The Lifelong Kindergarten research group at the MIT Media Lab develops and studies new technologies and activities that engage children in creative learning experiences. Over the past two decades, our reach has expanded significantly (with our development of the Scratch programming language and related projects), providing learning opportunities for millions of students and educators around the world.

To support this work, the Lifelong Kindergarten group receives grants and donations from companies, foundations, and individuals. Below is a listing of the Lifelong Kindergarten group’s funding sources since 2000, including all grants and donations greater than $5,000. 

2000
National Science Foundation: $880,678
LEGO Group: $250,000

2001
LEGO Group: $250,000
National Science Foundation: $180,888
Intel Foundation: $180,000

2002
National Science Foundation: $604,129
LEGO Group: $250,000
Intel Foundation: $180,000

2003
National Science Foundation: $798,725
Intel Foundation: $300,000
LEGO Group: $250,000

2004
National Science Foundation: $830,374
LEGO Group: $250,000
Intel Foundation: $118,000

2005
National Science Foundation: $545,513
Intel Foundation: $290,000
Schlumberger: $10,000

2006
National Science Foundation: $430,378
Intel Foundation: $252,500
Exploratorium: $49,740
Schlumberger: $10,000

2007
National Science Foundation: $327,015
Exploratorium: $36,130
Chinese University of Hong Kong: $20,000
Microsoft: $10,000

2008
Intel Foundation: $503,000
Microsoft: $500,000
National Science Foundation: $361,382
NEC: $75,000
Nokia: $37,500

2009
Intel Foundation: $302,000
Portugal Telecom: $70,000
Martin and Shirley Resnick: $20,000
Google: $20,000
Nokia: $12,500

2010
Intel Foundation: $250,000
National Science Foundation: $249,231
Google: $130,000

2011
National Science Foundation: $1,321,642
Intel Foundation: $250,000
LEGO Foundation: $200,000
Google: $17,500
David desJardins: $10,000

2012
National Science Foundation: $1,261,516
Intel Foundation: $250,000
LEGO Foundation: $200,000
Siegel Family Endowment: $50,000
Google: $10,000

2013
National Science Foundation: $1,266,136
Intel Foundation: $250,000
MacArthur Foundation: $250,000
LEGO Foundation: $200,000
Code-to-Learn Foundation: $150,000

2014
LEGO Foundation: $900,000
National Science Foundation: $847,091
Code-to-Learn Foundation: $540,000
Google: $260,000
Intel Foundation: $250,000
LEGO Education: $100,000
Benesse: $100,000
British Telecom: $50,000
Adobe Systems: $9,000

2015
LEGO Foundation: $900,000
Code-to-Learn Foundation: $850,000
National Science Foundation: $423,776
Lemann Foundation: $350,000
Intel Foundation: $300,000
Google: $250,000
LEGO Education: $100,000
Benesse: $100,000
Adobe Systems: $38,000
David Siegel: $10,000
Jonathan Dinu: $10,000

2016
Scratch Foundation: $1,000,000
LEGO Foundation: $900,000
Lemann Foundation: $400,000
National Science Foundation: $380,869
Tides Foundation: $300,000
Google: $300,000
LEGO Education: $100,000
Benesse: $100,000
Adobe Systems: $33,700
Intel Foundation: $20,000

2017
Scratch Foundation: $1,000,000
Little Bluebridge Foundation: $1,000,000
LEGO Foundation: $900,000
TAL Education Group: $500,000
Lemann Foundation: $450,000
Google: $100,000
LEGO Education: $100,000
National Science Foundation: $80,804
Tao Ye: $50,000
Exploratorium: $30,000
Adobe Systems: $26,300
Jon Claerbout: $15,000

2018
Smilegate Foundation: $1,100,000
Little Bluebridge Foundation: $1,000,000
LEGO Foundation: $900,000
Lemann Foundation: $520,000
Scratch Foundation: $250,000
LEGO Education: $100,000
Tao Ye: $50,000

2019
Little Bluebridge Foundation: $1,000,000
LEGO Foundation: $900,000
Smilegate Foundation: $525,000
TAL Education Group: $500,000
Lemann Foundation: $371,655
LEGO Education: $300,000
Google: $35,000
Jon Claerbout: $25,000

2020
LEGO Foundation: $950,000
TAL Education Group: $500,000
Lemann Foundation: $250,000
Smilegate: $200,000
Tao Ye: $50,000
Jon Claerbout: $22,000

2021
LEGO Foundation: $2,190,000
Smilegate Foundation: $500,000
Lemann Foundation: $156,250
Jon Claerbout: $5,000

2022
LEGO Foundation: $2,492,500
Smilegate Foundation: $500,000
Lemann Foundation: $212,500

2023
LEGO Foundation: $1,000,000
Little Bluebridge Foundation: $600,000
Lemann Foundation: $212,500
Emerson Collective: $100,000
Jon Claerbout: $10,000

Notes: 

• Each year, the Lifelong Kindergarten group receives some funding from the MIT Media Lab Consortium Fund, designated to pay the tuition and stipends for several graduate students in the group (typically three students, for a total of about $200,000 per year). The Media Lab Consortium Fund receives its funding from annual membership fees paid by Media Lab member companies. 
• The sources of funding for the Scratch Foundation (previously known as the Code-to-Learn Foundation) are listed on the Scratch Foundation website. 
• The LEGO Foundation endowed a chair that pays the salary and provides $20,000 of annual discretionary funding for Mitchel Resnick, director of the Lifelong Kindergarten group
• For each grant/donation it receives, the Lifelong Kindergarten group pays a portion to the Media Lab and to MIT as an overhead charge, to cover the costs of services it receives (facilities, IT, HR, etc.).