Skip to main content
Filing year 2023

THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION

Portland, Oregon·EIN 88-0391959·NTEE T20 · Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations·501(c)(3)
Total revenue
$6M
Total assets
$416.6M
Total expenses
$26.9M
Reported officers
7

Executive compensation

Form 990-PF · Part VIII · 2 reported individuals · Filing year 2023

Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking organizations in Oregon.

Executive Director, Asst. Secretary
Above 90th percentile
$346k
$379k
Chief Fin Admin Officer, Asst. Treas
Unclassified
$303k
$332k

Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.

Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.

Plus 5 unpaid individuals.

Browse compensation in Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Pay in context

Top pay as a share of expenses

In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking organizations is 15%.

This organization (2023)
1%
Sector median
15%
Middle half of sector
5% to 24%

Based on 35,946 philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.

Grants paid

Itemized grants reported on this foundation's 2023 Form 990-PF, Part XV.

Total granted

$16.1M

Itemized grants

60

Median grant

$95k

RecipientLocationPurposeAmount
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE INVENTORS & INNOVATORS ALLIANCEHADLEY, MATO SUPPORT INVENTIVE MINDSETS AND SKILLSETS IN COLLEGIATE STUDENTS AND TO SUPPORT FACULTY TO CULTIVATE INVENTION EDUCATION.$3M
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYCAMBRIDGE, MATO SEEK TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF INVENTORS, WITH A FOCUS ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, AND SPECIFICALLY TO EXPAND INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE TO LEARN TO INVENT, PROTECT THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND BRING CREATIONS TO INTENDED BENEFICIARIES; ADVANCE INVENTION EDUCATION AS A FIELD OF STUDY THROUGH SCHOLARLY RESEARCH THAT INFORMS POLICIES AND PRACTICES; AND EXPAND SUPPORT FOR INVENTORS AND INVENTION EDUCATION EDUCATORS WITHIN LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH NEW POLICIES, PROGRAMS, COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, AND CELEBRATORY EVENTS.$2.3M
CLIMATE BREAKTHROUGH INCBERKELEY, CAFOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.$1M
INSTITUTO CLIMA E SOCIEDADEBRTO BRING INTERNET CONNECTIVITY TO THE GUARDIANS OF THE AMAZON AND DEVELOP A ROADMAP FOR INDUSTRIAL DECARBONIZATION AND CLIMATE JUSTICE IN NORTHEAST BRAZIL.$1M
ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTEBOULDER, COTO ACCELERATE INDUSTRIAL DECARBONIZATION BY SOURCING, SELECTING, SUPPORTING, AND SCALING CLIMATE TECH STARTUPS THROUGH RMIS THIRD DERIVATIVE (D3) AND CLIMATE-ALIGNED INDUSTRIES (CAI) PROGRAMS.$1M
IMPACT INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS FOUNDATIONWILMINGTON, DESCALING INVENTION-BASED IMPACT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THROUGH TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING AND PROVIDING SEED-FUNDING FOR IMPACT INCUBATORS IN THOSE ECOSYSTEMS.$585k
CLEARPATH INCWASHINGTON, DCTO ESTABLISH A FUND TO ACCELERATE THE DECARBONIZATION OF HARD-TO-ABATE INDUSTRIAL SECTORS.$500k
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL VEREIN FUR NACHHALTIGE ENERGIEAUFOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.$500k
KENYA IMPACT INNOVATIONS FOUNDATIONKETO SUPPORT KENYA IMPACT INNOVATIONS FOUNDATION'S BUSINESS INCUBATION ACTIVITIES AND TO BUILD A STRONGER PIPELINE OF INVENTION-BASED ENTERPRISES IN EAST AFRICA THAT WILL MEET THE HEALTH NEEDS FOR LOW RESOURCE POPULATIONS.$450k
SELCO FOUNDATIONKARNATAKA, INTO SET UP A ROBUST CLIMATE FOCUSED, INCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND INCUBATION PROGRAM AND KNOWLEDGE CENTER.$400k
VILLGRO INNOVATIONS FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS RURAL INNOVATIONS NETWORKTAMIL NADU, INTO INCUBATE INVENTION-BASED ENTERPRISES, ADDRESS SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO SCALE AND STRENGTHEN THE RESILIENCE OF THE INVENTION ECOSYSTEM IN INDIA.$361k
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR ENGINEERING EDUCATIONWASHINGTON DC, DCTO INTEGRATE ENGINEERING FOR ONE PLANET SUSTAINABILITY LEARNING OUTCOMES IN DIVERSE COURSES AND PROGRAMS NATIONALLY.$352k
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATIONALEXANDRIA, VATO SUPPORT AND EXPAND THE RESEARCH IN THE FORMATION OF ENGINEERS PROGRAM AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO INTEGRATE SUSTAINABILITY INTO THE ENGINEERING CURRICULUM.$350k
