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Edwards Lifesciences Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.4M
Decision Time
4mo

Edwards Lifesciences Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,397,097 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months (late spring application to late fall notification)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program; average award approximately $42,000 (based on 2023 data)
  • Geographic Focus: Global (with emphasis on communities where Edwards employees live and work)
  • Total Grants: 224 awards in 2023

Contact Details

Address: 1 Edwards Way, Irvine, CA 92614-5688

Website: https://www.edwards.com/about-us/global-corporate-giving

Grant Portal: https://grants.edwards.com/

Education Grants Portal: https://ed-grants.edwards.com/

EIN: 46-1702755

Overview

The Edwards Lifesciences Foundation was established in 2004 as the corporate foundation of Edwards Lifesciences, a global leader in structural heart disease and critical care innovations. Since its inception, the company and foundation have contributed approximately $190 million to charitable causes globally. In 2023, the foundation distributed $9,397,097 through 224 grants. The foundation's mission centers on treating underserved people to reduce heart valve disease, strengthening communities where Edwards employees live and work, and promoting employee volunteerism. The foundation operates with a patient-centered approach rooted in Edwards Lifesciences' corporate credo, focusing on measurable impact for underserved structural heart and critical care patients worldwide. Through its flagship Every Heartbeat Matters initiative, the foundation has reached over 1.7 million underserved people as of 2020, exceeding its initial goal of impacting one million people ahead of schedule.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Every Heartbeat Matters Grants The foundation's flagship program focuses on improving the lives of underserved structural heart and critical care patients globally. The initiative aims to impact 2.5 million additional underserved patients by the end of 2025. This program supports projects in three key areas: detection, treatment, and recovery. The foundation partners with cardiac and patient-focused nonprofit organizations to educate, screen, and treat underserved people. This includes product donations of surgical heart valve and critical care technologies through partners like MAP International for humanitarian medical care outside the U.S.

Strengthen Our Community Grants This program improves health outcomes for people facing barriers in Edwards' communities globally, focusing on health, education, and economic opportunities. Support is provided through both financial grants and employee volunteerism. The foundation emphasizes communities where Edwards Lifesciences employees live and work.

Scholarship Program The foundation awards 12 four-year scholarships of $2,500 per year ($10,000 total) to high school seniors from Orange County, California; Salt Lake County, Utah; or Puerto Rico who are pursuing bachelor's degrees in STEM fields. The program is managed by Scholarship America, with applications due April 20 annually.

Educational Grants Edwards accepts requests for educational grants from healthcare organizations (HCOs) and legitimate providers of continuing medical education and professional conference organizers. Note that only a small percentage of educational grant applications receive support, and approved grants may be for less than the amount requested.

Employee Matching Gift Program The foundation matches employee gifts to eligible U.S. nonprofit organizations at a one-to-one ratio, up to a maximum of $5,000 per employee annually.

Priority Areas

  • Structural heart disease treatment and education: Programs addressing heart valve disease in underserved populations
  • Critical care patient support: Direct care and support services for critically ill patients facing barriers to treatment
  • Health equity and access: Programs reducing barriers to healthcare for underserved communities
  • Community health, education, and economic opportunities: Initiatives strengthening communities where Edwards employees live and work
  • Patient education and awareness campaigns: Programs educating patients and communities about cardiovascular health
  • Research: Cardiovascular research aligned with the foundation's mission
  • STEM education: Scholarships and programs promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education

What They Don't Fund

Based on their employee matching gift program exclusions, the foundation does not support:

  • Non-tax deductible portions of gifts (tickets to galas, fundraising events, sporting events, memberships, walk/run registration fees)
  • Gifts that benefit the donor or any specific individual
  • Political campaigns or lobbying activities
  • Private non-operating foundations
  • Scholarships where the donor or their relatives are eligible recipients or have a role in selecting recipients
  • Religious programs with a principal purpose of propagating a particular religious faith
  • Gifts to organizations that employ Edwards employees (though board service is acceptable)

Governance and Leadership

Bernard J. Zovighian - CEO and Board Director of Edwards Lifesciences (since May 2023), serves on advisory boards for the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation. Zovighian has emphasized the importance of keeping Edwards' foundation rooted in its patient-centered culture and innovation strategy, stating: "it was all about making sure that I was keeping our foundation the same, culture, patient at the center, innovation strategy."

The foundation is governed by a board of trustees, though complete board composition is not publicly listed. The foundation operates as a company-sponsored foundation of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Annual Funding Cycle (Primary) The foundation evaluates most applications through an annual funding cycle. Applications are accepted through the foundation's online grant portal at https://grants.edwards.com/. The foundation operates region-specific portals, including a Japan-Asia Pacific portal at https://japac-grants.edwards.com/.

