Cadence Giving Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5M+ (increased from $1.5M pre-2022)
• Total Assets: $39.6M (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (employee-driven model)
• Decision Time: Varies by program type
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $10,000 (employee grants); strategic partnerships significantly higher
• Geographic Focus: Global, with emphasis on Silicon Valley and underserved communities
• Application Method: No public application process; employee-driven and strategic partnerships

Contact Details

Foundation Address: c/o Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd Wilmington, DE 19809

Parent Company: Cadence Design Systems San Jose, CA

Key Contact: Nicole Johnson, President Global Director of Social Impact & Inclusion

Website: www.cadence.com/foundation

Overview

The Cadence Giving Foundation was established in 2021 when Anirudh Devgan became CEO of Cadence Design Systems, marking one of his first major initiatives. With $39.6 million in assets and over $5 million in annual grantmaking (a 40% increase since implementing structured programs in 2022), the foundation operates as a corporate foundation focused on bringing innovation, technical expertise, employee volunteerism, and philanthropy together. The foundation's mission centers on supporting critical needs in global communities through four strategic pillars: STEM education and opportunity, AI for all, climate innovation, and local communities. By matching grants with employee volunteerism and technical expertise, the foundation leverages Cadence's unique position in the technology sector to maximize community impact. Notable recent initiatives include the $20 million Fem.AI commitment to advance women in AI and a multi-year partnership with San José State University to expand their AI Hub.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Employee Grant Programs:

• Dollars for Doers: $1,000 grants for individual employee volunteer efforts
• Impact Grants: Up to $10,000 for projects aligned with strategic focus areas
• Employee Grant Programs: Over $100,000 annually distributed to nonprofits worldwide supported by Cadence employees

Strategic Partnerships:

• Multi-year institutional commitments (amounts vary, can exceed $1M+)
• Software and technology donations (valued at $23M+ to over 1,000 universities)
• Fem.AI Initiative: $20 million commitment over 10 years (philanthropic and product donations)

Scholarship Programs:

• Diversity in Technology Scholarships: $5,000 per recipient (28 students awarded in 2023)
• First-Generation Student Scholarships: Administered through Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Priority Areas

STEM Education and Opportunity:

• Computer science, electrical engineering, and AI education
• Support for first-generation college students in technical fields
• University partnerships providing software access and training (5,000+ online courses)

AI for All:

• Fem.AI initiative addressing three "leakage points" where women exit tech careers
• Partnerships with Break Through Tech, Generation, Fast Forward, Reboot Representation, VC Include
• 14,000+ women impacted through Fem.AI grants to date

Climate Innovation:

• Clean cooling technology development (partnership with Clinton Health Access Initiative)
• Next-generation air conditioning for low- and middle-income countries
• Computational Fluid Dynamics technology access for climate solutions research

Local Communities:

• Season of Giving annual volunteer campaign (2,200+ employees across 34 cities globally)
• Employee-directed giving to local causes
• International service-learning through Team4Tech partnership (177 employees, 7,200+ volunteer hours since 2018)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus suggests limited funding for:

• Organizations outside STEM, AI, climate innovation, or local community development
• Projects without connection to Cadence employees or strategic initiatives
• Traditional humanities or arts programs (unless incorporating technology/AI elements)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Nicole Johnson, President (also Global Director of Social Impact & Inclusion at Cadence Design Systems)
• Jerome Goyhenetche, Vice President
• Yoon Kim, Secretary
• Kt Moore, Treasurer
• Anirudh Devgan, Director (President and CEO of Cadence Design Systems)
• Tina Jones, Director
• Sandhya Venkateshan, Director
• John Wall, Director
• Nimish Modi, Director

All board members serve without compensation from the foundation.

Key Quote from Leadership:

Nicole Johnson, president of the Cadence Giving Foundation, stated: "We believe we have an opportunity to place the United States as the world leader. Our foundation helps elevate opportunities in artificial intelligence to make sure we're leading with impactful growth and inclusive success."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Cadence Giving Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates through two primary channels:

1. Employee-Driven Grants: Cadence employees nominate and support organizations through internal Dollars for Doers and Impact Grant programs using the Benevity platform.

2. Strategic Partnerships: The foundation identifies and approaches strategic partners for larger initiatives aligned with their focus areas (e.g., San José State University AI Hub, Clinton Health Access Initiative clean cooling project).

Getting on Their Radar

Connection Through Cadence Employees: The most viable pathway for organizations to receive funding is through a Cadence employee champion. The foundation's Employee Grant Programs specifically support organizations that Cadence employees are passionate about, providing over $100,000 annually to employee-nominated nonprofits worldwide.

Strategic Alignment: Organizations working in the foundation's core focus areas (STEM education, AI equity, climate innovation) may be identified for strategic partnerships. The foundation has partnered with organizations including:

• Team4Tech (international service-learning)
• Break Through Tech, Generation, Fast Forward, Reboot Representation, VC Include (Fem.AI Alliance)
• Clinton Health Access Initiative (climate innovation)
• San José State University (AI education)

Fem.AI Alliance: The foundation has created the Fem.AI Alliance with founding corporate members including Equinix Foundation, NetApp, NVIDIA, and Workday. Organizations focused on gender equity in AI may be considered for this initiative.

