History and Mission
Jerome “Jerry” Lemelson was one of the most prolific and versatile American inventors of all time, with an astounding collection of more than 600 patents. He believed invention was essential to American economic success and vitality. It was Jerry’s hope that future generations in the United States (U.S.) and around the world would aspire to be inventors and get the support they needed to turn those aspirations into reality.
In 1992 Jerry and his wife, Dorothy, launched The Lemelson Foundation with a mission to improve lives through invention. Today, The Lemelson Foundation’s founding mission continues to guide our philanthropy.
We focus on Impact Inventing, prioritizing inventors and inventions that have positive social impact, are environmentally responsible, and yield financially sustainable products and businesses, while remaining sector agnostic and retaining focus on tangible inventions. Our core philanthropic reach extends across the United States and into India and Kenya, while our Climate Action initiative allows us to work globally to combine the tools of innovation, invention, and climate justice to blaze and widen the pathways to drawing down emissions by 2030 and attaining net zero emissions by 2050.
Board
Staff
Advisory Committee
The Lemelson Foundation’s Advisory Committee provides strategic guidance on the development and implementation of its core philanthropic initiatives and programs. The Advisory Committee possesses a diversity of expertise across geographical regions and public, private, and social sectors.
