Giving to NAE

Leadership in a World of Accelerating Change

Donors to the NAE understand the need for diversifying the field of engineering, breaking down barriers that hinder innovation, redefining what it means to think like an engineer, and ensuring our workforce is positioned to tackle the grand challenges of the 21^st century. Thanks to our members and friends, the NAE provides leadership in a world of accelerating change. With your support we advise the nation, excite girls about starting a career in engineering, engage college students in critical thinking across disciplines, and convene up-and-coming engineering leaders. 

If you would like to learn more about how you can make an investment in the NAE and get involved in advancing our mission, contact Radka Z. Nebesky, Director of Development, or Lauren Bartolozzi, Associate Director of Development.  

Impact of Philanthropy through the Charles M. Vest President’s Opportunity Fund

NAE president John L. Anderson has directed funds from the Charles M. Vest President’s Opportunity Fund to support the NAE’s crowdsourcing call for engineering action on the COVID-19 crisis. Established in 2012 as an unrestricted quasi-endowment by NAE members and friends of past NAE president Chuck Vest to seed new initiatives and support exploratory studies, the Vest Opportunity Fund provides vital discretionary money to empower the NAE to be proactive in identifying and leading initiatives to benefit the nation and profession. Since its establishment, the Vest Opportunity Fund has supported NAE programs like EngineerGirl, public engagement activities like the E4U video contest, as well as core NAE mission funding. 

Now as the COVID-19 pandemic has placed the world in extraordinary circumstances, we cannot afford to lose precious momentum, or simply be late to the table. The Charles M. Vest President’s Opportunity Fund is enabling engineers to provide their knowledge, skills, and innovative mindset to combat the contagion and its impact. We are grateful to those who have supported the Vest Opportunity Fund. Your support and support from other members and friends truly provides the necessary resources that enable the Academy to respond when called upon.

You can make a gift today to help support the NAE’s ability to provide expert guidance on urgent issues like the COVID-19 pandemic and our ongoing efforts to promote the profession.

The Grainger Foundation Provides $3 Million Gift for the NAE Frontiers of Engineering Program

The National Academy of Engineering announced a $3 million gift from The Grainger Foundation to support the NAE’s Frontiers of Engineering symposia. The symposia honor excellence in engineering by recognizing the work of outstanding early-career engineers and facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration among engineering’s next generation of leaders. 

“We are grateful to The Grainger Foundation for this generous gift, which supports interdisciplinary collaboration among some of our nation’s most promising engineers,” said National Academy of Engineering President John L. Anderson. “A current example of the impact our Frontiers of Engineering program can have is the active role its alumni are playing in the NAE’s Call to Action for engineering solutions to the COVID-19 crisis. We look forward to bringing many more talented engineers into the FOE program in the years ahead, thanks to the support of The Grainger Foundation.”

Read the official press release. 

Donor Spotlight