GE Aerospace Foundation
The GE Aerospace Foundation is an independent charitable organization funded by GE Aerospace and based in Norwalk, Connecticut. Relaunched in 2024 when GE Aerospace became an independent company, it supports engineering education, workforce development, military and veterans causes, and disaster relief, with philanthropic work in communities where GE Aerospace employees live and work.
GE Aerospace Foundation at a glance
In short: GE Aerospace Foundation gave $15.3M across 2,467 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in District of Columbia. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,267,657
- +252.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2,467
- -7.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,189
- +281.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $429
- Total assets
- $22,527,884
- +29.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (600 of 2,438, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (53% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to GE Aerospace Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing lists a letter as the application material and names Meg Thurlow as the contact. The filing states there are no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Meg Thurlow
Mailing address: Ge Aerospace Foundation, Boston, MA 02210
Phone: (617) 443-3004
Website: https://geaerospace.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who GE Aerospace Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Family Health International (FHI 360) ($6.0M). Together the top 10 received $11.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($10,845), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
25,259 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25,127 grants of 25,259 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says its philanthropic work supports communities where GE Aerospace employees live and work around the world. In its 2024 grantmaking, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to DC (53%), Ohio (20%), an individual recipient (5%), Indiana (2%), and North Carolina (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2,467 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is GE Aerospace Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 600 of 2,438 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $300 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 39% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.3M (2023) to $34.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 2,467 grants totaling $15.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Family Health International (FHI 360) Washington, DC | Matching Gift | $5,991,069 |
| United Way of Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Matching Gift | $2,220,769 |
| Airlink Inc Washington, DC | Matching Gift | $1,013,919 |
| American National Red Cross Washington, DC | Matching Gift | $954,797 |
| Institute of International Education Inc New York, NY | Matching Gift | $294,938 |
| Rutland City School District - Stafford Technical Center Rutland, VT | Matching Gift | $200,000 |
| South Texas College McAllen, TX | Matching Gift | $165,000 |
| Greater Lafayette Career Academy Lafayette, IN | Matching Gift | $150,000 |
| Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts Cincinnati, OH | Matching Gift | $123,138 |
| Project Orbis International Inc New York, NY | Matching Gift | $105,275 |
Ready to take the next step with GE Aerospace Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF, a private foundation.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $22,527,884 | $12,778,776 | $13,756,805 | $15,267,657 | 2,467 | $15,880,542 | $578,776 | $711,579 |
| 2023 | $17,339,609 | $16,717,913 | $5,981,110 | $4,330,388 | 2,669 | $5,438,388 | $212,154 | $269,481 |
| 2022 | $3,079,696 | $35,323,009 | $37,024,695 | $34,673,072 | 7,625 | $36,215,383 | $122,374 | $315,388 |
| 2021 | $5,053,086 | $27,501,215 | $27,796,387 | $25,074,912 | 6,502 | $26,579,151 | $1,215 | $266,086 |
| 2020 | $4,078,553 | $29,915,957 | $27,284,971 | $30,365,318 | 5,996 | — | $26,776 | $189,305 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, GE Aerospace Foundation reported a distributable amount of $712K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to help fulfill GE Aerospace’s aim to “lift people up” in communities where employees live and work. Its philanthropic strategy focuses on engineering education, workforce development, military and veterans causes, and disaster relief. The Foundation also announced commitments for Next Engineers, workforce development, and disaster relief when it launched in 2024.
The 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Airlink describes its work as transporting relief workers and emergency supplies for NGOs responding to disasters and humanitarian crises. The Institute of International Education says it promotes international educational and cultural exchanges, while Project Orbis describes its mission as building sustainable global eye-care systems. The United Way of Greater Cincinnati Foundation says it provides a flexible vehicle for supporting United Way initiatives, agencies, and human services. These are grantees’ stated missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 2,467 grants totaling $15,267,657. Grants ranged from $10 to $5,991,069, with a median of $429. The largest listed awards were $5,991,069 to FHI 360, $2,220,769 to United Way of Greater Cincinnati, $1,013,919 to Airlink, and $954,797 to the American National Red Cross; each was designated a matching gift.
Other notable 2024 grants included $294,938 to the Institute of International Education, $200,000 to Rutland City School District – Stafford Technical Center, $165,000 to South Texas College, $150,000 to Greater Lafayette Career Academy, and $123,138 to Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts. These grants were also designated matching gifts. The Foundation’s filing identifies focus areas that include Boston education, Boston diversity, business and educational inclusion and diversity, diverse engineer development education, and Boston health with specific focus areas; it states that program managers identify appropriate grant partners in these areas.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Meg Thurlow as president; Christian Meisner as chairman; Kathleen Mayglothling as secretary; and Jen Bessler as treasurer. Board members listed are Asha Belarski, Tara DiJulio, Rahul Ghai, Germaine Hunter, Bridget McGraw, and Jake Phillips.
