RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC [August 21, 2023] The future of STEM innovation is looking brighter than ever as STEM RTP proudly announces the outstanding organizations that have been selected as grant recipients for its 2023/24 cohort. This landmark initiative, now a thriving grantmaking program, continues to gain momentum, reaching even more organizations and generating more impact.
In collaboration with the RTP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Collective, the Research Triangle Park Charitable Fund is thrilled to present the deserving awardees of the third STEM RTP Grant cohort. Six remarkable organizations have been chosen to receive $25,000 each, recognizing their exceptional efforts at the intersection of STEM and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The 2023/24 recipients set a remarkable precedent, showcasing their dedication to fostering a more inclusive and innovative landscape. Among them are trailblazers such as:
- CIS of Wake County, which provides equitable access, resources, and opportunities to Wake County students.
- WakeEd Partnership, an education nonprofit focused on transforming teaching and leadership modeling to provide Wake County students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
- Durham Literacy Center, which provides free instruction and tutoring to over 18,000 adults and out-of-school youth in Durham.
- Wonder Connection, which provides pediatric patients with a connection to the natural world through hands-on natural science activities.
- The Daniel Center for Math & Science, which provides math, science, and technology education opportunities that narrow the education gap for at-risk and disadvantaged students.
- and Empower ALL, which strives to build sustainable, educational equity and academic advancement for marginalized students.
At the heart of STEM RTP is the RTP DEI Collective, leading the charge with invaluable support from the Research Triangle Foundation. Together, they have driven this grant program forward, inspiring a wave of meaningful change in the Triangle Region and the state of North Carolina.
“Rewarding organizations that have exemplified outstanding endeavors at the intersection of STEM and diversity, equity, and inclusion has been a humbling experience for the RTP DEI Collective,” said Tamara Terry, chair of the RTP DEI Collective and research survey scientist at RTI International. “It’s so inspiring to know this grant is impacting and reaching so many amazing organizations. This year we received more than 30 applications, and it was difficult to select the final six awardees.”
In collaboration with the Collective is RTP Charitable Fund, which develops and enriches Research Triangle Park’s diverse geographic and demographic all-inclusive community. The Fund fulfills its mission through active public engagement in purposefully crafted programs, such as STEM RTP, aimed at fostering socially and environmentally responsible activities spanning arts, education, recreation, celebration, and locally grounded human and societal services. These initiatives collectively strive to heighten awareness and knowledge among individuals from the wider public, particularly those whose livelihoods are intricately connected to the success of Research Triangle Park and the state of North Carolina.
Experience the powerful testimonies of last year’s grant recipients as they share the profound impact of STEM RTP:
The next request for grant applications will be released 2024, continuing on an annual basis to support and impact organizations working in the space where DEI and STEM collide.
About the Research Triangle Park Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Collective
Founded in the fall of 2019, the RTP DEI Collective (the Collective) was created to unify and amplify RTP companies’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Led by Madame Chair Tamara Terry and the Research Triangle Foundation, the Collective includes 40 companies and 21 regional allies committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As Research Triangle Park and the Triangle Region continue to grow, RTP leaders recognize the importance of amplifying DEI values to create a window of opportunities that better serve skilled talent Park companies are hiring, helping fuel workforce recruitment and retention.
Next-generation leaders seek to represent and value a diverse and equal workforce.
The Collective is focused on helping create equitable and inclusive spaces for tomorrow’s leaders to thrive. As we break down silos across RTP companies to collaborate and synergize efforts, we all benefit from the resulting advancement in talent attraction, contributing to better business outcomes for all.
About the RTP Charitable Fund
RTP Charitable Fund (the Fund) was organized September 17, 2015, as a non-profit organization to build and enhance the diverse geographic and demographic all-inclusive community of Research Triangle Park by providing its public participation in programs designed to provide societal and environmentally sound activities in the arts, education, recreation, celebration and locally based human and social services. 3
About Research Triangle Foundation (RTF)
Since 1959, the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina (RTF) has served Research Triangle Park in its mission to facilitate collaboration among our region’s industries, universities, and workforce, and create economic impact for the residents of North Carolina by attracting the world’s most innovative companies and top-tier talent to North Carolina. Situated centrally among Duke University, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, RTP contains 7,000 acres, 60,000 employees, and over 375 companies and national labs, including Biogen, EPA, Cisco Systems, Credit Suisse, NIEHS, Fidelity Investments, IBM, BASF, United Therapeutics and RTI International.
Media Contact for RTF
Jan Mactal
Director of Marketing & Communications
mactal@rtp.org