Autodesk Foundation Team
Enabling community impact, connection, and upskilling in a remote work environment
Autodesk employees receive 48 hours of paid volunteer time off, up to $5,000 in charitable matching funds annually, and now, in select offices, a new opportunity to help direct charitable grant funding in their local communities. This year, 18 employees from five Autodesk offices around the world came together through the Autodesk Foundation’s Local Site Grantmaking Pilot, leveraging a participatory grantmaking model to learn about grantmaking, connect around the solutions that matter most in their communities, and collectively decide how to direct funding to a nonprofit of their choice. This pilot was informed by the Autodesk Foundation’s Employee Belonging Group Grantmaking Program, which launched in 2022 and has since awarded $680,00 to 50+ nonprofits globally.
At each of the five offices, a team of impact champions and site leaders formed a grant committee to identify issues affecting their communities, develop funding criteria, and award one nonprofit an unrestricted grant. Committees also collaborated with grant recipients to identify opportunities for ongoing impact beyond financial support, including volunteering, mentoring, and technical training.
The Autodesk Foundation led training sessions for the committees on grantmaking best practices. Committee members applied their new knowledge and skills to inform their deliberations and selection process. While the needs of each office and community were unique, common themes emerged across the sites, including prioritizing funding for local, proven solutions to housing instability, hunger, and youth leadership and development.
“The Site Grantmaking Pilot Program builds on Autodesk employees’ deep commitment to creating impact in the places where they live and work. At a time when many of us feel called to do more locally, in an increasingly remote world, a small group of employees has shown how building deep connections with one another and local organizations–and embracing a learning mindset, can lay the foundation for long-term impact.”
– Christine Stoner, Executive Director of the Autodesk Foundation
This grantmaking pilot reinforced the drive and commitment Autodesk employees have for integrating impact into their work and their office. Thank you to every employee and nonprofit partner who made this pilot possible. We look forward to seeing how each organization, and local office, continues to engage with impact locally.
Denver, Colorado, USA: Food For Thought
The Denver grant committee wanted to focus on a prevalent social challenge: childhood hunger. They selected Food for Thought as their grant recipient. Food For Thought addresses childhood hunger by providing meal packs to children across more than 90 schools in Denver and Aurora, helping ensure students have access to food over the weekend when school meals aren’t available. The Autodesk Denver office is exploring opportunities for employees to stay involved year-round through meal-packing volunteer events.
“We wanted to focus on one of the root causes behind many wider social challenges. Food For Thought helps children in a practical, thoughtful way that treats every student with dignity.”
– Phil Stafford, Territory Accounts Representative, Autodesk
Dublin, Ireland: Sophia
The Dublin grant committee was interested in supporting solutions that help people move beyond the emergency housing crisis toward long-term housing stability. Local nonprofit Sophia stood out because its work extends beyond emergency accommodation, creating pathways to stable housing, independence, and long-term well-being for individuals and families. The site grant committee is interested in organizing employee volunteer opportunities with Sophia, as well as exploring opportunities to apply Autodesk’s design and manufacturing expertise to support Sophia’s renovation of a historic building for community use.
“We were looking for an organization that was responding to the immediate housing needs while also offering the wrap around supports that truly help people move forward. Sophia’s approach really resonated with us.”
– Lisa Mongey, Director of Stock and Employment Tax, Autodesk
San Francisco, California, USA: Abode
The San Francisco grant committee wanted to support an organization addressing housing instability and supporting social services in the Bay Area. Local nonprofit Abode combines housing with wraparound services that help build long-term stability for vulnerable and high-needs individuals including unhoused individuals, low-income families, children, and people with special needs. The committee hopes to connect more Autodesk employees with Abode through volunteer opportunities and speaking engagements.
“The Bay Area’s housing crisis is one of the most severe in the US, and affordability issues continue to impact our communities and neighbors. Since Autodesk is headquartered in the Bay Area, we wanted to prioritize supporting families and communities where we live and work, especially those experiencing housing and financial hardships. We hope this grant brings our Autodesk San Francisco employees closer to the people and organizations making a difference locally.”
–Jessica Mi, Senior Program Analyst, Autodesk
Singapore: The Astronauts Collective
The Singapore grant committee approached the pilot with one question: How could they build something that lasted beyond a one-off volunteer activity? That thinking led them to The Astronauts Collective, a nonprofit that helps young people explore meaningful career paths through mentoring, industry exposure, and real-world experiences. The committee recognized that not every young person has equal access to professional networks or career guidance. The committee will facilitate opportunities for Autodesk employees to contribute their experience, technical expertise, and industry connections to The Astronauts Collective.
“One of the things we kept coming back to was that our greatest contribution isn’t just financial. It’s the experience our employees can share, the mentoring they can provide, and the connections they can help create for young people.”
–Shannon Lee, Senior Manager Workplace Operations ASEAN & GCR, Autodesk
Toronto, Canada: Visions of Science
The Toronto grant committee wanted to support an organization creating long-term pathways into STEM for young people. Visions of Science stood out because it supports young people from childhood through to the early stages of their careers, creating opportunities to grow, build confidence, and become leaders in their communities. In addition to the grant funding, the committee is also exploring opportunities for Autodesk employees to contribute to Visions of Science through mentoring, job shadowing, and hands-on learning experiences.
“What really inspired us about Visions of Science was seeing young people who participated in the program and later return as mentors themselves. It shows what’s possible when you invest in youth over the long term rather than through one-off experiences.”
– Brian Jeong, Principal Research & Design Engineer, Technology Centre Toronto, Autodesk