Application Requirements:

  • Complete the appropriate application form through the online portal
  • Provide proof of tax-qualified charitable status (501(c)(3) for U.S. organizations)
  • Submit supporting financial statements
  • Include detailed program budgets
  • Organizations based outside the U.S. must demonstrate they are substantially similar in governance, operation, and mission to qualified U.S.-based organizations

Every Heartbeat Matters Specific Requirements: Organizations receiving Every Heartbeat Matters funding must sign a program agreement. A sample template of the donation agreement is available for download on the Edwards Lifesciences website.

Decision Timeline

Annual Funding Cycle Timeline:

  • Late Spring: Call for applications opens
  • Summer through Early Fall: Applications evaluated by committees
  • Late Fall: Applicants notified of decisions

Current Cycle Status: The 2025 funding cycle is closed, with notifications expected by October 2025. Details for the 2026 funding cycle will be announced in early 2026.

Typical Processing Time: Approximately 3-4 months from application opening to notification

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation made 224 grants in 2023 from total giving of $9,397,097. For educational grants specifically, the foundation notes that "only a small percentage receive support."

Historical Grant Volume:

  • 2023: 224 awards
  • 2022: 199 awards
  • 2021: 1,265 awards
  • 2020: 1,497 awards

Note: The significant variation in award numbers across years may reflect differences in grant sizes, program emphasis, or inclusion of product donations versus cash grants.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed on the foundation's website. Applicants should contact the foundation directly or review application guidelines when the next funding cycle opens for clarification on reapplication timelines and policies.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Foundation Priorities

Focus on Underserved Populations: The foundation explicitly prioritizes programs serving underserved structural heart and critical care patients. Successful applications demonstrate clear impact on populations facing barriers to care.

Geographic Connection: While the foundation supports global initiatives, there is emphasis on communities where Edwards Lifesciences employees live and work. Applications from or benefiting these communities may receive favorable consideration.

Measurable Impact: The foundation sets specific numerical goals (e.g., impacting 2.5 million patients by 2025), indicating a preference for programs with quantifiable outcomes and clear metrics for success.

Program-Specific Considerations

Every Heartbeat Matters Applications: Should address one or more of the three focus areas: detection, treatment, and recovery. Review the dedicated program criteria guidelines available on the Edwards Lifesciences website before applying.

Strengthen Our Community Applications: Should demonstrate how the program addresses health, education, or economic opportunities for people facing barriers in Edwards' communities.

Recent Funding Example

In 2023, the foundation awarded $100,000 to the UCI Samueli School of Engineering for a pilot program educating biomedical engineering students about how systemic racism contributes to health inequities. This grant demonstrates the foundation's interest in supporting health equity initiatives and educational programs that address systemic barriers to care.

Application Quality Requirements

Complete Documentation: All required supplemental materials must be included: tax status verification, financial statements, and detailed program budgets.

Budget Justification: Given that educational grants may be funded at less than the requested amount, applications should include clear budget justifications and potentially indicate funding priorities if partial funding is offered.

Partnership Approach: The foundation describes working with "partners" and emphasizes collaboration with cardiac and patient-focused nonprofit organizations, suggesting a preference for organizations willing to work collaboratively toward shared goals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Align with core mission: Proposals must clearly address structural heart disease, critical care, or community health in underserved populations—this is non-negotiable for the foundation's primary grant programs
  • Demonstrate measurable impact: The foundation tracks specific numerical goals and milestones; applications should include concrete metrics and expected outcomes with clear measurement methods
  • Plan for the annual cycle: Applications are accepted once annually in late spring, so timing is critical—begin preparing well in advance and monitor the website in early spring for cycle announcements
  • Emphasize health equity: Recent funding decisions show strong interest in addressing systemic barriers to care and health inequities, particularly for underserved populations
  • Consider geographic relevance: While global applications are accepted, highlighting connections to Edwards employee communities (including Irvine, CA; Salt Lake County, UT; or other Edwards locations) may strengthen proposals
  • Prepare complete documentation: Incomplete applications likely will not be considered; ensure all financial statements, tax documentation, and program budgets are thorough and professional
  • Be realistic about competition: With only 224 grants awarded in 2023 from total annual giving of $9.4 million, and educational grants noting "only a small percentage receive support," competition is significant—applications must be exceptionally strong and well-aligned with foundation priorities

References

All sources accessed December 2024.

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