MathWorks Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $9,850,000 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycles
• Grant Range: $200 - $5,000 (Community Grants)
• Geographic Focus: Communities where MathWorks has offices (USA, UK, and 14 other countries)
• Total Assets: $268,035,608

Contact Details

Website: https://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/soc_mission/community.html

Application Portal: https://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/soc_mission/grant_application.html

Headquarters: MathWorks Foundation Inc 1 Apple Hill Drive Natick, MA 01760-2098 United States

Overview

The MathWorks Foundation Inc, established as the philanthropic arm of The MathWorks software company, is a private grantmaking foundation based in Natick, Massachusetts. With total assets of approximately $268 million and annual charitable disbursements of $9.85 million in 2023, the foundation operates with a dual approach: a public-facing Community Grant Program offering small grants ($200-$5,000) to local nonprofits, and larger strategic grants distributed at trustee discretion. The foundation's mission centres on supporting STEM education, advancing learning in engineering, science, and mathematics, and contributing to the vitality of communities where MathWorks operates. The foundation received the 2024 Community Leadership Award from the Community Foundation for MetroWest, acknowledging the foundation's commitment to developing and enriching the MetroWest community through educational partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Community Grant Programme: $200 - $5,000

• Small grants awarded quarterly through an online application process
• Rolling basis with four annual deadlines (March 1, June 1, September 1, December 1)
• One-year funding periods
• Primarily serves communities where MathWorks has offices

Strategic Grants: Larger amounts (determined by trustees)

• Grants awarded through partnership programmes (e.g., $285,000 distributed through Foundation for MetroWest partnership in 2020)
• Multi-year commitments for major initiatives (e.g., $1 million for UMass Boston MathWorks Scholars Program)
• £4,000 international grants (e.g., Centre for Computing History, Cambridge, UK)
• Invitation-only or trustee-directed grants

Priority Areas

STEM Education & Learning

• Student competitions and STEM outreach programmes
• Museum partnerships promoting science and engineering
• University fellowships and academic scholarships
• Curriculum development initiatives
• Research grants
• Programmes fostering children's interest in STEM fields

Local Community Support

• Family support services
• Food insecurity programmes
• Youth development initiatives
• Community development and infrastructure
• Environmental conservation (e.g., Mass Audubon partnerships)

Diversity & Inclusion in STEM

• Programmes supporting underrepresented populations in technology
• Initiatives advancing access, enrolment, and success in STEM fields for all students

Global Relief

• Disaster relief and humanitarian aid
• Programmes providing food, shelter, and life-saving essentials worldwide

What They Don't Fund

The Community Grant Programme explicitly excludes:

• Religious organisations, clubs, fraternal groups, professional organisations
• Political campaigns or lobbying groups
• Individual applicants
• Capital and endowment fund drives
• Fundraising events (walks, runs, golf tournaments, dinners)
• Programmes lacking charitable or philanthropic focus (professional conferences, recreational sports)

Governance and Leadership

Foundation Officers (all serve with zero compensation):

• John "Jack" Little - President/Director (also CEO/President of The MathWorks)
• Jeanne O'Keefe - Treasurer/Director (also CFO and Senior Vice President of The MathWorks)
• Thomas M. Spera - Clerk/Director

The foundation operates with minimal administrative overhead, with 99% of 2023 expenses directed toward charitable disbursements. Leadership philosophy emphasises "do the right thing" as a core value, with philanthropic efforts organised around five pillars: Investments in Education, Staff-Driven Initiatives, Local Community Support, Green Initiatives, and Global Relief Efforts.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Community Grants ($200-$5,000): Complete applications must be submitted through the online application form at https://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/soc_mission/grant_application.html. Only applications submitted via this official form will be considered for funding.

Application Requirements:

• Must be a 501(c)(3) organisation, public charity, or local municipal entity
• Must demonstrate tax-exempt status
• Funds must be requested for a specific programme
• Programme goals must align with MathWorks Community Grant objectives
• Organisation must serve communities where MathWorks has offices

For Strategic/Larger Grants: The foundation does not have a public application process for larger grants. These grants are awarded at trustee discretion, often to preselected charitable organisations or through partnership programmes with established foundations. The foundation has indicated it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds" for larger strategic grants.

