The Lemelson Foundation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
The Lemelson Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Lemelson Foundation
- Legal name
- The Lemelson Foundation
- Website
- https://lemelson.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Lemelson Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
Keywords
Where The Lemelson Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Lemelson Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Grantmaking and Philanthropy: The Lemelson Foundation operates as a private philanthropy organization, providing grant funding to support invention education, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and climate action initiatives globally. The Foundation does not generate revenue from products or services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
The Lemelson Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Lemelson Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that provides grant funding to support invention education, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and climate action initiatives. It operates three strategic funding areas—Invention Education, Invention & Entrepreneurship, and Climate Action—supported by signature initiatives such as InventEd and Engineering for One Planet, with programmatic focus in the United States, India, and Kenya.
Product overview
The Lemelson Foundation is a private foundation whose core offering is its grantmaking programs organized around three strategic funding areas: Invention Education, Invention & Entrepreneurship, and Climate Action. The Foundation operates as a platform-plus-initiatives model, where its three core funding areas are supported by signature initiatives including InventEd (invention education) and Engineering for One Planet (sustainability in engineering education). KIEFF represents its regional collaborative approach for Kenya. The Foundation funds work in the United States, India, and Kenya for its invention-focused programs, with Climate Action funding operating globally. The Foundation does not develop or sell commercial technology products; its 'products' are funding programs and educational initiatives that support inventors and innovation ecosystems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- InventEd: Preparing students for a future yet to be invented — a signature initiative focused on invention education.
- Engineering for One Planet (EOP)
Products and services
- Invention Education STEM-based invention education grantmaking that supports K-12 and higher education programs to develop the next generation of inventors. Intended for educational institutions and nonprofit partners advancing invention-focused curricula.
- Invention & Entrepreneurship Grant funding and ecosystem support for invention-based businesses from incubation to market, with a focus on impact inventors in emerging economies. Intended for incubators, impact investors, and nonprofits supporting inventor-entrepreneurs.
- Climate Action Grantmaking program that funds invention and innovation-driven solutions to climate change, operating globally and supporting organizations developing technologies to reduce emissions and advance clean energy.
- InventEd A signature initiative providing invention education resources, programs, and curriculum support to prepare students for a future yet to be invented.
- Engineering for One Planet A signature initiative that integrates sustainability principles and tools into engineering curricula across all engineering disciplines, including the Innovation in Sustainability Award administered with ABET.
- Kenya Innovation Ecosystem Funders Forum (KIEFF) A collaborative forum uniting leading innovation grantmakers in Kenya to foster a robust innovation ecosystem and support commercialization of solutions, co-founded by The Lemelson Foundation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2 billion people still offline globally targeted through connectivity programs
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Lemelson Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Lemelson Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Lemelson Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- IEEE Future Networks (Connecting the Unconnected Program)coreThe Lemelson Foundation partners with IEEE's Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) program, launched in 2021 to expand internet access to over 2 billion people still offline globally. The partnership includes the Empowerment Through Mentorship initiative providing 1,000 days of guidance to winning entrepreneurs on scaling connectivity innovations into sustainable businesses.
- MIT Lemelson-MIT ProgramcoreLong-standing partnership supporting the Lemelson-MIT Program which administers the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize ($500,000), Lemelson-MIT Student Prizes ($30,000), and InvenTeams initiative for high school students.
- ABETcorePartnership with ABET to administer the Engineering for One Planet Innovation in Sustainability Award, integrating sustainability into engineering education globally.
- Smithsonian Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and InnovationcoreLong-standing partnership with the Smithsonian Institution's Lemelson Center for documenting the history of invention and inspiring visitors through hands-on, experiential activities about the invention process.
- KIEFF (Kenya Innovation Ecosystem Funders Forum)coreThe Lemelson Foundation is a member and co-founder of KIEFF, a collaborative force uniting leading innovation grantmakers in Kenya. KIEFF fosters collaboration among funders to enable universities to contribute to Kenya's innovation ecosystem across five pillars of the Kenya Innovation Master Plan.
- Beyond BenigncoreThe Foundation supports Beyond Benign, a nonprofit promoting green chemistry education in K-12 and higher education classrooms through curriculum development and teacher training.
- VentureWellcorePartnership supporting innovators who envision a better future for people and the planet through invention and entrepreneurship education programs.
- Villgro AfricamajorIncubator and impact investor supporting innovative solutions for accessible healthcare on the African continent.
- SELCO FoundationmajorDevelops clean energy solutions to increase access to healthcare and education in under-resourced communities.
- Rice360 Institute for Global Health TechnologiesmajorEngages higher education to invent solutions to global health challenges.
