Over the past few years, more and more funders with free-standing, endowed, or well-resourced private philanthropies have reached out to us asking us for help connecting them to potential co-funders. … At first, they describe it as “co-funder acquisition” or “resource mobilization” or “seeking philanthropic partners,” ... At some point, we realized we were witnessing a new trend: funders fundraising.

Read about this new trend

I’ve spent some time pondering what I’ve learned climbing my own mountain of learning during my more than three decades of working with philanthropists, the scientists they support, and those who span these worlds — the science philanthropy advisors, like myself.

Read Anticipate the Cliff.

If a large-enough asteroid struck Earth, it could really put a damper on our day. Valerie Conn talks Watch this TED TALKus through what we should be worried about -- and what scientists around the world are doing now to help us avoid a major asteroid strike. Should we be doing more?

Watch this TED TALK

How is philanthropy accelerating breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder? Is this moment in brain health research analogous to where cancer was a few decades ago? … This panel from the Smithsonian’s 2019 POWER OF GIVING program, moderated by Valerie Conn discusses the intersection of philanthropy, government, investors, and pharma in neuroscience research.

Watch Health & Medicine: Funding New Frontiers in Neuroscience

A question I often get from research institutions seeking funding for scientific research is “what do philanthropists want?”. In my role as advisor to philanthropists who are interested in supporting science, I have a front row view to this question.

Read about it

Watch this!

Twice a year, the members of the Science Philanthropy Alliance gather to talk about the successes and challenges they face in their discovery science giving, and to learn from each other. … Marilyn Simons, president of the Simons Foundation, moderated a panel with Harvey Fineberg, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Shelby White, founder of the Leon Levy Foundation. They articulated contrasting approaches that foundations take in their giving, which I wanted to share.

Read about it

“Through discovery science, private funders can make a big impact on the future of science, health and technology,” Conn said. “discovery science funding ensures science breakthroughs can happen over the next decade and beyond.”

Read Cracking the Code

We live in a world that discovery science built—the long-term funding decisions made years and decades ago that have led to the discoveries that shape our lives today. Here’s an example that might strike home. Fifty years ago, the scientific community invested in basic research that led to genetic sequencing technology, an essential first step to develop a vaccination for a virus, such as for SARS-Cov-2, which causes Covid-19.

Read about it

AIRI is proud to present the 2018 Public Service Award to the Science Philanthropy Alliance. The Alliance is a community of funders who serve both as champions and advisors to other philanthropists to ensure more private funding is committed to basic research initiatives to support scientific, technological and medical breakthroughs.

Learn Abou the Award