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Northrop Grumman Foundation

Annual Giving
$14.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $3.0M

Northrop Grumman Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13.9 million - $16.6 million
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: $50 - $3,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: United States (national)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.northropgrumman.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-citizenship/northrop-grumman-foundation

Email:

Phone: Not publicly listed

Location: Falls Church, VA

Overview

The Northrop Grumman Foundation (EIN: 95-6095343) is the corporate foundation of Northrop Grumman Corporation, one of the world's leading aerospace and defense companies. With approximately $31 million in assets, the foundation distributed between $13.9 million and $16.6 million in 2023 through approximately 1,348 grants. The foundation's mission centers on supporting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and workforce development initiatives that increase access to and participation in STEM learning and build the pipeline to the technical workforce. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis for its major grants, though it maintains accessible programs for employee matching gifts and community outreach funds in select locations. The foundation's current strategic focus emphasizes supporting active-duty military transitioning to civilian careers, military spouses, veterans, and low-income students through STEM education and workforce development programs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Foundation Grants (Invitation-Only)

  • Grant Range: $50 - $3,000,000
  • Median Grant: $500
  • Average Grant: $10,133
  • Application Method: Invitation only
  • Focus: National-level STEM education and workforce development programs, particularly supporting military-connected individuals and underrepresented populations

Matching Gifts for Education Program

  • Grant Range: $50 - $2,500 per donation
  • Employees eligible for four matches totaling up to $10,000 annually
  • Application Method: Online through employee portal
  • Eligible Recipients: Primary, secondary, and non-profit postsecondary and vocational schools with 501(c)(3) status

Community Service Grants (Volunteer Grants)

  • Grant Amount: $500 per eligible employee
  • Requirement: Minimum 40 volunteer hours logged in My Giving portal
  • Application Method: Employee applies on behalf of qualifying nonprofit or school

ECHO Community Outreach Funds

Priority Areas

The foundation's funding falls into three strategic focus areas:

  1. Increasing Access to the Tech Workforce

    • STEM education and workforce development programs
    • Support for active-duty military transitioning to civilian careers
    • Programs serving military spouses and veterans
    • Initiatives for low-income students
    • Emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields

  2. Addressing Barriers to Education and the Workforce

    • Support for military families and veterans
    • Programs addressing childcare access
    • Mental health support initiatives
    • Food security programs
    • Housing stability initiatives

  3. Building Healthy, Sustainable Communities

    • Community-based environmental initiatives
    • Disaster response and relief
    • Natural disaster recovery (through national organizations)

Educational Focus: Programs primarily target middle school through university students in engineering and technology-based programs that increase workforce readiness.

What They Don't Fund

General Exclusions:

  • Individuals
  • Organizations not tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3)
  • Organizations that restrict services or discriminate
  • Organizations outside the United States
  • Religious schools, colleges, universities, or departments whose primary focus is to promote religious beliefs
  • Fundraising events
  • Most extracurricular activities (except STEM-focused programs)
  • Advertising expenses
  • Endowments
  • Capital campaigns and building projects (except STEM-focused projects)

ECHO Community Outreach Fund Additional Exclusions:

  • General operating costs
  • Memberships
  • Multiyear commitments
  • School-sponsored athletic events
  • School-affiliated events
  • Grant-making organizations
  • Memorials

Governance and Leadership

Kenneth Robinson - President, Northrop Grumman Foundation; Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of Global Corporate Responsibility at Northrop Grumman Corporation. In his role as Foundation president, Robinson oversees STEM education, environment, veterans, and health and human services initiatives.

The foundation operates with an employee volunteer governance model for its ECHO Community Outreach Funds, where local employee committees review and award grants based on available funds in select communities.

Corporate Citizenship Philosophy: "Corporate Citizenship at Northrop Grumman is rooted in the success of people—the people we employ, the people in our communities and the people who may become part of our workforce."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Major Foundation Grants: This funder does not have a public application process. All Foundation grants are made by invitation only, and the Foundation does not accept or acknowledge unsolicited requests for funding. Grants are awarded at the discretion of foundation leadership based on strategic alignment with the foundation's priorities and Northrop Grumman's corporate citizenship goals.