- American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)coreASEE administers the Engineering for One Planet Mini-Grants Program for sustainability in engineering education with Foundation support.
- RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute)majorGlobal nonprofit with over 700 experts committed to accelerating the transition to clean energy, partnered for climate action initiatives.
- Pollinate ImpactmajorMember-led network creating a thriving ecosystem of social impact incubators and accelerators in the Global South.
- Entrepreneurship Funders Network (EFN)majorImpact network of foundations supporting entrepreneurship.
- Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)coreAt 2010 CGI Annual Meeting, pledged $4.5 million to Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers, NESsT, and NCIIA to support invention-based entrepreneurship.
- Environmental Defense FundmajorEnvironmental advocacy nonprofit focused on monitoring methane emissions to fight climate change.
- Oil Change InternationalmajorResearch, communications, and advocacy organization committed to raising awareness of true costs of fossil fuels and promoting global transition to clean energy.
- Alliance for Tribal Clean EnergyminorIndigenous-led nonprofit supporting Native American tribes' transition to a clean energy future.
- Action for the Climate EmergencyminorNonprofit mobilizing young individuals to take action against the climate crisis.
- Invent OregonmajorNurturing innovation through empowering collegiate inventors and entrepreneurs in Oregon.
- Evergreen Innovation PlatformmajorWorks to create a sustainable and climate-resilient future for smallholder farmers in India through innovation.
- Latino FoundersminorCulturally specific Oregon-based nonprofit launched in 2023 to address gaps in entrepreneurial landscape for Latino communities.
- VertueLabminorSupports climate tech entrepreneurs and cleantech startups in the Pacific Northwest.
- Library Foundation of Los AngelesminorPrivate nonprofit providing critical support to Los Angeles Public Library through fundraising, advocacy, and programming.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Lemelson Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation: Major U.S. private foundation supporting scientific research, environmental conservation, and patient care improvement. Comparable as a large science-and-climate grantmaker with similar geographic and thematic breadth.
- MacArthur Foundation: Large private foundation supporting creative and effective institutions, with significant climate and India/global development grantmaking. Comparable as a multi-strategy grantmaker with both climate and international programs.
- Schmidt Sciences: Philanthropy funding science, technology, and engineering initiatives at scale, including climate and AI. Comparable as a high-capacity private foundation funding frontier science and climate innovation.
- Hewlett Foundation: Major private foundation supporting education, climate, and global development with similar program breadth. Comparable in operating model and grantmaking scale across multiple thematic areas.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The largest U.S. private foundation, with global programs in health, education, and climate. Comparable as a globally active science-and-climate grantmaker, though with materially larger scale.
Direct peers
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation: Foundation supporting STEM research, education, and economic research in the U.S. Directly comparable in its focus on strengthening STEM and invention-relevant education, with similar national scope.
- Kavli Foundation: Foundation funding scientific research, science communication, and education through partnerships with academic institutions. Closely aligned with Lemelson's mission of supporting invention and scientific innovation via elite institutional partnerships.
- ClimateWorks Foundation: Foundation deploying philanthropic capital across climate mitigation including industry decarbonization. Comparable specifically on the climate-action portion of Lemelson's portfolio (RMI, industrial decarbonization).
- VentureWell: Nonprofit supporting invention and entrepreneurship education that is itself a Lemelson Foundation grantee. Comparable as a fellow mission-driven organization supporting early-stage inventors and STEM-based entrepreneurship.
Emerging players
- Echoing Green: Foundation supporting social entrepreneurs and innovators with fellowships and seed funding. Comparable as a parallel platform for catalyzing high-impact innovators, with overlapping focus on equity and global entrepreneurs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Lemelson Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Lemelson Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Lemelson Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Lemelson Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Lemelson Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Lemelson Foundation
What does The Lemelson Foundation do?
The Lemelson Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that provides grant funding to support invention education, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and climate action initiatives. It operates three strategic funding areas—Invention Education, Invention & Entrepreneurship, and Climate Action—supported by signature initiatives such as InventEd and Engineering for One Planet, with programmatic focus in the United States, India, and Kenya.
Is The Lemelson Foundation a public or private company?
The Lemelson Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Lemelson Foundation founded?
The Lemelson Foundation was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Lemelson Foundation based?
The Lemelson Foundation is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Lemelson Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: grantmaking and Philanthropy.
Who are The Lemelson Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Schmidt Sciences, Hewlett Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Direct peers are Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Kavli Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation and VentureWell. Echoing Green is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Lemelson Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Lemelson Foundation.
What industry is The Lemelson Foundation in?
The Lemelson Foundation's product category is Philanthropic Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.