The Synopsys Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1998 by Synopsys Inc., a leading electronic design automation technology company. Founded by Dr. Aart de Geus, who serves as Executive Chair of Synopsys Inc., the foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, with operational connections to Mountain View, California.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.2M
+49.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.4M
-8.7% YoY
Grant Count
36
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$121K
+11.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Synopsys Foundation reported a distributable amount of $876K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs designed to promote K-12 science and math education. It focuses on advancing STEM education, addressing community needs, and supporting environmental initiatives in communities where Synopsys operates. The foundation emphasizes closing achievement gaps and building problem-solving skills through project-based learning.
The foundation works closely with the Synopsys Outreach Foundation, which serves as its operational arm for K-12 STEM education programs in the Greater Bay Area of California. Together, these foundations enable approximately 150,000 students and teachers annually through various STEM education initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation made seven grants in its most recent reporting year, with total giving of $4,366,427 in 2024.
Grant Range
** $200 to undisclosed upper limit
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates its funding in communities where Synopsys operates, with particular emphasis on the Greater Bay Area of California. Additional geographic focus areas include Oregon and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $20,221,138
- Total Revenue: $11,450,286
- Total Expenses: $5,049,477
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $13.5M
- Total Revenue: $10.2M
- Total Expenses: $5.28M
- Total Liabilities: $334k
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,221,138 | $13,519,716 | $8,268,232 |
| Revenue | $11,450,286 | $10,195,418 | $4,029,662 |
| Expenses | $5,049,477 | $5,278,061 | $4,154,239 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,744,355 | $4,942,334 | $4,154,239 |
| Net Investment Income | $450,286 | $195,418 | $29,662 |
| Distributable Amount | $875,594 | $527,653 | $348,475 |
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
115 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Synopsys Silicon Valley Science & Technology Outre ($1,451,173), Points of Light Foundation ($651,400), American Online Giving Foundation Inc ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGASTYA USA SAN JOSE, CA | Carbon Sequestration to Mitigate Climate Change project | $101,761 |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC NEWARK, DE | Benevity Community Impact Fund | $500,000 |
| AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC AUSTIN, TX | Affordable Home Ownership Program | $5,000 |
| AUSTIN SCIENCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AUSTIN, TX | GAERSEF Teacher Support Program | $30,000 |
| BEAVERTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION BEAVERTON, OR | Building STEAM 4 All Initiative for Beaverton, Oregon schools | $15,000 |
| CAREERVILLAGE INC PALO ALTO, CA | CareerVillage + Synopsys Foundation Volunteer Engagement Partnership | $20,000 |
| CITY YEAR INC SAN JOSE, CA | City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley Whole School Whole Child (WSWC) STEAM programming | $125,000 |
| CITY YEAR INC SAN JOSE, CA | City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley Whole School Whole Child (WSWC) STEAM programming | $125,000 |
| FAMILY GIVING TREE MILPITAS, CA | Charitable Event | $17,500 |
| FUNDACION PARA LA INCLUSION TECNOLOGICA KODEA | Los Creadores (The creators) Program | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Erin Guzman: Chief Operating Officer and President
- Sudhindra Kankanwadi: Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celio Domingos Lemos Albuquerque | Dir | 1 | — |
| Aart Jan de Geus | Dir | 1 | — |
| Erin Guzman | Chief Operating Officer, Pres | 5 | — |
| Deirdre Hanford | Dir, Chair | 1 | — |
| Sudhindra Kankanwadi | Chief Financial Officer, Treas | 1 | — |
| Jill Larsen | Dir | 1 | — |
| Meng-Che Robert Li | Dir | 1 | — |
| Erika Varga McEnroe | Sec | 1 | — |
| David Moyce | Assistant Sec | 1 | — |
| Dipika Lakhmani | Assistant Treas | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Synopsys Outreach Foundation, the operational partner of The Synopsys Foundation, was founded in July 1999 and offers free STEM materials, professional development, and access to hands-on STEM experiences in the greater Bay Area. The organization emphasizes building relationships and partnerships with fellow STEM advocates and is dedicated to providing access and engagement to the community.
[PDF] 2024 Responsible Business Report | SynopsysSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Synopsys Foundation fund?
The foundation supports programs designed to promote K-12 science and math education. It focuses on advancing STEM education, addressing community needs, and supporting environmental initiatives in communities where Synopsys operates. The foundation emphasizes closing achievement gaps and building problem-solving skills through project-based learning. The foundation works closely with the Synopsys Outreach Foundation, which serves as its operational arm for K-12 STEM education programs in the G…
How do I apply for a grant from The Synopsys Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $200 to undisclosed upper limit **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Points of Light Foundation: $651,400 (2024 Synopsys Foundation Season of Service Volunteer Program) • American Online Giving Foundation: $500,000 (Benevity Community Impact Fund) • Myriad USA: $400,000 (Synopsys Foundation Fund for Europe and Asiapac) The foundation made seven grants in its most recent reporting year, with total giving of $4,366,427 in 2024. **Decision Timeline:** STEM classroom grants have imm…
Where does The Synopsys Foundation make grants?
The foundation concentrates its funding in communities where Synopsys operates, with particular emphasis on the Greater Bay Area of California. Additional geographic focus areas include Oregon and Texas.
What size grants does The Synopsys Foundation award?
In 2024, The Synopsys Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $4.4M — an average of about $121K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Synopsys Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Synopsys Foundation reported a distributable amount of $876K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Synopsys Foundation's EIN?
The Synopsys Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0488629. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Synopsys 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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