STEM Next Founding Executive Director Ron Ottinger Receives Catalyst Award from Grantmakers for Education
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STEM Next Opportunity Fund is proud to share that founding Executive Director Ron Ottinger has received the Catalyst Award from Grantmakers for Education, recognizing his longstanding leadership and contributions to expanding afterschool and summer STEM learning nationwide. This prestigious, national award recognizes education philanthropy leaders who go beyond traditional grantmaking, using expertise, relationships, advocacy and other resources to drive meaningful change.
The Catalyst Award is one of five IgniteED Awards presented annually by Grantmakers for Education to recognize the many ways education philanthropy can make a difference, from championing bold ideas and investing in emerging leaders to building powerful partnerships and using influence beyond traditional grantmaking.
Ron and other IgnitED Award winners were recognized on Wednesday, Oct. 14 during the 2026 Grantmakers for Education Annual Conference in New York, where education funders and partners from across the country gathered to explore this year’s theme, Designing Systems of Abundance and Shared Well-being.
The honor comes as Ron prepares to retire at the end of the year, after more than three decades of leadership in education. Melissa Moritz will succeed Ron as STEM Next’s next CEO, effective Nov. 1.
Over the past 20 years, Ron has been a leading champion for afterschool and summer STEM learning, first as executive director of the Noyce Foundation and later as founding executive director of STEM Next Opportunity Fund, which he helped establish in 2017. Under his leadership, STEM Next has expanded access to high-quality STEM opportunities for millions of young people through ambitious initiatives like the Million Girls Moonshot, while strengthening the partnerships and systems that support the field nationwide.
That commitment to collaboration, which the Catalyst Award celebrates, has been a defining feature of Ron’s career. At STEM Next and as founding co-chair of the STEM Funders Network and the National STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative, he has helped unite schools, afterschool programs, science centers and funders around shared goals, transforming traditionally fragmented efforts into a more coordinated national movement for STEM learning.
“Ron’s legacy of leadership and field-building within the out-of-school STEM field has directly impacted the lives of millions of young people by introducing them to STEM in flexible, collaborative settings that inspire curiosity, innovation, and the critical thinking skills needed for their futures,” said STEM Next Board Chair Jackie Schirmer. “This award honors that legacy and his unwavering dedication to transforming the landscape of afterschool and summer STEM education.”
Read the announcement to learn more about all IgniteED award winners.
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