ABOUT THE ALLIANCE
Basic scientific research provides the foundation for discoveries that are critical to our long-term economic growth and societal well-being, and philanthropic institutions and individuals have a crucial role to play in supporting it. The Science Philanthropy Alliance was founded by six funders committed to basic, discovery-driven scientific research working together to increas
e private investment in fundamental research and to ultimately help ensure a better and more prosperous future. By serving as an impartial adviser to philanthropists, promoting collaboration among those who are interested in this vital stage of scientific discovery, and bringing together donors and top scientists, the Science Philanthropy Alliance aims to substantially increase philanthropic funding for fundamental research and create a community of funders for discovery-driven scientific inquiry. BASIC, DISCOVERY-DRIVEN RESEARCH
Driven by the desire to discover new knowledge, basic scientific research has led to innovations that have transformed the world—from the discovery of penicillin and the mapping of the human genome to technologies such as MRIs, lasers, and cell phones. Yet the results of such research generally cannot be predicted ahead of time, and realizing the full impact of this type of science often takes decades. A growing emphasis on immediate accountability of tax dollars and short-term profitability of scientific investments is shifting funding toward shorter-term, more applied and outcomes-driven research. Because basic research is an essential building block of our long-term economic and societal success, increased support is crucial for a global economy whose engine is fueled by advances in science and technology. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIVATE FUNDING
Philanthropists and philanthropic institutions have an opportunity to include basic science research funding in their philanthropic strategy. Philanthropy plays an important role in complementing federal and industry support. There are multiple opportunities for philanthropy to make a difference, yet there are very few private funders of basic, discovery-driven research. Private funders have the flexibility to support nascent ideas and early discoveries that drive breakthroughs; they also have the ability to be nimble and help scale up and accelerate breakthroughs. The Science Philanthropy Alliance helps philanthropists direct their charitable funds to extraordinary opportunities with no other interest than to advance fundamental scientific and mathematical discoveries.
