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Fueling the Future: A Message from John McDonald, 2026 IEEE Foundation President
Each year, IEEE Foundation Day gives us a chance to pause and reflect—not just on how far we’ve come, but on what enables us to keep moving boldly forward. As I step into my role as President of the IEEE Foundation in 2026, I am energized by this moment. Our theme this year, Fueling the Future, captures a truth I’ve witnessed throughout my five+ decades in the IEEE community: progress doesn’t happen in isolation. It is powered, sparked, sustained, and accelerated by people.
And the people who power IEEE’s global impact are you-our donors, volunteers, and champions.
The Power Behind the Breakthroughs
Technology evolves at an astonishing pace, but the driving force behind that evolution is remarkably consistent: visionary individuals who choose to invest in ideas, talent, and access. When you support the IEEE Foundation, you provide more than funding. You provide momentum—a catalytic force that propels STEM professionals, students, and communities toward a more equitable and technologically empowered future.
Together, we energize education by opening pathways for students who will design tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Through global collaboration, we sustain the work by connecting professionals committed to solving the world’s biggest challenges. Simply put: your support is the current that helps keep the IEEE mission in motion.
Foundation Day 2026: Celebrating the Energy You Provide
This IEEE Foundation Day, we honor the collective power of our community. We also honor the outcomes you make possible. Throughout the year, you will hear more stories of impact that demonstrate what happens when donor energy meets engineering vision:
- Illuminating the possibilities of technology to address global challenges.
- Educating the next generation of innovators and engineers.
- Engaging a wider audience to appreciate the impact of engineering.
- Energizing innovation by celebrating excellence.
- Future-facing initiatives that shape the destiny of the next generation.
These successes aren’t abstract. They are lived experiences. Real people have futures transformed because someone like you chose to invest in theirs.
Looking Ahead: The Future We Are Fueling Together
As we chart the Foundation’s course through 2026 and beyond, my commitment is simple: to ensure that every donor dollar becomes a force multiplier. That it stretches, sparks, amplifies, and accelerates the good our programs can do.
In the year ahead, we will expand opportunities to engage, strengthen transparency around impact, and unlock new ways for donors to directly support the initiatives that matter most to them. I’m excited for what we will achieve together—and grateful for your trust and energy.
On this year’s IEEE Foundation Day, I hope you take pride in knowing that you are not simply supporting IEEE’s mission. You are energizing its future. You are the reason we can imagine boldly, act compassionately, and deliver technological solutions with global reach and local meaning.
Thank you for being the power source behind our progress.
Let’s keep fueling the future—together.
— John D. McDonald, President, IEEE Foundation
