TOMMY Awards (Edison Innovation Awards)
Funding Amount
Not stated
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Young inventors, entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals
Geography
- No age, gender, or nationality limitations
Other requirements
- Different categories may have specific eligibility (e.g., NJIT award for NJIT students or community entrepreneurs)
Overview
An award created by the Edison Innovation Foundation for distribution to candidates who have invented innovative products or services, especially those who have used innovation to benefit humanity, like Thomas Edison did.
Award Categories:
- Edison TOMMY Humanitarian Award (recognizes humanitarian impact)
- NMOE Edison Innovation Award (6 awards annually for young inventors)
- Notre Dame Edison Innovation Award (1 award annually to graduate student or postdoctoral researcher)
- NJIT Edison Innovation Award (2 awards annually - 1 student, 1 entrepreneur)
Eligibility:
- No age, gender, or nationality limitations
- Different categories may have specific eligibility (e.g., NJIT award for NJIT students or community entrepreneurs)
- Young inventors, entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals
Focus Areas:
- Innovation in science, technology, medicine, and related fields
- Products and services that benefit humanity
- Entrepreneurial spirit
- Humanitarian contributions
Geographic Scope: National; some awards partnered with specific universities (Notre Dame, NJIT)
Partner Organizations:
- Intel
- The National Gallery for America's Young Inventors
- New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
- University of Notre Dame
- Nexans (Gold Sponsor)
History: First TOMMY awards given by National Museum of Education through Innovator of the Year contest; continued for over 20 years. Edison Innovation Foundation has sponsored awards for 25+ years.
Contact:
- Email: info@thomasedison.org
- Phone: 973-648-0500
- Address: 1037 Raymond Blvd., Suite 340, Newark, New Jersey 07102
How to Apply
How to Apply
General Information:
- Application process varies by specific TOMMY Award category
- Contact Edison Innovation Foundation for category-specific requirements
Sponsorship Opportunities:
- If you are a company or foundation interested in partnering with Edison Innovation Foundation to sponsor your own TOMMY award, reach out to info@thomasedison.org
What Edison Innovation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 1
- Total given
- $25K
- Median grant
- $25K
- By dollars: New Jersey 100%. Top recipient cities: Newark, NJ.
Example grants
New Jersey Hall of Fame · Newark, NJ
To support museum
$25K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Startups
- Science research
Categories
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