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Siemens Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.5M
Grant Range
$3K - $3.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6.5M (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only)
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $3,000,000+ (multi-year commitments)
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States)
  • Assets: $67 million (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 170 Wood Avenue South, Iselin, NJ 08830

Phone: 732-906-3809

Email: foundation.us@siemens.com

Website: www.siemens-foundation.org

Overview

Established in 1998, the Siemens Foundation is a private foundation with $67 million in assets that invested over $138 million in the United States since its founding. The foundation advances workforce development and health equity initiatives, committed to economic, social, and racial justice for all. In recent years, the foundation has significantly focused on workforce development for the emerging electric vehicle charging sector through its flagship $30 million, 10-year "EVeryone Charging Forward" initiative launched in 2023. The foundation's strategic approach emphasizes long-term partnerships with large, well-established organizations that demonstrate capacity to scale effective education and training models, particularly in STEM, healthcare, and clean energy careers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

EVeryone Charging Forward Initiative: $30 million over 10 years (2023-2033) to drive inclusive workforce development in the EV charging sector. Includes partnerships with state workforce agencies, educational institutions, and industry collaborators.

Healthcare Workforce Development: Multi-year grants ranging from $2.35 million to $2.4 million supporting apprenticeship programs for medical and dental assistants, focused on expanding access to healthcare careers.

Health Equity Initiatives: Grants of $500,000+ to organizations addressing health disparities in Black and underserved communities, including preventive health screenings and healthcare access.

Community Development: Investments in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and workforce training for infrastructure jobs.

All programs emphasize invitation-only partnerships with established organizations demonstrating capacity to scale.

Priority Areas

  • Workforce Development in STEM Fields: Electric vehicle charging sector, advanced manufacturing, electrification, and infrastructure careers
  • Health Equity: Reducing health disparities in Black communities and underserved populations; expanding healthcare workforce pathways
  • Apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeship Programs: High-quality youth apprenticeships in high schools and community colleges
  • Clean Energy and Climate: Training for jobs in decarbonization and green economy
  • Scalable Training Models: Standardized curriculum, hands-on experience, and industry-recognized credentials

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited grant proposals
  • Small or emerging organizations without proven track records
  • Single-location or small-scale programs without national scalability
  • Organizations without robust financial systems and data demonstrating impact
  • Programs unrelated to workforce development, health equity, or STEM education

Governance and Leadership

CEO: David Etzwiler, who joined the foundation in October 2013, drives the foundation's focus on economic and social justice through innovative workforce training, health equity, and sustainability initiatives.

Board of Directors: Includes Ruth Gratzke (President of Siemens Smart Infrastructure U.S. and CEO of Siemens Industry, Inc.), Virginie Maillard, and Dickson Mercer.

Leadership Philosophy: CEO David Etzwiler emphasizes the importance of maintaining close ties with Siemens business units while maintaining ethical boundaries: "If I'm not a trusted business partner at Siemens, that's not good for the people I wake up wanting to serve each morning." He also stresses collaborative leadership: "You have to hand the vision off to other folks so they can give it back to you."

Key Quote on EV Initiative: "With 15 million U.S. infrastructure jobs coming online over the next decade, and 17 million infrastructure workers permanently leaving their jobs during the same time period, we must ensure everyone has access to this unprecedented opportunity, which is the mission behind EVeryone Charging Forward™." - David Etzwiler

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Siemens Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, proactively identifying and selecting partner organizations rather than accepting open applications. Grantmaking consists mainly of ongoing partnerships with large nonprofits in STEM career training and health equity.

Getting on Their Radar

This foundation is highly selective and requires specific organizational attributes:

Organizational Requirements:

  • Proven capacity to scale: The foundation specifically seeks organizations that can demonstrate scalability with financials and data to prove it
  • Established track record: Large, well-established organizations with proven impact in workforce development or health equity
  • National or multi-state reach: Programs that can expand beyond single locations
  • Strong data systems: Ability to measure and report outcomes with rigorous data
  • Executive-level relationships: Deep, executive-level networking with Siemens leadership is the primary pathway to getting noticed

Networking Strategies:

  • Employee connections: Networking through a Siemens employee may present an opportunity for more accessible grantmaking
  • Industry partnerships: Organizations working with the National Governors Association, National League of Cities, or other large-scale workforce development collaboratives may have better visibility
  • Sector leadership: Being recognized as a leader in EV workforce training, healthcare apprenticeships, or health equity work positions organizations favorably

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only model and emphasis on long-term partnerships, the timeline from initial contact to grant award varies considerably. Multi-year grants suggest significant due diligence and relationship-building periods.

Success Rates

Not available. The foundation makes approximately 12-19 grants annually from likely hundreds of potential partner organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only structure. The foundation maintains ongoing multi-year relationships with selected partners rather than operating on an application/reapplication cycle.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Scalability: The single most important factor is proving your organization can scale nationally. David Etzwiler states: "With historic federal investments to modernize our infrastructure and decarbonize our climate, we must ensure participation by everyone in our economy." Organizations must show how their model can reach thousands of learners across multiple states.

Align with Strategic Priorities: Recent funding heavily emphasizes:

  • Electric vehicle charging workforce (top priority 2023-2033)
  • Healthcare workforce pathways through apprenticeships
  • Health equity for Black and underserved communities
  • Clean energy and infrastructure jobs

Partner with National Organizations: Recent grants show partnerships with entities like the National Governors Association, National League of Cities, and national workforce development collaboratives receive priority.

Proven Outcomes with Data: The InReach apprenticeship program, which received $2.35 million, demonstrated "more than 87 percent of students complete the MA program and, of those, 99 percent pass the required exam" - this level of outcome measurement is expected.

Multi-Year Commitment Capacity: Most grants are structured as multi-year partnerships ($2.35 million over three years, $30 million over 10 years), requiring organizational stability and long-term planning capacity.

Executive-Level Engagement: Given the foundation's emphasis on executive-level networking and close ties to Siemens business units, having leadership who can engage at the C-suite level is critical.

Focus on Economic Justice: All recent grants emphasize ensuring access for "historically marginalized communities" and "individuals from all backgrounds" - this is not optional language but a core requirement.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder - do not submit unsolicited proposals; focus instead on becoming a nationally recognized leader in EV workforce development, healthcare apprenticeships, or health equity
  • Scale is non-negotiable - small, local programs will not be considered; demonstrate capacity to reach thousands across multiple states with proven, replicable models
  • Current priority is EV charging workforce - the $30 million, 10-year "EVeryone Charging Forward" initiative represents the foundation's largest current investment
  • Build executive relationships - getting on their radar requires C-suite networking with Siemens leadership and participation in national workforce development collaboratives
  • Data-driven impact required - organizations must have sophisticated measurement systems showing completion rates, job placement, and wage outcomes
  • Multi-year partnerships are the norm - prepare for long-term engagement rather than one-time grants; the median grant is $462,000 but partnerships often span 3-10 years
  • Employee connections help - if your organization has existing relationships with Siemens employees or business units, leverage these for introductions to the foundation

References

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