Boston Scientific Foundation
/OVERVIEW: This funder mainly supports disease prevention and awareness programs in four U.S. geographic regions, with a focus on noncommunicable diseases. It also supports STEM and educational advancement programs for underprivileged students in California, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.
IP TAKE: Applicants should know that this funder prioritizes access to care for underprivileged communities, and should make sure that their programs serve this demographic. Note also that the foundation’s grants are restricted geographically.
PROFILE: The Boston Scientific Foundation is the charitable branch of Boston Scientific, a medical device and technology company whose products are used to diagnose and treat many types of diseases and conditions, including cardiac, digestive, pulmonary, vascular, urological, women’s health and chronic pain conditions. Its overall mission is to “improve health and open up educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged persons.” The foundation takes a broad approach to grantmaking by contributing to clinics, schools, and neighborhoods across the United States. Its two main focus areas are Health, and Education.
Grants for Public Health and Diseases
Boston Scientific Foundation’s health funding primarily supports disease prevention and awareness. The foundation is particularly interested in grant proposals for diagnostic, prevention and treatment services for non-communicable diseases. Its current funding priorities include “cancer, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, diabetes, gastrointestinal OR urologic diseases and disorders.” All proposals should address the needs of underserved and economically disadvantaged populations, defined as those living at 200% of the poverty line or lower, with at least half of program participants being uninsured or underinsured. Past grantees include the American Diabetes Association, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and North Metro Pediatrics.
Grants for STEM Education
The Boston Scientific Foundation supports programs that increase access to and success in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, math) for economically disadvantaged K-12 students in its giving regions. For the purposes of this program, BSF defines “economically disadvantaged” individuals as those living at 185% of the poverty line or below, in terms of income. BSF does not provide funding for stipends for program participants. This funder seems to prefer working with education-related nonprofits rather than supporting school districts directly. Grantees include the Reading & Math Foundation, Science from Scientists, Girls Inc, IUPUI, Breakthrough Twin Cities, Computer History Museum, and Schmahl Science Workshops.
Important Grant Details:
Boston Scientific Foundation’s grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000, according to tax filings. Boston Scientific publishes an annual report, but does not provide detailed information on its past grants. This funder primarily supports organizations in regions where it has a corporate presence—namely, San Jose and Valencia, California; Spencer, Indiana; Cambridge, Marlborough, and Quincy, Massachusetts; and St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The foundation accepts applications for health grants between January 15 and April 15 each year.
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