Matching Gifts for Education Program:

  • Northrop Grumman employees apply online through the company's employee portal
  • Dollar-for-dollar matching from $50 to $2,500 per donation
  • Employees eligible for up to four matches annually
  • Contact: ngfoundation@ngc.com

Community Service Grants:

  • Employees who volunteer at least 40 hours with qualifying organizations may apply for a $500 grant on behalf of that organization
  • Hours must be logged in the My Giving portal
  • Application processed through employee portal

ECHO Community Outreach Funds:

  • Available only in select communities with large Northrop Grumman employee populations
  • Apply online at the CyberGrants portal using applicable invitation code for local community outreach fund
  • Organizations may submit only one application per 12-month period
  • Must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit with services available to all without prejudice

Decision Timeline

Major Foundation Grants: Timeline varies by invitation. Historical data from 2013 indicated applications accepted until September 30th with notifications by November 30th, though current timelines may differ and are determined on a case-by-case basis.

ECHO Community Outreach Funds: Led by employee volunteer committees who review and award grants on a rolling basis, depending on available funds in each community pool.

Matching Gifts: Processed on a rolling basis through the employee portal system.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly reported. The invitation-only nature of major grants means there is no traditional open application process. The foundation awarded approximately 1,348 grants in 2023 from invitation-based processes and employee-driven programs.

Reapplication Policy

ECHO Community Outreach Funds: Organizations may apply once per 12-month period.

Major Foundation Grants: No public reapplication policy due to invitation-only structure.

Application Success Factors

Since the Northrop Grumman Foundation operates primarily on an invitation-only basis, success depends on strategic alignment and relationship factors rather than traditional application competitiveness. Based on research into the foundation's priorities and recent grants, the following factors are important:

Strategic Alignment with Current Priorities:

  • The foundation's current strategic focus emphasizes "increasing access to the tech workforce for active-duty military transitioning to civilian careers, military spouses, veterans, or low-income students, through STEM education and workforce development programs"
  • Programs that address diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields align with the foundation's education strategy
  • Projects demonstrating clear pathways from education to technical workforce entry are prioritized

Recent Grant Examples:

  • NPower (December 2024): $1 million over two years for SkillBridge Cybersecurity program helping active-duty service members transition into civilian tech careers
  • FAMU-FSU College of Engineering (2024): $1.5 million to increase research activity in electrical engineering areas of national need and support graduate and undergraduate students
  • Purdue University (October 2024): $60,000 for 22 veterans/students to participate in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Foundations Digital Badge Program
  • Association of American Universities (AAU): Five-year, $1 million grant for AAU STEM Education Network focused on improving undergraduate STEM teaching at research universities
  • ONETEN Coalition (2023): $3 million grant
  • Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (2023): $1 million grant

Key Terminology and Language:

  • The foundation emphasizes "workforce development" and "workforce readiness" alongside education
  • Focus on "increasing access to and participation in STEM learning"
  • Emphasis on "building the pipeline to the technical workforce"
  • Programs should demonstrate how they "increase workforce readiness with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion"

For ECHO Community Outreach Fund Applicants:

  • Demonstrate how the project addresses critical community needs in Northrop Grumman employment hub communities
  • Ensure services are available to all without prejudice
  • Avoid requesting funding for general operating costs, which are explicitly excluded
  • Connect with local Northrop Grumman employees who may serve on the volunteer review committee

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis for major grants. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited proposals and should not expect responses to unrequested inquiries.
  • Employee Connection is Key: The most accessible pathways to foundation support are through employee-driven programs: matching gifts, volunteer grants, and ECHO Community Outreach Funds in select communities. Building relationships with Northrop Grumman employees may be the most viable strategy.
  • STEM + Military/Veterans Sweet Spot: Programs serving military-connected populations (active duty, veterans, military spouses) through STEM education and workforce development represent the foundation's highest current priority.
  • Workforce Development Focus: The foundation prioritizes programs with clear connections to technical workforce entry, not just educational enrichment. Demonstrate pathways from your program to employment in STEM fields.
  • Scale Matters: Recent major grants ($1M+) went to national organizations and research universities with significant programmatic scope. The foundation supports both large national initiatives and local community projects through different mechanisms.
  • Diversity and Inclusion Alignment: Programs should explicitly address how they increase access for underrepresented populations in STEM fields, particularly low-income students and military-connected individuals.
  • Geographic Consideration: For the ECHO Community Outreach Funds, organizations must be located in communities with large Northrop Grumman employee populations and use the applicable invitation code for that specific location.

References

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