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2024 Recap: IEEE Foundation

IEEE Foundation activities moved forward in a year of tremendous progress
Following the IEEE Foundation’s milestone 50th anniversary in 2023, donors and volunteers around the globe made 2024 a memorable year by driving a diverse and proactive array of activities and achievements that will positively impact beneficiaries for generations to come. With the addition of 16 new funds in 2024, the IEEE Foundation continues to expand IEEE’s global charitable impact, supporting new and established opportunities for IEEE programs to advance technology for the benefit of humanity.
A special highlight of 2024 was the inaugural celebration of IEEE Foundation Day on 16 February, the anniversary of the IEEE Foundation’s founding in 1973. The day was a resounding success and will be celebrated annually going forward. Ralph Ford, who completed his term as President of the IEEE Foundation Board of Directors at the end of 2024, championed IEEE Foundation Day: “The day connects to our vision to be the heart of IEEE charitable giving and philanthropy, and more importantly, acknowledges the donors and volunteers who make IEEE philanthropic programs possible, as well as the program beneficiaries whose lives have been transformed.”
Through the generosity of the IEEE Jon C. Taenzer Memorial Fund, established thanks to a bequest from the Fund namesake, two new initiatives were launched, including The Spectrum Assistive Technologies Fellowship Program and the Bengaluru Mobility Challenge 2024, an IEEE Dataport Data Competition, as was the continual investment in service learning through the EPICS in IEEE Access and Abilities projects.
The Foundation continued its proud tradition of actively participating in IEEE-wide initiatives. For IEEE Education Week in April, a blog highlighting five beneficiaries of the Educate Pillar program who are now giving back to the community was published. In honor of both IEEE Day and IEEE History Week, a virtual history lecture was co-hosted with the IEEE History Center to commemorate IEEE’s 140th anniversary. The lecture “From Artificial Light to Artificial Intelligence: Reflecting on 140 Years of IEEE History” explored the organization’s rich heritage.
In September, 31 volunteers and staff representing 11 IEEE programs came together for the Foundation’s inaugural IEEE philanthropic workshop to learn and strengthen collaboration. In December, the IEEE community demonstrated its heart and passion for IEEE programs by giving more than US$209,000 toward the #IEEEGivingTuesday campaign.
The Foundation continued to gratefully acknowledge the generosity of committed donors with recognition through the IEEE Heritage Circle and IEEE Goldsmith Legacy League while highlighting donor impact with in-depth donor profiles. Helpful educational resources were created for donors, including the Forever Generous planned giving newsletter, an updated Giving Guide, and numerous articles highlighting Ways to Give. Additionally, the Foundation hosted an in-person Planned Giving seminar with financial planning expert David Sandhu, Senior Wealth Advisor, EverSource Wealth Advisors (read David’s expert tips here), and a webinar with IEEE Heritage Circle members Darcy Immerman, Senior Vice President, Growth Strategy, Noresco; and Tina Mertel, Founder and Executive Coach, Facilitator, Meaningful Coaching.
IEEE Foundation Board and staff members attended and presented at IEEE conferences and events around the world to share the impact donors make on IEEE’s philanthropic programs. Some of the notable events included the IEEE Vision, Innovation, and Challenges Summit and Honors Ceremony, where we were honored to celebrate the top 2024 IEEE honorees, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) International Symposium where we promoted the AP-S newly launched Talent Development Fund, IEEE Region 1 and 2 Student Activities Conference where we hosted a donor-supported funding opportunity panel, IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, and several Milestone Dedication Ceremonies, among many others.
Below, we are thrilled to share programmatic highlights from 2024 organized according to the IEEE Foundation’s five pillars of impact: Illuminate, Educate, Energize, Engage, and Future. Many of the Foundation’s program partners marked milestone anniversaries in 2024, illustrating the enduring impact key funding and astute stewardship provide.
ILLUMINATE the possibilities of technology by using it to address global challenges
- IEEE Smart Village, founded in 2009, continued its 15-year tradition of driving impact in remote parts of the world. Highlights from 2024 included: deployment of large mini-grids by Darway Coast Nigeria, one of Smart Village’s longest and most productive partners; SunMoksha Ltd. implemented solar smart irrigation in Odisha, India, increasing farmers’ annual income from US$350 to US$1,000; and the commissioning of the first initiative in China, funded through the generosity of an onsemi grant.
- EPICS in IEEE, launched in 2009, celebrated its 15th year of supporting students and service-learning opportunities. Since its inception, EPICS in IEEE has distributed more than US$1 million in funding and supported 255 student-led service-learning projects in 39 countries. In 2024, EPICS in IEEE funded 39 projects and engaged over 900 students, more than 1,400 volunteers, and IEEE members, including reviewers, mentors, and project volunteers.
- IEEE MOVE Global, with its three local instances, transitioned to reporting to the Humanitarian Technologies Board. IEEE MOVE-USA added a third truck to its fleets, funded by the IEEE Foundation’s IEEE-USA Fund. Volunteers and the trucks deployed to six emergency response locations across North Carolina, Florida, New Mexico, and Texas, donating 16,750 volunteer hours over 88 days. IEEE MOVE India organized several disaster awareness initiatives, donated solar lanterns and mobile charges to Wayanad landslide victims, and launched a STEM kit to promote climate change awareness. IEEE MOVE Puerto Rico expanded its capacity by welcoming three new team members and increasing the number of team members who are licensed radio operators, enhancing the team’s capability to operate ham radio equipment in their kits and during deployments.
- The IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (HTB) supported the creation of 25 new SIGHT Groups, the growth of SIGHT events by 20%, and the growth of SIGHT members by 42%. Through Tech4Good, over US$570K was granted to 74 IEEE-member teams in 15 countries for grassroots projects, benefiting over 150K individuals globally.
