The Lemelson Foundation
The Lemelson Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1992 by prolific inventor Jerome "Jerry" Lemelson and his wife Dorothy. Based in Portland, Oregon, the Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives by inspiring and enabling the next generation of inventors and invention-based enterprises. The Foundation operates with a mission rooted in Jerry Lemelson's belief that invention is essential to American economic success and vitality, and that future generations should have the support needed to turn their inventive aspirations into reality.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$414.4M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$19.7M
+22.6% YoY
Grant Count
71
+18.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$278K
+3.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lemelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's founding mission is to improve lives through invention. The organization focuses on Impact Inventing, prioritizing inventors and inventions that have positive social impact, are environmentally responsible, and yield financially sustainable products and businesses. The Foundation remains sector-agnostic while maintaining focus on tangible inventions.
The Foundation funds programs and projects in three primary areas:
- Invention Education – Supporting the development of invention ecosystems and educational pathways
- Entrepreneurship – Advancing the invention-to-enterprise pathway with a goal of launching businesses that strengthen the economy
- Climate Action – Working globally to combine the tools of innovation, invention, and climate justice to reduce emissions by 2030 and attain net zero emissions by 2050
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$95,000
How to Apply
** The Lemelson Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The Foundation supports innovative work through a relationship-driven approach, with the team identifying promising opportunities and building deep relationships with organizations that exemplify collaborative goals. The Foundation actively engages with partners from diverse sectors to understand community needs and work toward solutions with positive impact.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's core philanthropic reach extends across the United States and into India and Kenya. The Climate Action initiative allows the Foundation to work globally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $416,642,073
- Total revenue: $5,980,000
- Total expenses: $26,900,000
- Total liabilities: $3,870,000
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $414,428,200
- Total revenues: $27,191,988
- Total expenses: $32,502,127
Historical Impact: To date, the Foundation has provided or committed more than $290–$300 million in grants and program-related investments in support of its mission.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $414,428,200 | $416,642,073 | $395,930,447 |
| Revenue | $27,191,988 | $5,980,205 | $7,159,811 |
| Expenses | $32,502,127 | $26,937,741 | $22,384,534 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $28,745,918 | $24,884,882 | $19,255,687 |
| Net Investment Income | $21,927,669 | $1,863,671 | $5,583,779 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,409,081 | $18,830,853 | $21,978,385 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
249 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Lemelson Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance ($2,959,932), National Science Foundation ($1,650,000), Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy Inc ($1,250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCREDITATION BOARD FOR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY INC BALTIMORE, MD | TO RECOGNIZE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO INTEGRATING SUSTAINABILITY IN ABET-ACCREDITED PROGRAMS AND GAIN VISIBILITY FOR ENGINEERING FOR ONE PLANET WITH PRIORITY TARGET AUDIENCES | $15,000 |
| ACTION FOR THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY INC CHARLESTOWN, MA | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $350,000 |
| AFRICAN CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY STUDIES | TO SUPPORT ACTS'S ROLE AS A COLLABORATOR IN THE NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL INSTITUTIONS FRAMEWORK, TO STRENGTHEN COMMERCIALIZATION SYSTEMS IN KENYA TO INCREASE CAPACITY FOR LOCAL INNOVATION TO MEET SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS RELATED TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS | $39,324 |
| AFRICAN VENTURE PHILANTHROPY ALLIANCE | TO SUPPORT THE MOBILIZATION OF INVESTMENT WITHIN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES INTO ENTERPRISES OFFERING CLIMATE ADAPTATION SOLUTIONS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS | $113,068 |
