About Lehigh University
Lehigh cultivates new knowledge and empowers pragmatic problem-solvers through collaborative research, faculty mentorship and a supportive community focused on real-world impact and inclusive excellence.
Focus Areas
higher educationresearchSTEM and engineeringbusiness and professional programsarts and humanitiesstudent scholarships and supportglobal education
Who They Fund
undergraduate and graduate studentsfaculty and researcherslow-income and financially disadvantaged studentsalumni and global partnerslocal and global communities/citizens
About Lehigh University
A recurring pattern in Lehigh University’s grantmaking is support for major research universities, paired with place-based funding in Bethlehem. The largest recent awards went to Carnegie Mellon University, including $1,174,601 in 2025 and $1,129,013 in 2023, and to Ohio State University, which received $1,061,637 in 2025. Those awards sit alongside local grants such as $406,500 to Bethlehem Economic Development Corp in 2025 and $335,954 to the City of Bethlehem in 2023. The mix suggests a funder that backs higher education, research, and community-oriented projects rather than a single narrow program. The grant list also shows substantial support for institutions with national research profiles, including the University of Virginia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, Princeton University, and Georgia Tech Research Corp. Lehigh University’s own summary emphasizes collaborative research, faculty mentorship, and real-world impact, and the recent grants align with that emphasis through awards to universities, civic organizations, and research-focused entities. Across the recent record, the foundation appears to use grants to strengthen academic capacity, support applied problem-solving, and invest in the institutional partnerships that connect campus work to broader communities.
What Lehigh University Funds
Higher education is one of the clearest themes in Lehigh University’s giving. In 2025, it awarded $790,921 to the University of Virginia and $324,616 to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both within a broader pattern of university-based support. Research capacity is another visible focus. Cornell University received $290,467 in 2024 and $287,435 in 2023, while Harvard University was awarded $167,303 in 2025 for research and $154,981 in 2024 for research. Those grants point to sustained backing for institutions with active research missions. The foundation also funds local economic and civic work. Bethlehem Economic Development Corp received $350,750 in 2024 and $295,000 in 2023, and the City of Bethlehem received $335,954 in 2023. The presence of both university and city-level grantees shows a portfolio that reaches beyond campus to community development.
How Lehigh University Gives
Lehigh University’s recent grant sizes range from a 25th percentile of $19,522 to a median of $50,322 and a 75th percentile of $144,177. That distribution leaves room for both mid-sized awards and multimillion-dollar grants, with several seven-figure gifts in the recent record. The foundation is classified as a Pure DAF Provider and also makes program-related investments. The grant list suggests repeat support rather than one-off giving. Carnegie Mellon University, Ohio State University, Bethlehem Economic Development Corp, Cornell University, Princeton University, University of Virginia, and Harvard University all appear more than once across the recent grants table. The giving is national in scope, and all listed recipients are in the US.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$8.9M
Total Assets
$3.5B
Total Revenue
$840.1M
Total Expenses
$731.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $144K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$144K
Geographic Reach
National29 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JOSEPH J HELBLE
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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