Funding search
Find who already funds work like yours. Private foundations don’t post open calls, so nobody can search them. We read IRS filings instead — 9.6 million grants from 174,053 foundations and grantmaking charities, searchable by what the money was actually for.
Foundation based inAny state AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY PR VI Gave to recipients inAny state AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY PR VI Funder typeBoth Private foundations Charities & associations Grants of at leastAny size $10k $50k $100k Active sinceAny year 2023 or later 2024 or later
12 funders with a record of paying for “invention”
Where the money went The Lemelson Foundation → National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance: $6.0M across 2 grants, latest 2024 The Deka Foundation → International First Committee Assoc: $1.8M across 4 grants, latest 2024 Kla Foundation → Project Invent: $415K across 3 grants, latest 2023 Mead Family Foundation → Project Invent: $305K across 3 grants, latest 2025 Indira Foundation → Maker Bhavan Foundation: $251K across 5 grants, latest 2024 Hb Fuller Company Foundation → National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc: $150K across 10 grants, latest 2023 Intuitive Foundation → Project Invent: $139K across 4 grants, latest 2024 National Collegiate Investors & → Johns Hopkins University: $88K across 1 grant, latest 2022 Kla Foundation → Project Invent: $85K across 2 grants, latest 2025 American Electric Power Foundation → Ohio Invention League Inc: $60K across 4 grants, latest 2025 The Community Foundation of → Lisa Bajorinas LLC: $40K across 1 grant, latest 2024 Travelers Foundation → Connecticut Invention Convention: $20K across 2 grants, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Massachusetts Institute of Technology: $5.8M across 4 grants, latest 2024 The Deka Foundation → First: $1.2M across 4 grants, latest 2024 National Collegiate Investors & → Washington - Seattle Campus University of: $65K across 1 grant, latest 2023 Kla Foundation → The Edison Institute Inc: $25K across 1 grant, latest 2023 The Community Foundation of → Riverguide: $25K across 1 grant, latest 2024 American Electric Power Foundation → National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc: $15K across 1 grant, latest 2023 Kla Foundation → Camp Elso Incorporated: $15K across 2 grants, latest 2025 Travelers Foundation → Connecticut Invention Convention Inc: $15K across 1 grant, latest 2025 The Lemelson Foundation → Portland State University Foundation: $1.8M across 8 grants, latest 2024 National Collegiate Investors & → Johns Hopkins University: $65K across 1 grant, latest 2023 The Community Foundation of → Besti Co: $25K across 1 grant, latest 2024 Kla Foundation → The Edison Institute: $10K across 1 grant, latest 2025 Travelers Foundation → The Connecticut Invention Convention: $10K across 1 grant, latest 2022 Kla Foundation → Invent the Future Inc: $4K across 1 grant, latest 2023 The Lemelson Foundation → Kenya Impact Innovations Foundation: $1.6M across 5 grants, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Impact Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation: $1.4M across 6 grants, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → The Edison Institute Inc: $1.0M across 4 grants, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Villgro Innovations Foundation (Formerly Known As Rural Innovations Network: $854K across 2 grants, latest 2023 The Lemelson Foundation → Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc: $500K across 4 grants, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Oregon State University Foundation: $410K across 4 grants, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Kenya Climate Innovation Center: $385K across 1 grant, latest 2022 The Lemelson Foundation → Villgro Innovations Foundation: $376K across 1 grant, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Editorial Projects in Education Inc: $315K across 3 grants, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Stem Next Opportunity Fund: $313K across 3 grants, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → William Marsh Rice University: $300K across 2 grants, latest 2023 The Lemelson Foundation → Trustees of Indiana University: $155K across 2 grants, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Smithsonian Institute: $150K across 1 grant, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Calcef Innovations: $100K across 1 grant, latest 2022 The Lemelson Foundation → Kenya National Innovation Agency: $99K across 1 grant, latest 2024 The Lemelson Foundation → Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network Dba Oregon Rain: $95K across 1 grant, latest 2022 The Lemelson Foundation → Moco Kidsco: $75K across 1 grant, latest 2022 The Lemelson Foundation → Project Invent: $75K across 1 grant, latest 2023 The Lemelson Foundation → Beyond Benign Inc: $66K across 1 grant, latest 2022 The Lemelson Foundation → Selco Foundation: $66K across 1 grant, latest 2022 National Collegiate Investors & → Research Foundation of the City University of New York: $60K across 2 grants, latest 2022 The Lemelson Foundation → Carden of Tucson: $55K across 1 grant, latest 2023 The Lemelson Foundation → Black Inventors Hall of Fame: $50K across 1 grant, latest 2024 National Collegiate Investors & → Oregon State University: $50K across 1 grant, latest 2022 National Collegiate Investors & → Arizona State University: $50K across 1 