Celebrating 40 Years of STEM Education
For 40 years, the SAE Foundation has opened doors for students through powerful, hands-on STEM education. This anniversary honors a legacy built by educators, volunteers, and supporters who believe every student deserves the chance to thrive.
As we look ahead, we carry that purpose forward. Together, we can spark curiosity, fuel learning, and create opportunities that last a lifetime.
The SAE Foundation began with an audacious question: What if engineers could shape not just the future of mobility, but the future of who builds it?
In the early 1980s, a small group of SAE members saw a widening gap in STEM education and knew they could help. They imagined a future where more students had access to opportunity and where hands-on learning could unlock real-world potential.
What started as a grassroots effort grew into a global movement. From early classroom pilots in Detroit to a world-class STEM curriculum reaching millions of students, the Foundation has remained focused on equity, access, and impact.
Generous donors, industry leaders, volunteers, and educators have worked together to create a lasting shift in how students experience STEM.
That founding spirit still guides us today. We believe students thrive when learning feels relevant and real. We believe teachers deserve tools that inspire. And we believe the future is brighter when every learner has the chance to discover what’s possible.
The next chapter of STEM education will be shaped by bold ideas, inclusive innovation, and the belief that every student has potential waiting to be unlocked.
With your support, we’re expanding access to emerging technologies, strengthening teacher resources, and designing new ways to engage learners—wherever they are.
Together, we’re not just preparing students for what’s next. We’re empowering them to lead it.
You’ll get emails with inspiring STEM stories from communities around the world and ways you can get involved and help all young learners access STEM.
