The Mattel Children’s Foundation was established in 1978 and is a separate charitable organization incorporated as a non-profit public benefit corporation. The Mattel Children’s Foundation is funded exclusively by cash donations from Mattel. In 2003, Mattel gave to the Foundation an aggregate of approximately $5.9 million in cash. During 2003, the Foundation distributed cash grants in the aggregate amount of approximately $5.8 million, which included a grant of $5 million to the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA.

Since its inception, the Mattel Children's Foundation has focused its strategic grantmaking on one objective: improving the lives of children. Viewing philanthropy as an investment, the Mattel Children's Foundation funds exemplary nonprofit partners that not only share but demonstrate this ideal through their compassionate outreach to children as well as their financial accountability. The philanthropic work of the Foundation is funded through a percentage of Mattel's pre-tax corporate profits.


The Mattel Children's Foundation promotes the spirit of giving companywide through the following programs:

• Employee Volunteers: established in 1991, provides Mattel headquarter employees with opportunities to give back to their communities.

• Employee Volunteer Grants: awards grants to nonprofit organizations where domestic Mattel employees contribute time, in an unpaid capacity, on an ongoing basis.

• Employee Matching Gifts: matching dollar for dollar the charitable gifts made by domestic employees to qualified nonprofit organizations, up to $5,000 annually.

• Scholarship Program: assists the children of domestic and international employees with college or university education costs.

Click to contact the Mattel Children's Foundation.