Cadence Giving Foundation Support for AI Initiatives

Cadence Giving Foundation Support for AI Initiatives is sponsored by Cadence Giving Foundation. Supports San José State University’s expansion of AI initiatives across multiple disciplines.

Donor Stories: Cadence Design… | Silicon Valley Community Foundation Designing the Future Through Technology and Giving Anirudh Devgan, CEO of Cadence Design Systems, and Nicole Johnson, president of Cadence Giving Foundation The Cadence Giving Foundation is bringing innovation, technical expertise and philanthropy together to make a lasting, positive impact in our world.

When Anirudh Devgan became CEO of Cadence Design Systems in 2021, one of his first initiatives was to establish the Cadence Giving Foundation. This decision sparked a transformation in how the 37-year-old technology company approaches its efforts to give back to communities worldwide.

Technical expertise meets global need What sets Cadence’s philanthropic approach apart is how it channels its employees’ specialized knowledge into meaningful community impact. For example, through a longstanding partnership with Team4Tech, Cadence Giving Foundation sends employees on service-learning projects around the world, where they apply their technical expertise to help nonprofits improve their technological capabilities.

Since 2018, 177 Cadence employees have volunteered more than 7,200 hours with Team4Tech, providing technology education to more than 5,200 students and teachers in underserved countries. “Team4Tech projects are leadership development programs for the employees, where they are bringing their technical expertise to nonprofits around the globe,” says Nicole Johnson, president of the Cadence Giving Foundation.

“The program has dispatched teams to Vietnam, India, Brazil, Cambodia and South Africa, creating transformative experiences for both employees and the communities they serve. ” This program exemplifies Cadence’s philosophy of leveraging its unique position as a technology leader. Cadence designs the software, the hardware and the intellectual property that helps its customers design electronic systems and semiconductor chips.

Being the technical cornerstone in a world where “everything has a chip” gives the company special insight into how to make technology more accessible and beneficial for all, says Johnson. Building an inclusive AI economy Perhaps nowhere is Cadence’s innovation-driven philanthropy approach more evident than in the foundation’s Fem. AI initiative, launched in December 2023.

The program aims to address the underrepresentation of women in the growing AI economy by providing support at multiple career stages. “What makes this approach different from a lot of the other work that we’ve done or that we’ve seen is that we are looking at all points of the lifecycle of women looking to make a career in AI — from graduating college, to first job, to staying in the tech space,” says Johnson.

Recognizing that no single company can solve these challenges alone, Cadence built the Fem. AI Alliance, bringing together leading tech companies to collectively advance gender equity in AI. “This is not something we can do by ourselves,” Johnson emphasizes, “it’s something we have to do as an ecosystem.

” A trusted partner in philanthropy SVCF has been instrumental in helping Cadence establish and grow its philanthropic effort, providing the benchmarking, strategic connections and operational support that have helped shape the Cadence Giving Foundation’s approach from its beginnings. “SVCF has been an incredible thought partner for us,” Johnson says.

She particularly values the foundation’s “speed and agility in getting things done” and its role as a “guard rail” as the Cadence Giving Foundation builds its programs. "We focus on STEM education and opportunity, AI for all, climate innovation and our local communities. We try to match our grants with employee volunteerism and employee expertise so that we can make the most impact," Johnson says.

Recently, Cadence transferred its scholarship program for first-generation college students in technology fields to SVCF’s administration, allowing the Cadence Giving Foundation team to focus more on strategy and partnerships. As they look to the future, the Cadence Giving Foundation remains committed to its mission of responsible technology development, especially in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

“We believe we have an opportunity to place the United States as the world leader,” says Johnson. “Our foundation helps elevate opportunities in artificial intelligence to make sure we’re leading with impactful growth and inclusive success. ” We focus on STEM education and opportunity, AI for all, climate innovation, and our local communities.

We try to match our grants with employee volunteerism and employee expertise so that we can make the most impact. A Legacy of Generosity Across Generations Jack and Arlene Schaupp's lifelong commitment to giving continues through their children, creating impact for generations to come.

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