Introduction to Science Philanthropy: Part Two - How Does Giving to Science Work?

I’ve spent over 35 years talking with philanthropists about funding scientific research and development.  The vast majority of my science philanthropy advising has involved first helping wealthy donors or foundations clarify their motivations for giving, and then helping them feel confident about their funding decisions.  Often advising is about asking the right questions and knowing where to find the answers. I have seen many instances where science lies at the root of a funder’s aspirations.  The motto of philanthropist Lyda Hill, billionaire Giving Pledge signatory, is "science is the answer". So I’ll ask you - what is your client’s question? I bet it can be answered with a science solution.

Giving While Learning

 It can feel overwhelming for funders to figure out where and how to give for the biggest impact, especially if they are relatively new to philanthropy. The truth is, there is rarely just one “right” answer. To overcome the hurdle of trying to make a perfect funding decision (as there are infinite worthy causes), I encourage philanthropists to take a “giving while learning” approach  and pick one person, project, or collaborative and start funding it. 

Once an initial decision has been made, encourage your donor to spend some time with the scientist or organization they  have funded or review their progress reports.  Have them ask themselves: 

1. Do I get satisfaction from hearing from the scientist or reading about their research and accomplishments?

2. Does this gift complement other donations I’m making, in terms of adding up together for greater impact?

3. Is this organization enabling me to engage with scientists and their students, or helping me meet other funders?

If the initial results of the funding are positive, you might then ask your client if they are content to  make a one-time gift, or if they want to support an issue or organization over time? By funding over the long term, they can “join the journey” of science and witness the excitement of discoveries as well as the challenges of disappointing results that are still valuable for the field. The time-to-impact for science research is unpredictable, so understanding your funder’s temporal expectations can be helpful. 

Science Philanthropy Spotlight

Ron, an attorney and friend of a wealthy family who made their money in real estate, was asked to set up their philanthropic giving. The family was interested in improving human health primarily through medical research, but didn’t know where to start. Ron encouraged the family to take a “giving while learning” approach. A neurosurgeon friend introduced him to two neuroscientists at two nearby universities who appeared to be doing cutting- edge research. Ron met with the scientists and said to each of them, “we’ll give you $200,000 to support your research, if you educate me in the science basics, implications for advancing human health and what is required to fund a scientist’s research lab”. These were the first two significant grants by the Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation a decade ago. Since then, the foundation has become a consistent funder of basic science research, supporting life scientists at multiple research universities primarily on the west coast.

Funding Options

In every field of science, from autoimmune diseases to oceans, there are categories of funding opportunities where donors can start their giving journey. Here are examples of funding opportunities in several categories to consider exploring with your clients.

Impact at Every Scale

“But I’ll never be able to fund at the scale of Bill Gates.” This is a common refrain from donors, but only a handful of people on the planet can rival Bill’s wealth. Funding at any scale can make an impact, either immediately or over time. Rather than worry about the amount of their donations, encourage your donors to be strategic with their funding and select their niche to make an impact. 

Small Scale

Here are examples of funding opportunities in the four- to six-figure  range:

1. Fund graduate students, postdocs, or a summer program or internship for undergraduates at a local institution or your alma mater.

2.  Sponsor a conference in a scientific field of interest and attend to learn about the research.

3. Fund scientists who are transitioning to a career of science communications as journalists.

Mid Scale

Here are examples of funding opportunities in the six-  to seven-figure  range that could be made over multiple years: 

1. Fund one scientist’s lab to support activities such as hiring graduate students and research assistants, equipment use, data storage, or computational resources.

2. Create an annual research award or prize in a specific field or department at a university.

3. Support collaborations between scientists at multiple labs who are working on the same problem.

Large Scale

Here are examples of seven-figure  or larger multi-year pledges:

1. Establish a new center or institute to gather scientists together to work jointly on a big problem.

2. Incentivize collaborations between scientists at multiple institutions, perhaps globally, who are working on the same problem and have complimentary approaches to bring toward the solution.

3. Fund a challenge to solve an intractable problem through a broad request for proposals to address the issue.

Conclusion

Adopting a giving while learning approach enables your clients to dive in and begin their journey supporting science. By having a clear purpose or mission, they can develop focus areas of interest in science. When selecting what to fund, help them identify which type of funding category will best move them toward their mission and give them the most satisfaction. Some funders prefer funding people, while others prefer to support fields, issues, gaps, or systems. Each type of gift furthers the overall scientific enterprise, and leads the world closer to unlocking the mysteries of nature and solving the health and climate issues of our time.

Previous Article in Series - Part 1: Introduction to Science Philanthropy

Coming Soon - Part 3: Finding Partners On Your Science Philanthropy Journey

©2026 Daylight Advisors, Inc.