grant, latest 2023 National Collegiate Investors & → Pennsylvania State University: $50K across 1 grant, latest 2023 National Collegiate Investors & → Houston University of: $46K across 1 grant, latest 2022 National Collegiate Investors & → North Carolina A&t State University: $44K across 1 grant, latest 2022 National Collegiate Investors & → Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System University of Wisco: $44K across 1 grant, latest 2022 The Lemelson Foundation → Society for Science and the Public: $44K across 2 grants, latest 2024 National Collegiate Investors & → Yale University: $43K across 1 grant, latest 2023 National Collegiate Investors & → Northwestern University: $40K across 1 grant, latest 2022 National Collegiate Investors & → Massachusetts Lowell University of: $40K across 1 grant, latest 2022 The Lemelson Foundation → University of Oregon Foundation: $40K across 1 grant, latest 2022 National Collegiate Investors & → Elizabeth City State University: $35K across 1 grant, latest 2023 National Collegiate Investors & → University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras: $35K across 1 grant, latest 2022 National Collegiate Investors & → Northern Kentucky University: $35K across 1 grant, latest 2022 National Collegiate Investors & → California San Diego University of: $35K across 1 grant, latest 2023 The Lemelson Foundation: $22M on this topic. Open the funder. The Lemelson Foundation $22M The Deka Foundation: $2.9M on this topic. Open the funder. The Deka Foundation $2.9M National Collegiate Investors &: $825K on this topic. Open the funder. National Collegiate Investors… $825K Kla Foundation: $444K on this topic. Open the funder. Kla Foundation $444K Mead Family Foundation: $305K on this topic. Open the funder. Mead Family Foundation $305K Indira Foundation: $251K on this topic. Open the funder. Indira Foundation $251K Hb Fuller Company Foundation: $150K on this topic. Open the funder. Hb Fuller Company Foundation $150K Intuitive Foundation: $139K on this topic. Open the funder. Intuitive Foundation $139K Kla Foundation: $110K on this topic. Open the funder. Kla Foundation $110K The Community Foundation of: $90K on this topic. Open the funder. The Community Foundation of $90K American Electric Power Foundation: $75K on this topic. Open the funder. American Electric Power Found… $75K Travelers Foundation: $45K on this topic. Open the funder. Travelers Foundation $45K National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance: received $6.0M on this topic National Collegiate Inventors &… $6.0M Massachusetts Institute of Technology: received $5.8M on this topic Massachusetts Institute of Tech… $5.8M International First Committee Assoc: received $1.8M on this topic International First Committee A… $1.8M Portland State University Foundation: received $1.8M on this topic Portland State University Found… $1.8M Kenya Impact Innovations Foundation: received $1.6M on this topic Kenya Impact Innovations Founda… $1.6M Impact Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation: received $1.4M on this topic Impact Innovators and Entrepren… $1.4M First: received $1.2M on this topic First $1.2M The Edison Institute Inc: received $1.0M on this topic The Edison Institute Inc $1.0M Project Invent: received $1.0M on this topic Project Invent $1.0M Villgro Innovations Foundation (Formerly Known As Rural Innovations Network: received $854K on this topic Villgro Innovations Foundation… $854K Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc: received $500K on this topic Greater Washington Educational… $500K Oregon State University Foundation: received $410K on this topic Oregon State University Foundat… $410K Kenya Climate Innovation Center: received $385K on this topic Kenya Climate Innovation Center $385K Villgro Innovations Foundation: received $376K on this topic Villgro Innovations Foundation $376K Editorial Projects in Education Inc: received $315K on this topic Editorial Projects in Education… $315K Stem Next Opportunity Fund: received $313K on this topic Stem Next Opportunity Fund $313K William Marsh Rice University: received $300K on this topic William Marsh Rice University $300K Maker Bhavan Foundation: received $251K on this topic Maker Bhavan Foundation $251K National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc: received $165K on this topic National Inventors Hall of Fame… $165K Trustees of Indiana University: received $155K on this topic Trustees of Indiana University $155K Smithsonian Institute: received $150K on this topic Smithsonian Institute $150K Calcef Innovations: received $100K on this topic Calcef Innovations $100K Kenya National Innovation Agency: received $99K on this topic Kenya National Innovation Agency $99K Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network Dba Oregon Rain: received $95K on this topic Regional Accelerator & Innovati… $95K Johns Hopkins University: received $88K on this topic Johns Hopkins University $88K Moco Kidsco: received $75K on this topic Moco Kidsco $75K Beyond Benign Inc: received $66K on this topic Beyond Benign Inc $66K Selco Foundation: received $66K on this topic Selco Foundation $66K Washington - Seattle Campus University of: received $65K on this topic Washington - Seattle Campus Uni… $65K Johns Hopkins University: received $65K on this topic Johns Hopkins University $65K Ohio Invention League Inc: received $60K on this topic Ohio Invention League Inc $60K Research Foundation of the City University of New York: received $60K on this topic Research Foundation of the City… $60K Carden of Tucson: received $55K on this topic Carden of Tucson $55K Black Inventors Hall of Fame: received $50K on this topic Black Inventors Hall of Fame $50K Oregon State University: received $50K on this topic Oregon State University $50K Arizona State University: received $50K on this topic Arizona State University $50K Pennsylvania State University: received $50K on this topic Pennsylvania State University $50K Houston University of: received $46K on this topic Houston University of $46K North Carolina A&t State University: received $44K on this topic North Carolina A&t State Univer… $44K Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System University of Wisco: received $44K on this topic Board of Regents of the Univers… $44K Society for Science and the Public: received $44K on this topic Society for Science and the Pub… $44K Yale University: received $43K on this topic Yale University $43K Lisa Bajorinas LLC: received $40K on this topic Lisa Bajorinas LLC $40K Northwestern University: received $40K on this topic Northwestern University $40K Massachusetts Lowell University of: received $40K on this topic Massachusetts Lowell University… $40K University of Oregon Foundation: received $40K on this topic University of Oregon Foundation $40K Elizabeth City State University: received $35K on this topic Elizabeth City State University $35K University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras: received $35K on this topic University of Puerto Rico Rio P… $35K Northern Kentucky University: received $35K on this topic Northern Kentucky University $35K California San Diego University of: received $35K on this topic California San Diego University… $35K Riverguide: received $25K on this topic Riverguide $25K Besti Co: received $25K on this topic Besti Co $25K Connecticut Invention Convention: received $20K on this topic Connecticut Invention Convention $20K Camp Elso Incorporated: received $15K on this topic Camp Elso Incorporated $15K Connecticut Invention Convention Inc: received $15K on this topic Connecticut Invention Conventio… $15K The Edison Institute: received $10K on this topic The Edison Institute $10K The Connecticut Invention Convention: received $10K on this topic The Connecticut Invention Conve… $10K Invent the Future Inc: received $4K on this topic Invent the Future Inc $4K 12 funders, 58 recipients, grants matching “invention” only. Ribbon width is proportional to the total given; each funder has its own colour (smaller funders in gray). Hover a name to isolate its flows, click a funder to open it. Drag to move around; zoom with the buttons, a double-click, or the wheel after clicking the map. Largest: $75,000 to PROJECT INVENT — to map the current invention education network and build a base of research to guide development of a potential invention education ecosystem model, expanding on the current invent…
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $50,000 to Arizona State University — grants to help fund and support faculty with innovative ideas to create new or transform existing courses and programs to help students develop novel, stem-based inventions and gai…
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $500,000 to INTERNATIONAL FIRST COMMITTEE ASSOC — to assist international first committee association in their efforts to teach children the value of technology and invention.
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $100,000 to NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME INC — 2024 camp invention summer stem program
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $15,000 to OHIO INVENTION LEAGUE INC — ohio invention league invention convention support
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $40,000 to LISA BAJORINAS LLC — for profit - expenses only - vogt invention and innovation program
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $30,000 to PROJECT INVENT — outreach philanthropy grant: stem invention programming in every school. project invent is the only national program where students design for real clients to solve social impact p…
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $25,000 to PROJECT INVENT — support for teacher fellowship program that empowers middle and high school educators to reinvograte their teaching
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $32,500 to PROJECT INVENT — partnership between elso and project invent to expand stem access
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $15,000 to Connecticut Invention Convention Inc — program support for connecticut invention convention state finals and expanded travelers volunteer experience
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $117,000 to MAKER BHAVAN FOUNDATION — support invent-x 2025 and stem education
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
Largest: $30,000 to PROJECT INVENT — project invent fellowship program
Full grant history → IRS filings ↗
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Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV and Form 990 Schedule I, tax years 2019–2025. These are grants already paid, a record of what an organization funds rather than an open call. Private foundations rarely accept unsolicited applications and the route in is usually a program officer; grantmaking charities and associations more often run real application cycles, so check their website. How this data is built, and its limits →