EDUCATE the next generation of innovators and engineers
- TryEngineering developed new lessons and eBooks and provided educators with training on semiconductors. The program awarded 53 TryEngineering STEM Grants to projects around the world, while 333 students participated in the TryEngineering Summer Institute at three U.S. college campuses, with 29 scholarships funded by the IEEE Foundation. Additionally, grants from onsemi and Keysight Technologies supported the creation of new lesson plans designed to teach kids about electronics, circuit design, and semiconductors, reaching more than one million students globally.
- IEEE Power & Energy Society Scholarship Plus Initiative (PES S+) recognized 84 high-achieving undergraduate electrical engineering students as its 2024-2025 class of PES Scholars. These students, 25% of whom are female, represented 58 universities across the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Each PES Scholar receives a financial award, one year of IEEE PES student membership, and the opportunity to be mentored by leading professionals in the power and energy industry.
- IEEE Presidents’ Scholarship, celebrating its 25th Anniversary, was presented by IEEE President Tom Coughlin during the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, CA, USA. The winning project, “An Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System for Ocean Hazard Recognition and Rescue,” was designed by Angelina Kim to help prevent drownings in her community.
- Student and Young Professional Members received support critical to their future success through donor-supported scholarships, fellowships, and travel grants, including IEEE Frances B. Hugle Scholarship presented by IEEE Women in Engineering, IEEE Myron Zucker Student-Faculty Grant Program presented by IEEE Industry Applications Society, and IEEE AP-S C. J. Reddy Travel Grant for Graduate Students presented by the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society.
- Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL), celebrating its 15th Anniversary, awarded 23 grants to libraries in rural areas, small towns, and cities across the Midwest (IEEE Region 4) to bring hands-on STEM experiences to children during 2024. This is the most grants given in a single year.
ENGAGE a wider audience in appreciating the value & importance of technology
- IEEE Life Members held the inaugural IEEE Life Members Conference in April. 179 attendees gathered in Austin, TX, USA, for this three-day event designed to engage IEEE Life Members and technologists of all ages by fostering new connections and providing learning opportunities through intriguing speakers and travel platforms.
- IEEE History Center commemorated IEEE’s landmark 140th anniversary with the launch of its inaugural IEEE History Week. Through the Milestones Program, which celebrated its 40th Anniversary, 19 Milestones were dedicated in 2024, including PageRank and the Birth of Google, 1996-1998 in Santa Clara, CA, USA, and the Development of the Cavity Magnetron, 1939-1941 in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The IEEE History Center posted transcripts of 21 oral histories, including those of IEEE Past Presidents Roberto de Marca (2014) and Barry Shoop (2016), to help commemorate IEEE’s 140th anniversary.
- IEEE William and Joyce Middleton Electrical Engineering History Prize was awarded by the IEEE History Committee to Christopher Miller of Tufts University for his book Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology (2022, Scribner, New York).
- IEEE Global Museum introduced its first traveling exhibit, “Unseen Signals: Edwin H. Armstrong’s Radio Revolution,” at the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem, PA, in November 2024. The museum’s second exhibit, “Microchips that Shook the World,” is set to launch in 2025.
ENERGIZE innovation by celebrating technological excellence
- IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN) celebrated its 120th Anniversary with events throughout the year. In 2024, over 300 IEEE-HKN students from 65 HKN Chapters attended the IEEE-HKN Student Leadership Conference in Charlotte, NC, USA. 25 Chapter Support Grants enhanced the HKN student experience and benefited local communities, and a new IEEE-HKN Lounge was opened at Purdue University in part thanks to an estate gift from Don Heirman.
- IEEE Awards presented 25 IEEE Medals and Recognitions during the 2024 IEEE VIC Summit & Honors Gala in Boston, MA, USA, including the IEEE Medal of Honor to IEEE Life Fellow Robert E. Kahn, widely regarded as one of the “fathers of the Internet.” The IEEE Nick Holonyak, Jr. Medal for Semiconductor Optoelectronic Technologies was presented for the first time to IEEE Fellows Constance J. Chang-Hasnain and Fumio Koyama. Additionally, the IEEE Jagadish Chandra Bose Medal in Wireless Communications was established with a generous donation from IEEE Life Fellow Dr. Mani L. Bhaumik.
- IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) conferred the IEEE Women in Technology and Leadership Award, sponsored by Walmart Global Tech, to the accomplished IEEE Senior Member Jyotika Athavale. The IEEE Women in Technology and Leadership Award was established to recognize outstanding contributions by women in engineering and technology while empowering diverse populations. WIE received 34 applications for the award in 2024, marking a 17% increase compared to 2023.
FUTURE looks beyond our lifetime to shape the destiny of future generations
- IEEE WIE Family Cares Grant Program (FCGP), a groundbreaking initiative aiming to provide financial support for primary caregivers, irrespective of gender, to encourage their participation in IEEE conferences, awarded its first grant to an IEEE member from IEEE Region 8, covering childcare costs to support the member’s attendance at a conference.
- IEEE Foundation awarded 12 grants from the IEEE Foundation Fund, including a grant to support awards for students who competed in the IEEE Branches FIFA Cup at the IEEE 2024 Jordan Students and Young Professionals Congress hosted by the University of Jordan Student Branch. Another highlight was a grant to the IEEE WIE ESPRIT Student Branch Affinity Group for prizes presented to five recipients for technical challenges and their outstanding solutions developed towards issues like digital privacy and online harassment of women.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making 2024 a success for IEEE charitable programs and hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries worldwide.
If you want to read more about the IEEE Foundation’s 2024 activities, please visit our website for more news or the Foundation’s recently updated Impact page.
Note: The statistics included in this article are preliminary and may change as our program partners complete their year-end reporting.