September 29, 2023 A Look at How the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Backs Biomedical Researchers September 29, 2023/ Paul Karon Spun out of the Wellcome Trust, the U.S.-based Burroughs Wellcome Fund continues to sharpen its focus around diversity and equity in research, supporting early-career scientists, and more.Read More
September 19, 2023 Why This Texas Billionaire Is Giving Big for Biodiversity Science in the Lone Star State September 19, 2023/ Paul Karon Low-key philanthropist Stephen Winn, a Dallas-based investor and tech businessman, and his family have committed $50 million to help the University of Texas at Austin sharply expand ecology and climate research in the state.Read More
September 13, 2023 As It Shifts Strategies, the Kavli Foundation’s Zeroing in on How Climate Change Affects the Brain September 13, 2023/ Paul Karon Continuing its strategic shift, the veteran science funder has launched another new program. The aim is to address an underappreciated aspect of climate change: how it affects the neural systems of humans and animals.Read More
September 06, 2023 A Local Foundation, a Little-Known College, and a Potential HIV and Cancer Breakthrough September 06, 2023/ Paul Karon The Engelstad Foundation supported Touro University Nevada's lone biomedical lab when few other funders would. A recent discovery there could lead to new treatments for HIV, and even cancer, Alzheimer’s and more.Read More
August 11, 2023 AI for the Planet: How One of the World's Biggest Tech Firms Is Backing AI-Powered Climate Science August 11, 2023/ Paul Karon Google.org is putting artificial intelligence at the center of its current efforts to foster innovation in climate research. It’s something of a return to form for a corporate funder that previously focused heavily on COVID response.Read More
August 03, 2023 Big Changes Underway at Kavli, Starting With a Program to Aid Scholars Escaping Global Strife August 03, 2023/ Paul Karon For decades, the bulk of the Kavli Foundation's funding went to establishing scientific institutes with multimillion-dollar endowments. Now, a new president is reshaping the science funder's strategy.Read More
July 26, 2023 Moved by a Schizophrenia Diagnosis, This Family Is Channeling Millions Toward Mental Health July 26, 2023/ Simone Ellin Shari and Garen Staglin’s son Brandon began showing symptoms of schizophrenia as a teen. Today, he’s president of One Mind, which backs mental health, and the family is raising serious funds for research and more.Read More
July 26, 2023 AI Is Suddenly Everywhere, but Philanthropy Has Been Involved for Years. Here Are the Top Funders July 26, 2023/ Paul Karon Artificial intelligence is on everyone’s mind now, but philanthropy has been boosting research or bracing for its implications for some time. Here are the major funders involved in the field.Read More
July 19, 2023 Save the Bees, Bats and Butterflies: How Rotary International Is Making Pollinators a Priority July 19, 2023/ Liz Longley Birds, bats, bees and other insects play an integral role in global food systems, biodiversity and climate. This membership-based organization and its foundation are working to protect and restore pollinators. Read More
July 13, 2023 Type 1 Diabetes Is an Overlooked Global Threat. This Health Funder Has Made it a Top Priority July 13, 2023/ Liz Longley Among non-communicable diseases, diabetes has a particularly low profile as a global health concern. The Helmsley Charitable Trust has made it a central focus, including two recent commitments to the WHO. Read More
June 29, 2023 A Philanthropic Push to Diversify the Ranks of Researchers in Economics and Other Social Sciences June 29, 2023/ Paul Karon The Russell Sage Foundation's Pipeline Grants Competition, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, promotes the careers of diverse academics who study economic opportunity, equality and social mobility.Read More
June 20, 2023 The Schmidt Ocean Institute Cracks the Champagne on One of the World's Largest Research Vessels June 20, 2023/ Paul Karon Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s ocean science outfit has been helping scientists study the sea since 2009. The organization recently launched an advanced new science vessel, and it's free to scientists.Read More
June 09, 2023 A New Big Gift Tackles the Problem of Inflammatory and Immune-Mediated Disease June 09, 2023/ Paul Karon To build up collaborative research infrastructure, a landmark $100 million gift from businessman Gene Lay will launch a new institute spanning Brigham and Women's Hospital, Mass General and Harvard Medical School. Read More
May 17, 2023 Can an Aging Population Stay Healthy? Two Global Funders Hope to Unlock the Secrets of Resilience May 17, 2023/ Liz Longley Humans are living longer, but in our later years, we become more vulnerable to injury and age-related diseases. Wellcome Leap and the Singapore-based Temasek Trust are funding a new program to extend “healthspans.”Read More
May 17, 2023 How Wall Street Winner Anne Dinning Backs Anti-Poverty Work and More May 17, 2023/ Ade Adeniji This leader at quantitative investment firm D.E. Shaw & Co. has been a big backer of the Robin Hood Foundation, along with public health work and other causes. With a fortune of $900 million, expect more giving to come.Read More
May 10, 2023 The Huge Philanthropic Gift at the Heart of a Major University Initiative to Advance Computing May 10, 2023/ Paul Karon A $260 million gift from the Lord Foundation of California to USC seeded a billion-dollar, campus-wide effort to reshape technology research and teaching. It’s part of a unique windfall of funds that boosted four universities.Read More
April 20, 2023 A Major Gift for Alzheimer's at a Pivotal Time for the Development of Treatments April 20, 2023/ Paul Karon The Lauder family, with wealth from the cosmetics dynasty, is a top supporter of Alzheimer's research. We take a closer look at a recent $200 million commitment for drug development and philanthropy’s role in the field.Read More
April 04, 2023 CZI’s Grant for Diversity in Neuroscience is a Positive Development. Is it Part of a Larger Trend? April 04, 2023/ Dawn Wolfe The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is backing an effort to diversify the neuroscience field and the people participating in research on brain disorders. Is more such funding on the way? Read More
March 28, 2023 Gordon Moore's Philanthropy Was Rooted in a Fundamental Optimism About Science and Tech March 28, 2023/ Paul Karon Computer technology pioneer Gordon Moore died last week at age 94. His legacy includes the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation — and a dedication to the idea that scientific progress can change the world.Read More
March 15, 2023 Roku Founder Anthony Wood Is a Billionaire Donor to Watch. Here's an Overview March 15, 2023/ Philip Rojc Serial entrepreneur Anthony Wood helped usher in the current dominance of streaming TV. Now, he’s also ramping up his philanthropy with a DAF-centric approach and interests across a range of causes.Read More