Mathworks Foundation Inc.

The MathWorks Foundation is the philanthropic arm of MathWorks, Inc. — the Natick, Massachusetts software company behind MATLAB and Simulink. Founded in 2019 and led by John (Jack) Little, MathWorks' CEO, the foundation operates two fundamentally different giving channels that applicants must understand before investing time in outreach.

The first and most accessible track is the Community Grant Program: an open application process awarding $200 to $5,000 for 501(c)(3) nonprofits and qualifying municipal entities serving communities near MathWorks office locations. Applications are reviewed quarterly (deadlines: March 1, June 1, September 1, December 1). This track is purpose-built for smaller regional nonprofits in Natick/MetroWest MA, greater Boston, San Jose CA, Atlanta GA, Albuquerque NM, and Washington DC.

The second and far larger track is strategic/discretionary grantmaking at the board and executive level. Grants in this tier range from $100,000 to more than $11 million and flow to major institutions with established MathWorks relationships. MIT ($22.15M across two grants), Massachusetts Audubon Society ($11.9M), CARE ($4M, nearly 20-year relationship), and the University of New Mexico Foundation ($4M) define this tier. These are not competitively applied for — they reflect the CEO's personal philanthropic priorities and long-standing corporate partnerships.

For organizations seeking the large-grant track, relationship cultivation through MathWorks' corporate development and community affairs contacts is essential. The foundation's Staff-Driven STEM Sponsorship (SDSS) program empowers employees to champion causes — building internal advocates is a proven pathway to executive visibility. There is no published LOI or RFP process for strategic grants.

First-time applicants should realistically start with the Community Grant Program, execute the required 12-month outcome report, and use that funded relationship to build credibility for larger asks. The foundation signals clear affinity for STEM education, environmental stewardship, and global humanitarian relief. Organizations outside these lanes — or without geographic proximity to a MathWorks office — will find it extremely difficult to gain traction at either grant tier.

Annual charitable disbursements have grown dramatically since the foundation's 2019 inception: $100,000 (2019) → $6.67M (2020) → $5.6M (2021) → $20.6M (2022) → $9.85M (2023) → a record $23.19M (2024). Total assets reached $424.4M as of the 2024 990-PF, supported by irregular but large capital injections from MathWorks, Inc. — $75M (2019), $35M (2020), $99.8M (2021), and $155.3M (2024). This corporate-backed funding model produces lumpy but potentially enormous giving capacity.

Among the 24 tracked strategic grants totaling $51.07M across 13 grantees, the average award is $2.13M. The range spans from $100,000 (Wikimedia Endowment) to $11.075M (single MIT grant). The foundation's own filings cite a median grant size of $1,000,000.

By programmatic focus: STEM and higher education commands the plurality, with MIT ($22.15M) and Khan Academy ($2M) representing approximately 47% of tracked strategic dollars. Environmental and conservation grants follow at roughly 23%, anchored by the Mass Audubon Society ($11.9M across three awards). Global humanitarian relief (CARE at $4M, GlobalGiving at $1M) accounts for approximately 10%. Local community development — MetroWest YMCA ($2.5M), Greater Boston Food Bank ($2M), UMass Foundation ($750K) — represents another 10%. Academic capacity-building (UNM Foundation, $4M) rounds out approximately 8%.

Geographically, Massachusetts dominates: 13 of 24 tracked grants (54% by count). California follows with 4 grants, then Washington DC (3), Georgia (2), and New Mexico (2) — all MathWorks office markets.

Multi-grant relationships are the norm at the strategic tier. MIT received 2 grants, Mass Audubon received 3, UMass Foundation received 3, and CARE received 2. Repeat funding is a strong signal: organizations that report measurable outcomes and maintain executive relationships have been renewed consistently over multiple grant cycles.

