UltiMaker Launches $500,000 "MakerBot Gives Back" Initiative to Expand 3D Printing Access in Education

UltiMaker, a global leader in desktop 3D printing, has announced the MakerBot Gives Back Initiative, pledging $500,000 worth of 3D printing resources to support educators, students, schools, and STEM organizations across North and South America. This initiative aims to provide greater access to cutting-edge technology, empowering the next generation of innovators through hands-on learning and design thinking.

Bridging the Gap in STEM Education

With a strong focus on underserved communities and low-income schools, the MakerBot Gives Back Initiative is designed to enhance STEM education by offering:
✅ 3D printers and materials for classroom use
✅ Educator training and certification programs
✅ Curriculum-integrated classroom resources
✅ New grant programs, student scholarships, and strategic partnerships

Beyond in-kind donations, UltiMaker will introduce new grants, partnerships, and scholarships, ensuring that students and educators have the necessary tools to integrate 3D printing into STEM learning.

"As we continue to see new technologies emerge, future generations will have to develop skills that will allow them to adapt to changing environments. We believe that all students should have equitable access to technologies that will enable their success in and out of the classroom," said Andrea Zermeño, Manager - MakerBot Education at UltiMaker. "For nearly 15 years, we have worked closely with educators to shape and refine our 3D printers and resources so that they fit the needs of the teacher and the classroom. Through our new initiative, we are expanding access to 3D printing resources to more educators and students to help them take classroom learning to the next level."

Expanding Access to 3D Printing in 2025

UltiMaker’s MakerBot Gives Back Initiative will roll out throughout 2025, introducing a range of programs designed to drive STEM education forward. Key elements of the initiative include:

🔹 MakerBot Education Grants – Schools and educators can apply for funding to start or expand 3D printing programs, fostering skills such as problem-solving, creativity, analytical thinking, and technological literacy.

🔹 In-Kind Donations – Resources will be provided to after-school programs, robotics clubs, STEM organizations, and other educational groups promoting hands-on STEM learning.

🔹 MakerBot Scholarship for Future Innovators – A new scholarship program will offer financial assistance to students pursuing careers in engineering, manufacturing, and additive manufacturing.

Through the MakerBot Grants program, recipients will receive access to:
✔ MakerBot Sketch Sprint 3D printers
✔ Certification and professional development training
✔ Filament, replacement parts, and classroom resources

Additionally, educators can utilize the MakerBot Grant Guide, a regularly updated resource featuring 40+ additional funding opportunities for STEM education.

 

"At UltiMaker, we are deeply committed to ensuring that students are not just passive users of technology but active creators of the future," said Dottie Stewart, VP of Sales Americas at UltiMaker. "As a newly unified company, our mission is to not only provide access to technology but to ensure it is used effectively in the classroom. By investing in design thinking and empowering educators, we are laying the foundation for students to become the problem solvers, engineers, and innovators for the companies of tomorrow."

 

How Schools and Educators Can Apply

Applications for the MakerBot Grants program will open in Spring 2025. Educators, schools, and organizations interested in receiving 3D printing resources can submit their requests through the official application page.

By integrating 3D printing and design thinking into the classroom, this initiative aims to prepare students for careers in technology, engineering, and manufacturing, equipping them with essential skills for the future workforce. Many schools lack the funding to introduce advanced learning technologies, and MakerBot Gives Back is designed to close this gap—ensuring that more students, regardless of background, have the opportunity to innovate and explore new possibilities.