“The Emerging Technology and Security Initiative works to foster innovation, maximizing the public benefits of the most consequential technologies of our era, while proactively mitigating their risks.”In its own words: hewlett.org
Nonpartisan philanthropy based in the Bay Area. Its Emerging Technology and Security Initiative aims to provide $100 million through 2031 to help AI, biotechnology and quantum computing develop safely, focusing on critical infrastructure, technology vulnerabilities and global governance.
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AI-related giving runs mainly through its Emerging Technology and Security Initiative ($100M through 2031): protecting critical infrastructure from AI-enabled threats, vulnerabilities in fast-moving technologies, and global governance. The foundation mostly picks grantees itself and rarely takes unsolicited letters of inquiry.
Says it gives about $631M a year (2024)
On applying “Most of our grants are awarded to organizations identified by the foundation.” hewlett.org
Itemised here $5.9M in 5 grants
Money flows
Where its money came from and where it went. Pick years and what to show; hover a box or ribbon for details, click one to focus it, click the background to see everything.
How to apply
- Applications
- By invitation
- Who can apply
- Academics, Organisations
Mostly funds organisations it identifies itself. It occasionally invites letters of inquiry through open processes; otherwise it generally does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry, and it does not fund individuals: https://hewlett.org/grantmaking-faq/
Biggest recipients
All grants
5 grants totalling $5.9M, newest first. Recipients link to their own pages; people who received grants without a public profile are shown by number.
2025 1 grant · $316k
| Date | Recipient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) | ~$316k | Listed in CSET’s 2025 annual report donor tiers ($100k–$999,999). Amount is Trace’s estimate at the geometric mean of the tier. source |
2024 1 grant · $275k
| Date | Recipient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2024 | Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) | $275k | Georgetown University, for CSET: data-driven analysis of how emerging technologies, especially AI, affect security; 12 months; awarded 26 Oct 2024 [counted in place of the CSET 2024 donor-band estimate row 72c42b9f, which is now excluded] source |
2023 1 grant · $300k
| Date | Recipient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2023 | Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) | $300k | Georgetown University, for CSET; Cyber programme, general support/program; 24 months; awarded 14 Dec 2023 [counted in place of CSET's donor-band estimate rows, which are excluded] source |
2022 1 grant · $3M
| Date | Recipient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2022 | Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) | $3M | Renewal of the CyberAI Project grant: an additional $3M for a total of $5M over five years (CSET announcement, 23 Mar 2022) [counted in place of CSET's donor-band estimate rows, which are excluded] |
2019 1 grant · $2M
| Date | Recipient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2019 | Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) | $2M | Georgetown University, for CSET's CyberAI Program (AI, cybersecurity and geopolitics); 24 months; awarded 11 Nov 2019 [counted in place of CSET's donor-band estimate rows, which are excluded] source |