THE EDISON INSTITUTE INCDEARBORN, MITO SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION IN THEIR INVENTION EDUCATION WORK, IN ADDITION TO SUSTAINING A NATIONAL NETWORK OF INVENTION CONVENTION AFFILIATE PROGRAMS.$309k
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONPORTLAND, ORTO SUPPORT CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF THE OREGON MESA PROGRAM INCLUDING AFTER SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.$282k
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO INCWASHINGTON, DCFOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.$250k
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONPORTLAND, ORTO SUPPORT A STATEWIDE COLLEGIATE INVENTION COMPETITION IN OREGON.$167k
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONPORTLAND, ORTO SUPPORT A STATEWIDE COLLEGIATE INVENTION COMPETITION IN OREGON.$165k
AFRICAN VENTURE PHILANTHROPY ALLIANCEKETO SUPPORT THE MOBILIZATION OF INVESTMENT WITHIN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES INTO ENTERPRISES OFFERING CLIMATE ADAPTATION SOLUTIONS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.$150k
WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITYHOUSTON, TXTO DESIGN AND BEGIN IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT ADOPTION OF INVENTION EDUCATION IN SELECT KENYAN UNIVERSITIES AND TO IDENTIFY AND CONVENE A COMMUNITY OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT SHARE THE GOAL OF INCREASED CONTRIBUTION BY UNIVERSITIES TO KENYA'S INNOVATION SYSTEM.$150k
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONCORVALLIS, ORTO SUPPORT IN-SCHOOL INVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN OREGON.$136k
GREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION INCARLINGTON, VATO PROVIDE BLACK, NATIVE AMERICAN, AND LATINX YOUTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH INVENTION EDUCATION, USING TEACHERS AS THE VEHICLE TO REACH THEM IN AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE MANNER.$125k
TIE OREGON FOUNDATIONPORTLAND, ORTO CONTINUE TIE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS (TYE) PROGRAM AND EXPAND TIE OREGON'S EVALUATION EFFORTS.$120k
SOCIETY FOR SCIENCE AND THE PUBLICWASHINGTON, DCTO SUPPORT A MULTI-POINT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THEM THROUGH SCIENCE FAIRS HELD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.$113k
IMPACT INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS FOUNDATIONWILMINGTON, DETO PROVIDE CAPITAL FOR SEED INVESTMENTS IN INVENTION-BASED ENTERPRISES AND TO PILOT FINANCE INNOVATIONS THAT ADDRESS CAPITAL NEEDS THAT ENABLE SCALE OF INVENTION-BASED ENTERPRISES.$110k
Compare this foundation's grantees

This is a private foundation. Peers are foundations of similar asset size ($150M - $1B), because foundation pay scales with assets under management, not revenue.

Among peers

Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.

FAQ

Common questions about THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION

What does the Chief Executive Officer of THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION earn?

In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION received $346,079 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking organizations in Oregon: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.

How does Chief Executive Officer pay at THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION compare with similar nonprofits?

Compared with the same role at Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking organizations in Oregon, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking organizations is 15%.

What are THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION's revenue and expenses?

In 2023, THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION reported $6M in total revenue and $26.9M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.

Free, forever
Build lists. Save your benchmarks.
A free Lucido account lets you build lists of nonprofits and save your search filters. No credit card.
Already a member? Sign in
Build a benchmark

Compare any role, sector, or revenue band

Build your own benchmark from millions of reported positions.

This is a private foundation. Peers are foundations of similar asset size ($150M - $1B), because foundation pay scales with assets under management, not revenue.