The Lemelson Foundation
The Lemelson Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Oregon, whose mission is to improve lives through invention. It funds work in invention education, invention-based entrepreneurship, and climate action, with a focus on building the people and systems that help inventions create positive social impact.
The Lemelson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lemelson Foundation gave $19.7M across 71 grants in 2024 (avg $278K), top state Massachusetts. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $19,714,696
- +22.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 71
- +18.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $277,672
- +3.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $115,000
- Total assets
- $414,428,200
- -0.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (16 of 62, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (24% 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 The Lemelson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and primarily awards grants by invitation. Organizations that believe their work aligns with its strategy may submit a preliminary inquiry through its inquiry form; staff may follow up if there is a potential fit. The Foundation does not fund individuals directly. Invited proposals are assessed for strategic alignment, impact, innovation and learning, sustainability, and other opportunity and project-quality criteria. Full proposals include a budget and budget narrative.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2035 Nw Front Avenue 501, Portland, OR 97209
Phone: (503) 827-8910
Website: https://lemelson.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Lemelson Foundation
Who The Lemelson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance ($3.0M). Together the top 10 received $11.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
315 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 102 grants of 315 (32%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation works across the United States, particularly in Oregon, and funds programs in India and Kenya. Its climate action strategy allows it to work globally.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 71 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Lemelson Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 62 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $311K; repeat grants $320K. How we count
Medians: $188K first-time, $138K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 58% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 148% of 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 $12.5M (2021) to $19.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 71 grants totaling $19.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance Hadley, MA | To support inventive mindsets and skillsets among higher education students and to foster institutional conditions that nurture such students | $2,959,932 |
| National Science Foundation Alexandria, VA | To enable innovative collaborative research on sustainability by fostering efforts to transform engineering education to prepare graduating engineers to address environmental and social sustainability | $1,650,000 |
| 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 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | To (1) support the lemelson-mits invention education work in developing the next generation of inventors, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and (2) advance the field of invention education | $1,150,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Institute Boulder, CO | To source, select, support, and scale promising startups through rmis third derivative and climate-aligned industries programs focused on decarbonizing three heavy industries: cement and concrete, petrochemicals, and steel | $1,000,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc New York, NY | To be used by rockefeller philanthropy advisors as fiscal sponsor for the urban movement innovation fund | $750,000 |
| William Marsh Rice University Houston, TX | To increase capacity and partnerships in kenyan higher education institutions to strengthen kenya's innovation system | $600,000 |
| Climate Breakthrough Inc Berkeley, CA | For General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Kenya Impact Innovations Foundation | To support business incubation activities, develop a pipeline of invention-based enterprises, and strengthen an inclusive innovation ecosystem that will increase access to quality healthcare and other biotech innovations in east africa | $500,000 |
| Oil Change International Washington, DC | For General Operating Support | $500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lemelson Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $414,428,200 | $27,191,988 | $32,502,127 | $19,714,696 | 71 | $28,745,918 | $21,927,669 | $19,409,081 |
| 2023 | $416,642,073 | $5,980,205 | $26,937,741 | $16,075,686 | 60 | $24,884,882 | $1,863,671 | $18,830,853 |
| 2022 | $395,930,447 | $7,159,811 | $22,384,534 | $13,121,859 | 49 | $19,255,687 | $5,583,779 | $21,978,385 |
| 2021 | $488,510,181 | $33,726,014 | $22,452,510 | $12,511,529 | 72 | $21,577,595 | $27,322,038 | $21,877,394 |
| 2020 | $447,642,661 | $33,827,688 | $24,831,124 | $14,889,797 | 63 | — | $29,832,999 | $19,505,291 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to improve lives through invention. Its website describes its approach as “Impact Inventing”: supporting tangible inventions and invention-based businesses that have positive social impact, are environmentally responsible, and can be financially sustainable. Its funding areas are invention education, invention and entrepreneurship, and climate action. Signature initiatives include InventEd and Engineering for One Planet.
The 2024 filing shows support for a range of organizations and projects. For example, the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance received funding to support inventive mindsets and skills among higher education students; the Foundation’s filing names the organization, while the recipient’s stated mission describes VentureWell’s work cultivating inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, whose stated mission is to provide no-cost capacity-building support to tribes, received funding for tribal renewable-energy project pre-development. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology received support for invention education and advancing that field, while the National Science Foundation received support for collaborative research on sustainability in engineering education. Other 2024 grants supported climate-related work, including Rocky Mountain Institute’s programs focused on decarbonizing heavy industries.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 71 grants totaling $19,714,696. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $2,959,932, with a median of $115,000. Among the largest grants were $2,959,932 to the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance, $1,650,000 to the National Science Foundation, $1,250,000 to the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, and $1,150,000 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Other notable awards included $1,000,000 to Rocky Mountain Institute and $600,000 to William Marsh Rice University.
The Foundation also reported program-related investments for early-stage, invention-led enterprises in India and for innovation-driven enterprises addressing climate change in emerging markets. Its direct charitable activities included managing the Engineering for One Planet network and holding the annual InventEd convening.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert Schneider as executive director and assistant secretary; Brian Doran as chief financial officer and assistant treasurer; Eric Lemelson as president, board chair, treasurer, and assistant secretary; Robert Lemelson as vice president, secretary, and assistant treasurer; and Susan Morse, Jennifer Bruml, and Ann Morgan as directors or vice president.
The Lemelson Foundation is led by Robert Schneider, Executive Director & Assistant Secretary since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert Schneider
Executive Director & Assistant Secretary
See Statement → Executive Director & Assistant Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$242K (2021) → $398K (2024)
Eric Lemelson
President, Board Chair, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
See Statement → Vice President, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary, 2023
Vice President, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary → President, Board Chair, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Bruml
Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Morse
Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Doran
Chief Finance Administrator Officer & Assistant Treasurer
See Statement → Chief Finance Administrator Officer & Assistant Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$201K (2020) → $249K (2024)
Ann Morgan
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Lemelson
Vice President, Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
See Statement → President, Board Chair, Secretary & Assistant Treasurer, 2023
President, Board Chair, Secretary & Assistant Treasurer → Vice President, Secretary & Assistant Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Carol Dahl (2020–2021) — See Statement
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $398K, to Robert Schneider (Executive Director, Asst. Secretary). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Lemelson Foundation
How much does The Lemelson Foundation give each year?
The Lemelson Foundation gave $19.7M across 71 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $16.1M across 60 grants.
What is The Lemelson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lemelson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $115,000, and its average grant was $277,672, across 71 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lemelson Foundation that year got $311K on average.
Where does The Lemelson Foundation give grants?
The Lemelson Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (20%) and Virginia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (14 grants), Portland, OR (6 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Dearborn, MI (3 grants).
Does The Lemelson Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of The Lemelson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 71) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Lemelson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lemelson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance ($2,959,932), National Science Foundation ($1,650,000) and Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy Inc ($1,250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Lemelson Foundation?
The Lemelson Foundation reported $414.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $28.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Lemelson Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve lives through invention. Its website describes its approach as “Impact Inventing”: supporting tangible inventions and invention-based businesses that have positive social impact, are environmentally responsible, and can be financially sustainable. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lemelson Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and primarily awards grants by invitation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Lemelson 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lemelson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lemelson-foundation-morg_e5af0468a87e4c899bf87c4fc8dac97a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_880391959_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lemelson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lemelson-foundation-morg_e5af0468a87e4c899bf87c4fc8dac97a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The Lemelson 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.
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