A Look Inside the Micron Foundation’s Idaho Giving

Based in Boise, Idaho, Micron Technology is a computer data storage and memory company that has been a longtime leader in the field of semiconductor innovation. The company began in the basement of a Boise dental office in 1978, and in 1999, it established its company-sponsored foundation to anchor its philanthropy.

Since this company and its foundation focus much of their charitable giving on Boise-area communities, here’s what Idaho nonprofits should know about approaching Micron for support.

How Micron gives

Like many corporations, Micron gives directly through the company and through its foundation separately. The Micron Foundation is a separate entity from the company and is Micron's primary funding source for charitable giving.

The foundation aims to "enrich lives by providing equitable opportunities for underrepresented populations, enriching our communities and increasing access to STEM education to create lasting social impact.” In total, Micron Foundation has provided more than $182 million in funding.

Giving priorities

STEM education and careers are Micron's top giving priorities. Micron Foundation aims to develop educational pathways and help students pursue higher education opportunities while supporting faculty, staff and community leader training in STEM fields.

To further enrich communities where Micron employees live and work, the foundation supports nonprofits advancing social equity and serving women, people of color, rural communities and other underserved groups. Locally, it funds wraparound services, including food security, housing and child care. Employee involvement and volunteerism are part of the Micron company culture, so it provides dollar-for-dollar matching for employee donations and paid time off for employee volunteering.

K-12 funding programs

Micron is primarily interested in funding K-12 programs to create equitable environments and encourage STEM learning. Chip Camp is a middle school student program that provides hands-on STEM activities related to semiconductors and engineering. Girls Going Tech is a program that encourages female, nonbinary and gender-fluid middle schoolers to consider tech careers.

A Micron job shadow program lets high schoolers see what a workday is like at Micron and encourages them to look into technology careers. Micron also offers educator development programs to give staff members the tools they need to get students interested in STEM subjects. Beyond K-12 education, Micron engages with higher education institutions to build relationships and grow engineering pathways.

Submit an initial inquiry

The Micron company and its foundation support nonprofit, nongovernmental and academic organizations in Idaho and other places where Micron team members are located. Meanwhile, the company's employee giving program supports school events, fundraisers and youth sports teams.

Although Micron does not accept unsolicited grant proposals, it is open to receiving initial inquiries about programs and organizations that align with its giving areas. Organizations can submit an online form to Micron with basic information to get in touch and make an introduction.

You can read more about this funder in IP’s complete profile of the Micron Foundation, which is part of our Idaho grantmaking guide.

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