GE Aerospace Foundation is led by Meg Thurlow, President on the 2024 filing; none of the 13 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Meg Thurlow
President
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christian Meisner
Chairman
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacey Welsh
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Mayglothling
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jen Bessler
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Asha Belarski
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bridget McGraw
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deb Silverman
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Germaine Hunter
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jake Phillips
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rahul Ghai
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Riccardo Procacci
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tara Dijulio
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Kevin Cox (2020–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Linda Boff (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Michael Holston (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Preeti Soni (2023) — Acting Treasurer
- Former: Donna Granfors (2020–2022) — Acting Treasurer & Controller
- Former: Elisee Sezan (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Rajendra Lyer (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: William Cowen (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about GE Aerospace Foundation
How much does GE Aerospace Foundation give each year?
GE Aerospace Foundation gave $15.3M across 2,467 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.3M across 2,669 grants.
What is GE Aerospace Foundation's typical grant size?
GE Aerospace Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $429, and its average grant was $6,189, across 2,467 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from GE Aerospace Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does GE Aerospace Foundation give grants?
GE Aerospace Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Ohio (20%) and New York (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (172 grants), New York, NY (84 grants), Washington, DC (70 grants) and Greenville, SC (46 grants).
Does GE Aerospace Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 2,467 grants with a stated purpose on GE Aerospace Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Matching Gift" (2467 grants).
Who are GE Aerospace Foundation's largest grantees?
GE Aerospace Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Family Health International (FHI 360) ($5,991,069), United Way of Greater Cincinnati ($2,220,769) and Airlink Inc ($1,013,919), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($10,845), which are not listed by name. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is GE Aerospace Foundation?
GE Aerospace Foundation reported $22.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $712K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does GE Aerospace Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to help fulfill GE Aerospace’s aim to “lift people up” in communities where employees live and work. Its philanthropic strategy focuses on engineering education, workforce development, military and veterans causes, and disaster relief. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from GE Aerospace Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is GE Aerospace Foundation's EIN?
GE Aerospace Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2621967. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does GE Aerospace Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in GE Aerospace Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Connecticut
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Americares Foundation Inc
Stamford, CT
Americares funds health care organizations and programs focused on disaster preparedness and recovery, access to medicines and medical supplies, and community health services. In 2025, its grants ranged from $5,073 to $3.86 million, with a median of about $58,700; it works in the United States and internationally, reaching an average of 80 countries each year. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$372.5M
Grants
635
Total Given
$113.3M
American Savings Foundation Inc
New Britain, CT
The foundation funds education, human services, and arts and culture, especially programs serving children, youth, and families, with a primary focus on New Britain and Waterbury and grants across 64 Connecticut towns. In 2025, its grants ranged from $238 to $150,000, with a median of $1,750; it also offers Community Grants of up to $5,000.
Assets
$107.0M
Grants
613
Total Given
$3.4M
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Hartford, CT
The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation funds nonprofits, agencies, and scholarships, with priorities including equity, social and economic mobility, community wellbeing, civic engagement, and arts and culture. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of about $21,600, with awards ranging from about $5,000 to $2.48 million, and it primarily serves 29 towns in Greater Hartford. It offers annual, priority-aligned grant opportunities; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
613
Total Given
$52.0M
Eversource Energy Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
The Eversource Energy Foundation funds U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on basic needs, education, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and economic or workforce development. It gives in Eversource’s service territory in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire; its 2024 median grant was $2,000, though awards ranged from $250 to $700,000.
Assets
$12.5M
Grants
606
Total Given
$6.2M
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
New Haven, CT
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven supports nonprofits working in civic vitality, arts and culture, health, and education across its 20-town Greater New Haven service area. Its 2024 grants had a median of $15,000, though amounts varied widely; it offers competitive, online application-based programs, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$627.4M
Grants
505
Total Given
$23.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Connecticut
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). GE Aerospace Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ge-aerospace-foundation-morg_c7ba69d1c39a4ad09955542d1386bfa5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222621967_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{GE Aerospace Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ge-aerospace-foundation-morg_c7ba69d1c39a4ad09955542d1386bfa5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-07. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from GE Aerospace Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
GE Aerospace Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?