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed quarterly with submission deadlines:

• March 1
• June 1
• September 1
• December 1

Applicants are notified "as soon as the grant review team reaches a decision." Specific timeframes are not publicly disclosed, but decisions are made based on available resources and the degree to which proposals meet programme criteria.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose the total number of applications received or overall success rates.

Given the foundation's substantial assets and focus on strategic grantmaking beyond the public Community Grant Programme, competition appears to be significant for the smaller public grants.

Reapplication Policy

Only one application per programme or initiative will be considered in a 12-month period. If an organisation submits an unsuccessful application, they must wait a full 12 months from their original submission before reapplying for the same programme or initiative.

Post-Award Requirement: Grant recipients must submit a summary report within 12 months of receiving the award.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Alignment is Critical The Community Grant Programme specifically states that grants "will be awarded primarily to organizations serving the immediate communities where MathWorks offices are located." MathWorks has offices in 16 countries including the United States (Natick, MA headquarters; Sunnyvale and Torrance, CA; Novi, MI), United Kingdom (Cambridge), China (Beijing and Shanghai), and offices in Australia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Programme-Specific Funding Requests The foundation explicitly requires that "funds must be requested for a specific program" rather than general operating support. Successful applications clearly articulate how grant funds will be used for a defined initiative with measurable outcomes.

STEM Education Focus Organisations with programmes advancing STEM learning, fostering children's interest in science and engineering, or supporting underrepresented populations in technology fields align most closely with the foundation's priorities. Recent funded examples include:

• Centre for Computing History (Cambridge, UK) - £4,000 for education programmes teaching young people about computing history
• Partnership with Museum of Science, Boston for STEAM education
• Support for Black Girls Code promoting diversity in tech

Community Impact Evidence The foundation's 2020 partnership with Foundation for MetroWest, which distributed $285,000 to 57 nonprofits addressing family support, food insecurity, and youth development, demonstrates the foundation's commitment to organisations providing tangible community benefits in areas where MathWorks employees live and work.

Employee Connection The foundation's Staff-Driven Initiatives pillar suggests that organisations where MathWorks employees volunteer or have personal engagement may receive favourable consideration, particularly through the SDSS (Staff-Driven Social Support) programme enabling employees to advocate for organisations they personally support.

Reporting and Accountability The requirement for summary reports within 12 months indicates the foundation values accountability and measurable outcomes. Applications should clearly articulate how success will be measured and reported.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Location matters most: Ensure your organisation serves communities where MathWorks has physical offices; this is the primary eligibility criterion for Community Grants
• Keep it small and specific: Community Grants max out at $5,000 for programme-specific funding; don't request general operating support
• Plan for quarterly cycles: Submit by March 1, June 1, September 1, or December 1 deadlines; one application per initiative per year
• Emphasise STEM connection: Even community support programmes should demonstrate how they advance STEM education or foster children's interest in science, engineering, and mathematics
• Consider employee connections: If MathWorks employees volunteer with or support your organisation, mention this connection in your application
• Prepare for competition: With limited grants awarded annually through the public programme, ensure your application demonstrates clear alignment with foundation priorities
• Be patient with larger grants: The foundation's significant charitable disbursements are primarily distributed through trustee discretion rather than the public Community Grant Programme; building relationships over time may open doors to strategic funding opportunities

References

• MathWorks Community Grant Program: https://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/soc_mission/community.html (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• Community Grant Eligibility Guidelines: https://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/soc_mission/eligibility_guidelines.html (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• MathWorks Social Mission Overview: https://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/soc_mission.html (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - MathWorks Foundation Inc: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831665375 (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - MathWorks Foundation Inc: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/mathworks-foundation-inc (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• Cause IQ - MathWorks Foundation Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/mathworks-foundation,831665375/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• Foundation for MetroWest Partnership Announcement: https://www.communityfoundationmw.org/about/news-updates/foundation-for-metrowest-mathworks-provide-285000-to-local-nonprofits/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• Centre for Computing History Grant Announcement: https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/centre-computing-history-delighted-receive-ps4000-mathworks-community-grant (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• MathWorks Worldwide Office Locations: https://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/contact_us.html (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• Grantable Foundation Profile: https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/mathworks-foundation-inc-us-foundation-831665375 (Accessed December 17, 2025)