowships and innovation programmes rather than setting out a public grant offer for organisations.

Themes

Student development
Independent exploration
Undergraduate internships
Education innovation

What They Don't Fund

Thomas J. Watson Fellowship only: a social change or development grant

How to apply

For the student fellowship, selection committees submit nominee information by the first Tuesday in November; this is the student-nomination schedule, not an organisational grant application process.

Deadlines: Selection committee nominee information is submitted by the first Tuesday in November.

Officers and directors

Administered by its trustee, JPMorgan Trust Company of Delaware.

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$6,055,956	$2,349,477	$96,217,774	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$6,314,099	$3,111,620	$102,143,280	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$6,267,841	$2,656,717	$106,819,249	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.