Kendra Ott
For the second year, the Autodesk Foundation has teamed up with Autodesk’s employee resource groups (ERGs) on a participatory grantmaking initiative. Each ERG is given $20,000 in unrestricted grant funding to award to nonprofit(s) of their choice.
Last year, Autodesk ERGs awarded a total of $140,000 in unrestricted funds to 10 nonprofits, supporting missions focused on educating and empowering Latinas to enter tech fields, helping veterans experiencing homelessness regain stability and self-sufficiency after military service, advocating for reproductive rights as fundamental human rights, and more. In its second year, the program expanded to include Autodesk’s two new ERGs—the Autodesk MIND and Indigenous Networks—for a total grant deployment of $180,000 to 13 nonprofits.
Each ERG leader convened a committee to facilitate and collaborate on the grantmaking process, and each team was invited to award a total of $20,000 to nonprofits that align with ERG-defined grant criteria. The program also supported ERGs to pool grant funds and establish partnerships to make more sizable grants to the same organization. For example, the Autodesk Black Network chose to distribute three equal grants to Gameheads, Wetech, and Black Girls Do STEM. The Autodesk MIND and Young Professionals Networks opted for a different approach, combining their dollars into one larger grant for The Arc.
Upskilling in philanthropic and diversity and inclusion best practices
The ERG grantmaking teams spent three months completing a curriculum with colleagues from the Autodesk Foundation that included selecting and defining each ERG’s impact focus and grant criteria. The workshops also covered the selection and implementation of member engagement elements like organization submission and voting on grant finalists. Program participants also learned about philanthropy and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices from Autodesk Foundation investment leads and leaders from Autodesk’s Diversity and Belonging team.
“I’ve been honored to witness the impactful transformation of this program,” says Cordero Davis who leads Autodesk’s global employee resource groups. “I’m incredibly grateful for the pathway this program has created and for the many lives we’ve been able to touch through it.”
FY24 ERG grant awards
The 13 nonprofit awardees of our fiscal year 2024 ERG grantmaking program are addressing issues important to each ERG. Of these nonprofits, three were return grantees from last year’s program.
- Autodesk Asian Network: Ascend Foundation
- Autodesk Black Network: Gameheads + Wetech + Black Girls Do STEM
- Autodesk Indigenous Network: American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
- Autodesk Latinx Network: #LatinaGeeks + Fab Lab El Paso
- Autodesk MIND + Young Professionals Networks: The Arc
- Autodesk Pride Network: Build Out Alliance + CenterLink
- Autodesk Veterans Network: Freedom Service Dogs + Roots for Boots
- Autodesk Women’s Network: #LatinaGeeks + Path Forward
“The ERG grantmaking program is such a valuable way to drive engagement for our Autodesk Black Network membership. We all have things we care deeply about, outside of our work at Autodesk, and this opportunity provides an ability to bridge personal and professional worlds while delivering amazing impact for the nonprofits selected.”
— Brandon Cramer, Global Lead, Autodesk Black Network; Research Manager, Autodesk
“The Autodesk Indigenous Network is excited to support the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. We seek to develop an ongoing relationship with AISES, whose mission is to increase representation of Indigenous peoples in science, technology, and engineering careers. AIN hopes to provide mentorship opportunities through AISES in the near future.”
— Elissa Flandro, Global Lead, Autodesk Indigenous Network; Principal Customer Success Manager, Autodesk
“As a new ERG, Autodesk MIND Network is so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the ERG grantmaking program for the first time. This program has enabled us to give back to The Arc, an organization deeply aligned with our community’s mission of empowering people with disabilities. Personally, this program makes me incredibly proud to be part of Autodesk.”
— Kassidi Sorensen, Global Lead, Autodesk MIND Network; Employer Brand Manager, Autodesk
Looking forward
After two years of successful delivery and positive feedback from ERG participants and grant recipients, the Autodesk Foundation anticipates the continuation of the ERG grantmaking program. We look forward to bringing together more Autodesk employees to engage in charitable work.
Learn more about Autodesk’s employee resource groups and Diversity & Belonging culture.