| ALLIANCE FOR TRIBAL CLEAN ENERGY INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT PRE-DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT TRIBES SEEKING TO DEVELOP RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS ON THEIR LANDS | $1,250,000 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR ENGINEERING EDUCATION WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF ENGINEERING FOR ONE PLANET LEARNING OUTCOMES IN DIVERSE ENGINEERING COURSES AND PROGRAMS BY SUPPORTING FACULTY CURRICULAR DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS | $192,206 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR ENGINEERING EDUCATION WASHINGTON, DC | TO FOSTER THE INTEGRATION OF ENGINEERING FOR ONE PLANET LEARNING OUTCOMES IN DIVERSE ENGINEERING COURSES AND PROGRAMS BY SUPPORTING FACULTY CURRICULAR DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS | $50,000 |
| ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN PASADENA, CA | TO FOSTER THE INTEGRATION OF ENGINEERING FOR ONE PLANET LEARNING OUTCOMES THROUGH THE MODIFICATION OF COURSES AT ARTCENTER AND THE INTRODUCTION OF COURSES AT PASADENA CITY COLLEGE | $59,850 |
| BLACK INVENTORS HALL OF FAME WHARTON, NJ | TO CONVENE VISIONARY INDIVIDUALS OF COLOR TO HELP DEFINE THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION OF STEM AND INVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STEM ECOSYSTEM | $50,000 |
| CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE INC BOSTON, MA | TO SUPPORT CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN AFRICA WORKING TO ADDRESS METHANE EMISSIONS | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board:
- Eric Lemelson – Board Chair and President
- Robert Lemelson – Vice President
- Jennifer Bruml – Director
- Susan Morse – Director
Staff:
- Vanessa Briseño – Communications Officer
- Joel Clement – Director, Climate Action
- Cindy Cooper – Director, Educational Transformation
- David Coronado – Director, Invention Education
- Camille Cotton – Grants Manager
- Loida Erhard – Learning Officer
- Maggie Flanagan – Senior Program Officer
- Sharon Jamin – Finance and Grants Accountant
- Katie Krummeck – Program Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT SCHNEIDER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASST. SECRETARY | 40 | $398,231 |
| BRIAN DORAN | CHIEF FIN ADMIN OFFICER, ASST. TREAS | 40 | $248,990 |
| ERIC LEMELSON | PRES., BOARD CHAIR, TREAS., ASST. SEC. | 6 | — |
| ROBERT LEMELSON | VP, SECRETARY, ASST. TREAS. | 6 | — |
| SUSAN MORSE | DIRECTOR | 6 | — |
| JENNIFER BRUML | DIRECTOR | 6 | — |
| ANN MORGAN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has been active in supporting invention education and sustainability initiatives. Recent program areas include:
NSF and Lemelson Foundation Launch Joint Awards Supporting ...**Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Network** – Ongoing management and convenings to bring network members together for collaboration, with support for virtual meetings and in-person events
**Invented Convening** – An annual event that galvanizes network members and engages new stakeholders including school leaders and federal leaders (held in March 2024)
**Joint Initiatives with NSF** – The Foundation has launched joint awards with the National Science Foundation supporting sustainability in engineering education
NSF and Lemelson Foundation Launch Joint Awards Supporting ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lemelson Foundation fund?
The Foundation's founding mission is to improve lives through invention. The organization focuses on **Impact Inventing**, prioritizing inventors and inventions that have positive social impact, are environmentally responsible, and yield financially sustainable products and businesses. The Foundation remains sector-agnostic while maintaining focus on tangible inventions. The Foundation funds programs and projects in three primary areas: • **Invention Education** – Supporting the development of …
How do I apply for a grant from The Lemelson Foundation?
**Application Process:** The Lemelson Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The Foundation supports innovative work through a relationship-driven approach, with the team identifying promising opportunities and building deep relationships with organizations that exemplify collaborative goals. The Foundation actively engages with partners from diverse sectors to understand community needs and work toward solutions with positive impact. **Grant Activity (2023):** • Total giving: $16,07…
Where does The Lemelson Foundation make grants?
The Foundation's core philanthropic reach extends across the United States and into India and Kenya. The Climate Action initiative allows the Foundation to work globally.
What size grants does The Lemelson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lemelson Foundation awarded 71 grants totaling $19.7M — an average of about $278K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lemelson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lemelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lemelson Foundation's EIN?
The Lemelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0391959. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lemelson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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