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MathWorks Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$23.2M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

MathWorks Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $23,191,710 (2024)
  • 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: $424,415,799

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 $424 million and annual charitable disbursements of $23.2 million in 2024, 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 centers on supporting STEM education, advancing learning in engineering, science, and mathematics, and contributing to the vitality of communities where MathWorks operates. Recent recognition includes 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 Programs

Community Grant Program: $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)

  • $5,000 grants awarded through partnership programs (e.g., 57 grants totaling $285,000 through Foundation for MetroWest)
  • 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 programs
  • Museum partnerships promoting science and engineering
  • University fellowships and academic scholarships
  • Curriculum development initiatives
  • Research grants
  • Programs fostering children's interest in STEM fields

Local Community Support

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

Diversity & Inclusion in STEM

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

Global Relief

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

What They Don't Fund

The Community Grant Program explicitly excludes:

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

Governance and Leadership

Foundation Officers (all serve with zero compensation):

  • John 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 97.8% of 2024 expenses directed toward charitable disbursements. Leadership philosophy emphasizes "do the right thing" as a core value, with philanthropic efforts organized 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) organization, public charity, or local municipal entity
  • Must demonstrate tax-exempt status
  • Funds must be requested for a specific program
  • Program goals must align with MathWorks Community Grant objectives
  • Organization 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 organizations or through partnership programs 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 program criteria.

Success Rates

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

  • 11 grants awarded in 2024
  • 4 grants awarded in 2023
  • 10 grants awarded in 2022

Given the relatively small number of awards compared to the foundation's substantial assets, competition appears to be significant.

Reapplication Policy

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

Program-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 Organizations with programs 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 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 organizations providing tangible community benefits in areas where MathWorks employees live and work.

Employee Connection The foundation's Staff-Driven Initiatives pillar suggests that organizations where MathWorks employees volunteer or have personal engagement may receive favorable consideration, particularly through the SDSS (Staff-Driven Social Support) program enabling employees to advocate for organizations 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 organization 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 program-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
  • Emphasize STEM connection: Even community support programs 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 organization, mention this connection in your application
  • Prepare for competition: With only 4-11 grants awarded annually through the public program, success rates appear low; ensure your application demonstrates clear alignment with foundation priorities
  • Be patient with larger grants: The foundation's significant charitable disbursements ($23+ million annually) are primarily distributed through trustee discretion rather than the public Community Grant Program; building relationships over time may open doors to strategic funding opportunities

References

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