Annual Events:

• Fem.AI Summit (inaugural summit October 1, 2024, recognized as International Women in AI Day)
• Season of Giving (annual volunteer campaign at year-end with 50+ projects across 16 countries)

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. Strategic partnerships are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Employee-driven grants follow internal timelines managed through the Benevity platform.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation increased grantmaking by 40% after implementing structured programs in 2022, now distributing $5M+ annually across employee grants and strategic partnerships.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to lack of public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Cadence Giving Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors are relevant for organizations seeking to connect with the foundation:

For Employee-Nominated Grants:

• Employee Connection: Having a Cadence employee as a volunteer, board member, or supporter is essential
• Alignment with Focus Areas: Organizations working in STEM education, AI equity, climate innovation, or local community development are prioritized
• Employee Engagement Opportunities: The foundation values matching grants with employee volunteerism and technical expertise

For Strategic Partnerships:

• Scale and Impact: Recent strategic partnerships (SJSU, CHAI) address large-scale challenges with significant reach
• Innovation and Technology: Projects leveraging or advancing technology solutions, particularly in AI and climate
• Measurable Outcomes: The foundation has achieved 40% increase in grantmaking impact through structured measurement
• Alignment with Corporate Values: The foundation ties its programs to broader business values and company priorities

What the Foundation Values:

From their approach, the foundation clearly prioritizes:

• Matching expertise with need: Sending employees on Team4Tech service-learning projects where they apply technical skills
• Addressing systemic barriers: Fem.AI targets three specific "leakage points" where women exit tech careers
• Leveraging corporate assets: Providing $23M in software donations to 1,000+ universities alongside monetary grants
• Employee empowerment: "Through programs like Dollars for Doers and Impact Grants, Cadence empowers employees not just to give, but to lead"

Recent Funding Examples:

• San José State University: Multi-year commitment including AI design software and digital twin technology (2025)
• Fem.AI partner organizations: Grants impacting 14,000+ women (2023-2024)
• Clinton Health Access Initiative: Multi-year partnership with CFD technology access for clean cooling research (2023)
• 28 Diversity in Technology Scholarship recipients at $5,000 each (2023)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Employee connection is essential: Without a Cadence employee champion, there is no pathway to employee grant programs
• Think strategically and large-scale: Strategic partnerships address significant challenges (gender equity in AI, climate technology, AI education) with measurable impact
• Technology integration matters: The foundation values projects that leverage technical expertise and innovation, particularly in AI
• Focus on the four pillars: STEM education, AI for all, climate innovation, and local communities are non-negotiable focus areas
• Consider indirect pathways: Joining initiatives like the Fem.AI Alliance or partnering with Team4Tech may create visibility
• Demonstrate scalability: Recent partnerships (SJSU AI Hub anticipated to open summer 2026) show preference for projects with long-term, sustainable impact
• Emphasize diversity and equity: Fem.AI represents a $20M commitment; organizations addressing underrepresentation in tech/AI align with foundation priorities

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Cadence Giving Foundation Inc (EIN 87-4111764), 2024 tax filing. Retrieved January 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/874111764

2. Cadence Design Systems. "Cadence Foundation." Company website. Retrieved January 2026. https://www.cadence.com/en_US/home/company/foundation.html

3. Benevity. "Grant Management Software for Nonprofits: How Cadence Scaled Employee-Driven Grantmaking & Volunteering." Case study. Retrieved January 2026. https://benevity.com/blog/grant-management-software-for-nonprofits-cadence

4. Cadence Design Systems. "Cadence Giving Foundation Announces Multi-Year Commitment to Expand the AI Hub at San José State University." Press release, October 2025. https://www.cadence.com/en_US/home/company/newsroom/press-releases/pr/2025/cadence-giving-foundation-announces-multi-year-commitment-to.html

5. Cadence Design Systems. "Cadence Launches Fem.AI, Pledges $20M to Kickstart Gender Equity in the AI Workforce." Press release, August 2024. https://www.cadence.com/en_US/home/company/newsroom/press-releases/pr/2024/cadence-launches-femai-pledges-20m-to-kickstart-gender-equity-in.html

6. Cadence Design Systems. "Cadence Announces Fem.AI Alliance to Lead Gender Equity Revolution in the AI Workforce." Press release, October 2024. https://www.cadence.com/en_US/home/company/newsroom/press-releases/pr/2024/cadence-announces-femai-alliance-to-lead-gender-equity.html

7. Clinton Health Access Initiative. "The Clinton Health Access Initiative partners with the Cadence Giving Foundation on sustainable climate innovation." News article, August 2023. https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/news/the-clinton-health-access-initiative-partners-with-the-cadence-giving-foundation-on-sustainable-climate-innovation/

8. Silicon Valley Community Foundation. "Donor Stories: Cadence Design Systems." Annual Report 2024. https://www.svcf.org/annual-reports/donor-2024/donor-stories-cadence-design-systems

9. Cadence Design Systems. "Cadence's 2023 Diversity in Technology Scholarship Awarded to 28 Students." Corporate blog, 2023. https://community.cadence.com/cadence_blogs_8/b/corporate-news/posts/cadence-s-2023-diversity-in-technology-scholarship-awarded-to-28-students

10. Team4Tech. "Cadence Partnership." Organization website. Retrieved January 2026. https://team4tech.org/partners/cadence/

11. Cause IQ. "Cadence Giving Foundation | San Jose, CA." Organization profile. Retrieved January 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/cadence-giving-foundation,874111764/