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Applied Materials Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.5M
Grant Range
$60K - $1.7M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,500,000
  • Grant Range: $60,000 - $1,700,000
  • Median Grant: $197,000
  • Total Assets: $18,100,000
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months
  • Geographic Focus: Communities where Applied Materials operates (primarily US locations)
  • Application Deadlines: January 15 & June 15 (fixed cycles)

Contact Details

Email: Applied_Materials_Foundation@amat.com, Community_Affairs@amat.com
Phone: (408) 748-5842
Address: 3050 Bowers Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Website: https://www.appliedmaterials.com/us/en/corporate-responsibility/purpose.html
Application Portal: Online grants management system via CyberGrants (http://www.cybergrants.com/amat/quiz)

Overview

The Applied Materials Foundation is a California private foundation established in 1994 as the charitable arm of Applied Materials, Inc., a global leader in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing equipment. With assets totaling $18.1 million, the foundation distributes approximately $8.5 million annually through approximately 20 grants to support nonprofits in communities where Applied Materials operates. The foundation focuses on five strategic areas: education (particularly STEM), girls empowerment, arts and culture, civic engagement, and environmental sustainability. The foundation emphasizes programs that offer opportunities for employee engagement, address basic community needs, strengthen nonprofit infrastructure, and encourage collaboration within the nonprofit sector. Key leadership includes Joseph Pon (President), Yvonne Leyba (Secretary), and Steve Shee (CFO).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Focus Area Grants: $60,000 - $1,700,000 (median: $197,000)
The foundation's primary grant program supports organizations in Education, Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement, and Environment. Applications accepted through online portal with fixed deadlines of January 15 and June 15.

Generation Girl (Invitation-Only): Variable amounts
An initiative supporting programs that empower girls, particularly low-income girls and girls of color, by addressing societal and systemic barriers. Serves girls ages 5-18 (grades K-12) in STEM education and leadership development. Since 2018, over 56,000 students have participated, with 81% reporting increased self-confidence and 84% showing growth in STEM competency. Deadline: September 30 (invitation-only).

Employee Matching Gifts: Up to $2,000 per employee per year
One-for-one matching of employee contributions to K-12 schools and nonprofit organizations.

Volunteer Time Grants: $100 per 10 hours
Grants awarded to nonprofits where Applied Materials employees volunteer.

Applied Materials Momentum Fund: Variable amounts
Financial support for women near completion of engineering degrees (partnership with Last Mile Education Fund).

Priority Areas

Education: K-12 programs with emphasis on STEM education, particularly in underserved communities

Girls Empowerment: Programs serving low-income girls and/or girls of color that build self-efficacy, confidence, and interest in STEM careers

Arts and Culture: Programs taking arts and culture outside traditional settings to reach young people of diverse backgrounds, particularly in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods

Civic Engagement: Programs addressing basic needs (food, water, housing), homelessness elimination, and strengthening nonprofit sector infrastructure and leadership

Environment: Environmental education and hands-on community participation programs, including the annual EarthWorks Campaign (April-June) that mobilizes employees globally

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital campaigns, bricks and mortar projects, equipment, home building, or physical structures
  • Programs currently funded by Applied Materials or the Applied Materials Foundation
  • Individual projects or programs outside the five focus areas
  • Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, or other protected characteristics (note: gender-based programs designed to address specific needs of targeted populations may be considered)

Governance and Leadership

Foundation Leadership:

  • Joseph Pon, President and Board Member
  • Yvonne Leyba, Secretary
  • Steve Shee, CFO and Assistant Secretary
  • Teri Little, Board Member
  • Charles Read, Board Member

The foundation operates as the philanthropic arm of Applied Materials, Inc., aligning corporate values with community needs. The foundation emphasizes that "all children, regardless of gender, race or income level, should be able to pursue their dreams" (Generation Girl mission statement).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through the Applied Materials Foundation's online grants management system powered by CyberGrants. Organizations can access the system at http://www.cybergrants.com/amat/quiz.

Fixed Deadline Cycles:

  • January 15 deadline: Decisions announced by March 31
  • June 15 deadline: Decisions announced by August 31
  • September 30 deadline: Generation Girl grants (invitation-only), decisions by October 31

Return Applicant Requirements: Previously funded organizations must complete their Final Report on prior funding before submitting a new proposal. If prior year funds haven't been fully expended, contact the foundation for support on submitting an Interim Report.

Invitation-Only Programs: Generation Girl and Civic Capacity Building programs operate by invitation only.

