Updated:
Autodesk Foundation
Autodesk Foundation is Autodesk's corporate impact arm, deploying over $25M into design-led nonprofits and impact startups since 2014.
Autodesk Foundation
The Autodesk Foundation launched in 2014 as the philanthropic entity of Autodesk, Inc., the publicly traded design-software company behind AutoCAD and Revit. Its founding mandate channels a portion of Autodesk's corporate equity into grants and impact investments that tackle environmental and social challenges through better design. The foundation operates as a distinct legal entity but draws heavily on Autodesk's technology stack, employee expertise, and customer network — making it a corporate foundation that behaves more like a strategic impact investor than a traditional grantmaker. The foundation's strategy splits across two tracks: nonprofit grantmaking and impact-first for-profit investments. On the grantmaking side, it funds organizations that use design and engineering to solve problems in climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure, and the built environment. On the investment side, it takes equity stakes in early-stage startups whose products align with Autodesk's core capabilities. Publicly named portfolio companies include New Story, a Y Combinator-backed nonprofit using 3D printing and software to build homes in the developing world, and MASS Design Group, a nonprofit architecture firm focused on hospitals and community infrastructure in Rwanda, Haiti, and the United States. Deployments concentrate in North America, East Africa, and South Asia. The foundation employs a lean team housed within Autodesk's San Francisco headquarters, drawing on the parent company's 14,000-plus employees for pro bono technical support and project scoping. In May 2024, the foundation co-hosted the Design for Impact Summit, convening grantees and portfolio companies around shared measurement frameworks for carbon reduction in the built environment (per Autodesk Foundation public communications). The foundation does not publicly disclose total assets under management or a rigid annual granting floor, but its 990-PF filings with the IRS provide annual snapshots of grant distributions. What distinguishes the Autodesk Foundation structurally is its hybrid capital stack. Unlike most corporate foundations that only issue grants, it maintains an active program-related investment (PRI) portfolio that takes equity in for-profit startups meeting IRS charitable-purpose tests. This lets the foundation recycle returns into new grants — a structure borrowed from venture philanthropy but executed inside a single publicly traded company's corporate treasury. The result is a foundation that sits at the intersection of corporate social responsibility, impact venture capital, and in-kind technology philanthropy.
General information
Firm type
Corporate Foundation
Year founded
2014
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
San Francisco, CA, United States
Principals
Christine Stoner
Senior Director, Autodesk Foundation
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does the Autodesk Foundation differ from a traditional corporate foundation?
The Autodesk Foundation operates a hybrid model that combines traditional grantmaking with program-related investments (PRIs) — equity stakes in for-profit startups that align with its charitable mission. This allows it to recycle returns into new grants, a structure uncommon among corporate foundations. It also provides grantees and portfolio companies with access to Autodesk software, training, and pro bono engineering support, making it as much a strategic partner as a funder.
What types of organizations does the Autodesk Foundation fund?
The foundation funds both U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits and for-profit startups whose work advances design-led solutions to environmental and social problems. Nonprofit grantees typically focus on sustainable infrastructure, housing, and climate resilience, while for-profit investments target early-stage companies building software and hardware aligned with Autodesk's core design and engineering capabilities.
How much capital has the Autodesk Foundation deployed to date?
The foundation reports having deployed over $25 million in grants and impact investments since its 2014 launch. This figure comes from the foundation's own public communications. The foundation does not disclose a current asset base or annual granting target publicly, though annual grants and PRI deployments appear in its IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Which geographies does the Autodesk Foundation prioritize?
Portfolio data and public disclosures point to North America, East Africa, and South Asia as primary regions of activity. Specific project examples include hospital design and construction in Rwanda and Haiti through MASS Design Group, and 3D-printed housing development in Latin America through New Story's operations.
Can external GPs or institutional investors co-invest alongside the Autodesk Foundation?
The foundation typically invests directly, not through external fund commitments. Its program-related investments are structured as direct equity or convertible notes in early-stage companies. There is no publicly disclosed co-investment vehicle or club for external institutional investors, but the foundation has occasionally co-invested alongside venture capital firms and impact funds in portfolio rounds.
Who leads investment and grant-making decisions?
Decisions are led by Christine Stoner, Senior Director of the Autodesk Foundation. The foundation operates with a small team inside Autodesk's corporate structure. Investment recommendations draw on input from Autodesk business units and engineering teams for technical diligence, but final grant and investment authority rests with the foundation's management and board.
How is the Autodesk Foundation governed relative to Autodesk, Inc.?
The foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) legal entity with its own board of directors and IRS reporting obligations. While it is wholly funded by Autodesk, Inc., the parent company does not control grantmaking or investment decisions. This separation is standard for U.S. corporate foundations and ensures the foundation's charitable purpose — not Autodesk's commercial interests — drives allocations.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: