Community Engagement and Philanthropy

As part of our commitment to community engagement, we encourage our operating companies and employees to be involved in the communities where we operate, and we offer programs to support local charitable and philanthropic efforts. We believe that philanthropic engagement extends our ability to make a positive impact on our local communities beyond our operations and is a meaningful way to foster employee goodwill.

The Dover Foundation (“Foundation”), established in 2011, seeks to support not-for-profit organizations, causes, and programs that promote education and literacy; inclusion and engagement; the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) initiatives; and other local community needs identified and supported by our operating companies.

In 2024, the Dover Foundation contributed $1,204,881 in grants, scholarships, and matching gifts

Education

The Foundation believes education plays an important role in sustaining individual and societal improvement and promoting strong communities, a vibrant economy, and a skilled workforce for the future. The Dover Scholars Program is a significant way the Foundation demonstrates its commitment to education.


Inclusion and Engagement

Dover is a proud partner of the American Heart Association (AHA), and as a part of our sponsorship, we supported STEM Goes Red, which is the AHA initiative to deepen the pipeline of women entering STEM careers through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and networking opportunities. STEM Goes Red is addressing a significant gap in STEM opportunities for young women: 100% of participating students attend underserved schools without extracurricular STEM programs. In 2024, over 145 high school girls from the Chicago area attended the annual STEM Goes Red event, and participated in networking, panel discussions, and breakout sessions with leaders in STEM industries.


Advancement of Stem

A Decade-Long Partnership Advancing Equitable Education and Access to Science Learning

For more than a decade, the Dover Foundation has been a committed and valued partner to Shedd Aquarium. Together, we’ve worked to expand access to high-quality, hands-on science education for students and educators across Chicago. This long-standing philanthropic relationship has played a vital role in helping Shedd reach more than 150,000 students annually—many of whom come from under-resourced communities—and create transformative educational experiences both inside and beyond the aquarium’s walls.

The Dover Foundation’s support has been instrumental in launching and sustaining key initiatives that advance Shedd’s mission to spark compassion, curiosity, and conservation for the aquatic animal world. Two signature programs from 2024 include the Science Educators Conference and the Education Access Program.

Science Educators Conference

Dover's support enables Shedd’s annual Science Educators Conference. In 2024, the program welcomed 79 teachers for an immersive experience designed to enhance science instruction in alignment with classroom needs.

The program fosters a dynamic learning community where educators:

  • Gain awareness of Shedd’s educational tools for in- and out-of-classroom use
  • Practice inquiry-based, student-centered instructional methods
  • Exchange ideas and best practices with fellow educators across Chicago

Education Access Program

The Dover Foundation also supports Shedd’s Education Access Program, which reimagines traditional field trips to ensure every student—regardless of background—can access the aquarium’s learning resources. In 2024 alone, 3,136 students from 44 Chicago Public Schools participated in this fully complimentary, multi-day experience, which took place both virtually and through an on-site field trip.

Aligned with Chicago Public Schools’ Amplify Science curriculum and Next Generation Science Standards, this program brings animal science to life by focusing on topics like animal communication and sound in nature. With live footage, interactive digital content, and in-person animal encounters, students work through real-world challenges, such as how dolphins use sound to navigate and interact.

Together, these programs reflect Shedd Aquarium’s commitment to learning and community, and they would not be possible without the dedicated support of the Dover Foundation. With Dover’s partnership, we continue to bridge educational gaps, invest in educators, and empower Chicago’s youth—especially in under-resourced communities —with the tools, experiences, and inspiration to thrive in school and beyond.

Dover Scholars Program

The Dover Scholars Program awards scholarships to high school seniors and college students who are the children or dependents of Dover employees, with selections based on each student’s academic performance, leadership abilities, and extracurricular activities. Dover Scholars Program recipients are eligible for a recurring or multi-year scholarship of up to $3,000 per year for a maximum of $12,000 for their undergraduate studies. All awards are made on a competitive basis by an impartial, outside committee comprised of academic professionals with student evaluation backgrounds from prominent universities. During its 14 year history, the program has awarded 464 scholarships valued at nearly $3.5 million in financial support.


Community Involvement

Our commitment to community engagement goes well beyond philanthropic giving. Dover operating companies around the world donate products and empower their employees to volunteer their time and talent in the communities where they live and work. Please see The Dover Foundation in the Community for the latest stories of our passionate employees making an impact in their communities.


Community Partnerships

The Dover Foundation regularly partners with institutions and organizations in support of its focus areas. The Foundation believes that the collective impact of its philanthropic investment and engagement efforts are amplified through its partnerships with respected local organizations. In 2024, the Foundation provided nearly $1,000,000 in grants and contributions through community partnerships.

The Dover Foundation is especially active in the Chicago area, where Dover maintains its headquarters, but also partners with local organizations in many of the communities where Dover’s operating companies are located. We encourage our operating companies and employees around the world to be engaged and active members of the communities where they live and work, and where Dover does business. To assist our operating companies in their efforts to make a positive impact, the Dover Foundation makes available grants of up to $5,000 to qualifying organizations when a contribution of equal or greater value is made directly by the local Dover operating company. These grants support a wide range of community needs, including hunger, health, social, and youth services.

  • Dover Announces 2025 Scholarship Program Winners

    Apr 17, 2025

    Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV) today announced the names of 31 recipients of its Dover Foundation Scholars Program. This year’s winners represent all five of Dover’s operating segments and nearly all of its Operating Companies.

    The program provides scholarships to the children of full-time employees of Dover and its Operating Companies around the world. Selections are made by an independent panel of college admissions professionals and are based on each student’s academic performance, leadership abilities and extracurricular activities.

    Read full story

The Dover Foundation in the Community

Our key partners include:

  • Museum of Science and Industry Logo
  • Shedd
  • MSI Logo 2024
  • kohl children's museum logo

  • WBEZ
  • American Heart Association Logo

We also proudly support:

  • Junior achievement
  • USO
  • Midtown Edu
  • Project Hero

  • GWC_Final-Logo_Teal
  • LOGO
  • logo

HOW THE DOVER FOUNDATION SUPPORTS OUR OPERATING COMPANY COMMUNITIES

The Dover Foundation, in partnership with our operating companies, has supported many important community programs, including the following:

  • Belvac: Jubilee Family Development Center, United Way of Central Virginia, Habitat for Humanity
  • Blackmer: Cornerstone University and Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative
  • CPC: Second Harvest Heartland and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  • Cook Compression: Susan G. Komen Foundation – Houston
  • Dover Food Retail: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Cancer Society
  • Dover Fueling Solutions: ABF The Soldiers Charity
  • Dover Precision Components: Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation, Special Olympics Texas, Inc. and Centerfield Elementary PTA, Safer Foundation
  • Hillphoenix: Van Buren County Hospital & Clinic and Indian Hills Community College
  • Hydro Systems: Teen Challenge Cincinnati
  • Inpro/Seal: Aspire and Junior Achievement of the Heartland
  • MAAG: Pestalozzi Children's Foundation, Six District Educational Compact - Engineering Academy
  • Markem-Imaje: Monadnock United Way
  • OPW: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Shared Harvest Foodbank, Inc., Teen Challenge Cincinnati, and Alzheimer’ Association, World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
  • PDQ: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin
  • Pole/Zero: Teen Challenge Cincinnati
  • PSG: Laura’s House and West Grand Neighborhood Organization
  • TWG: Make A Wish Foundation of Oklahoma
  • VSG: Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County, King's Daughters' Hospital Foundation, Fondazione Città della Speranz and Wake Tech Community College Foundation
  • Waukesha Bearings: Antigo Area Food Pantry, Asante® Foundation, Aspire of Illinois