Decision Timeline

Typical timeframe is 2-3 months from submission to decision:

  • January 15 submission → March 31 notification
  • June 15 submission → August 31 notification

Notifications are sent via the online grants management system.

Success Rates

The foundation makes approximately 20 grants annually from its main grant programs, with hundreds of additional grants made through employee matching and volunteer programs. Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Previously funded organizations are welcome to reapply but must complete Final Reports on prior funding before submitting new proposals. No specific waiting period for unsuccessful applicants has been documented; organizations may contact the foundation directly at Applied_Materials_Foundation@amat.com for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Alignment is Critical: The foundation explicitly prioritizes projects in communities where Applied Materials operates. U.S. locations include Santa Clara County, CA; Austin, TX; Gloucester, MA; Portland & Hillsboro, OR; Kalispell, MT; Phoenix and Chandler, AZ; and Malta and Albany, NY. Organizations outside these areas face significant challenges.

Employee Engagement Opportunities: Projects that "welcome opportunities to engage employees with local grant recipients" receive priority consideration. Demonstrating how Applied Materials employees can volunteer or participate in programs strengthens applications significantly.

Innovation and Collaboration: The foundation values "programs designed to strengthen the infrastructure of the nonprofit sector and its leadership, stimulate innovations and efficiencies that increase service delivery, and encourage collaboration within the nonprofit sector." Highlight innovative approaches and partnership opportunities.

Evidence-Based Programming: Particularly for Generation Girl programs, the foundation requires programs to be "evidence-based and/or aligned with current research." Include research citations and data demonstrating program effectiveness.

Scalability and Replication: The foundation prioritizes "initiatives that can be replicated to reach multiple communities," suggesting that programs with potential for broader impact are favored.

Broad Community Reach: According to Inside Philanthropy, "organizations of any size that work in geographic areas where Applied Materials operates stand a good chance if programs are innovative and have broad community reach."

Recent Grantee Examples:

  • The Blackbaud Giving Fund: $1.7M for Creative County Initiative focusing on Gloucester Arts & Culture
  • Silicon Valley Community Foundation: Multiple grants including $1.1M for East Side Community Arts Summer Program
  • Code2College, Girls Scouts of Central Texas, Girl Scouts, Techbridge Girls (Generation Girl grantees)

Signature Campaign Alignment: Demonstrating alignment with the foundation's signature initiatives (Fight Against Hunger, EarthWorks, Generation Girl) can strengthen applications by showing understanding of foundation priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Location matters most: Your organization must serve communities where Applied Materials operates—this is a non-negotiable requirement
  • Employee engagement is a significant plus: Design programs that create meaningful volunteer opportunities for Applied Materials employees
  • Aim for median grant size: With a median grant of $197,000, most successful applicants request six-figure support; very small requests may not be competitive
  • Build in innovation and scalability: Show how your program brings fresh approaches and could be replicated in other Applied Materials communities
  • Complete prior reporting obligations: If you've received previous funding, ensure all reports are submitted before reapplying
  • Use the online system: All applications go through CyberGrants—familiarize yourself with the platform before the deadline
  • Contact program officers with questions: The foundation encourages inquiries via email; use this opportunity to confirm eligibility and alignment before investing time in a full application

References

  1. Applied Materials Foundation Purpose Page. Applied Materials. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://www.appliedmaterials.com/us/en/corporate-responsibility/purpose.html

  2. Applied Materials Foundation Profile. GuideStar/Candid. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/77-0386898

  3. Applied Materials Foundation Profile. Foundation Directory, Candid. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=APPL046

  4. Applied Materials Foundation 990 Report. Instrumentl. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/applied-materials-foundation

  5. Applied Materials Foundation Profile. Inside Philanthropy. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-a/applied-materials-foundation

  6. "The Applied Materials Foundation Generation Girl Initiative Celebrates Five Years of Impact and Looks Ahead to the Future." Applied Materials Blog, October 24, 2023. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://www.appliedmaterials.com/us/en/blog/blog-posts/generation-girl-celebrates-five-years-of-impact-and-looks-ahead-to-future.html

  7. Generation Girl Initiative. Applied Materials. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://www.appliedmaterials.com/us/en/corporate-responsibility/purpose/generation-girl.html

  8. Applied Materials Foundation Grants Overview. TripleFunds. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://triple-funds.com/tf-entry/grants-from-applied-materials-foundation/

  9. Applied Materials Matching Gifts & Volunteer Information. Double the Donation. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://doublethedonation.com/matching-gifts/applied-materials-inc

  10. Applied Materials Foundation Nonprofit Explorer. ProPublica. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770386898

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