The following foundations share a similar asset range ($420-430M) and Philanthropy & Grantmaking classification:

Among asset-comparable peers, MathWorks Foundation is distinctive in two ways. First, it is the only foundation in this peer set that maintains a public open application process — a meaningful access point for small nonprofits, even if capped at $5,000. Second, its corporate-backed capitalization model (irregular large contributions from a private tech company rather than steady investment returns) produces higher giving variability but also sudden capacity surges, as in 2022 ($20.6M) and 2024 ($23.2M). Peer foundations at this asset level are almost exclusively invitation-driven, reinforcing that relationship cultivation — not cold applications — is the standard playbook for strategic-scale requests.

The most significant recent development is MathWorks' January 22, 2025 commitment of $1 million to the Arbor Day Foundation for tree planting and distribution in six states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. By December 2024, MathWorks funding had already distributed 800 trees to Asheville, NC residents. The partnership extends to forestry carbon credits through Arbor Day Carbon, targeting restoration of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. CEO Jack Little stated the company is "proud to support the Arbor Day Foundation, reinforcing our commitment to actively help tackle climate change." This represents the foundation's first major announced grant outside its traditional MathWorks-office-community geography.

The 2024 fiscal year was the foundation's strongest on record: $23.19 million in charitable disbursements, up 135% from 2023's $9.85 million. A $155.3 million contribution from MathWorks, Inc. in 2024 raised total assets to $424.4 million, the highest since founding.

No leadership changes have been reported. John Little and Jeanne O'Keefe have held their officer positions since the foundation's April 2019 ruling date; all officers remain uncompensated — consistent with a closely held, CEO-directed corporate foundation.

The Community Grant Program's online application was noted as temporarily unavailable as of early 2026 (the portal displayed "Form submission is currently unavailable"). Applicants should verify form availability directly on the MathWorks website before each quarterly deadline.

Community Grant Program ($200-$5,000 — open application):

• Target the March 1 deadline first. Quarterly cycles mean you have four opportunities per year, but early-cycle submissions benefit from a full budget year at the funder. June 1 and September 1 rounds also see normal volume.
• Confirm geographic eligibility before applying. Grants serve communities near MathWorks offices: Natick/Framingham MA (headquarters), greater Boston, San Jose CA, Atlanta GA, Albuquerque NM, and Washington DC metro. Organizations outside these markets should not apply.
• Designate your program as STEM. The application explicitly asks STEM vs. non-STEM. Programs with an engineering, mathematics, or science learning component are structurally favored by the funder's mission. Non-STEM community programs can still qualify but face a higher bar.
• Scope a specific program, not general operations. The foundation funds discrete programs with a defined scope, population served, and 12-month timeline. If your program is ongoing, define a distinct cohort or phase.
• Prepare your outcome report before you apply. Recipients must submit a summary report within 12 months as a grant condition. Organizations without reporting infrastructure should build it before submitting.
• Check form availability. The online application was intermittently unavailable as of early 2026. Confirm the form is live at least two weeks before your target deadline.

Strategic Grants ($100,000+ — no public application):

• Do not cold-apply. There is no published LOI, RFP, or application portal for large grants. All known major grantees (MIT, Mass Audubon, CARE, Khan Academy) built multi-year relationships before receiving six- or seven-figure awards.
• Activate the employee pathway. MathWorks' Staff-Driven STEM Sponsorship (SDSS) program gives employees a formal channel to champion causes. Identify MathWorks staff who use your programs or share your mission, and engage them as advocates.
• Use alignment language precisely. Key vocabulary: "STEM workforce pipeline," "engineering education," "decarbonization," "humanitarian resilience," and "open knowledge infrastructure." These terms map to all active giving categories.
• Universities with MATLAB/Simulink academic programs have a structural advantage. Reference any existing MathWorks software relationships explicitly in any outreach.
• Build a multi-year cultivation timeline. CARE has been funded for nearly 20 years; UMass Foundation received three grants. Strategic relationships at MathWorks Foundation develop over 2-5 years before significant capital moves.