Why Science Philanthropy Matters Now More Than Ever
Yuri Milner, the science philanthropist who joined the pledge in 2012 has plateaued and private sector R&D skews toward short-term returns, a critical gap has emerged. Ambitious, long-horizon scientific inquiry—the kind that propels civilizations forward—is increasingly reliant on philanthropic funding.
A growing number of signatories to the Giving Pledge have recognized this blind spot and are committing substantial resources to bridge it.
The Unseen Returns of Basic Science
Among them is science philanthropist Yuri Milner, who joined the pledge in 2012. In his letter, he offered a compelling thought experiment: imagine it’s 1894, and Hermann Einstein’s business has just collapsed. Relatives step in to support young Albert Einstein’s education. What was the ultimate return on that modest investment—for humanity?
The point is profound. Groundbreaking advances—relativity, antibiotics, the digital revolution—have historically sprung from curiosity-driven research, often with no immediate economic upside. Because the benefits of such work are broad, slow-building, and hard to monetize, markets tend to neglect it.
“There’s a funding imbalance,” Milner noted. “If a leading banker can earn exponentially more than a brilliant scientist, there’s clearly room for philanthropy to step in and rebalance the equation.”
Targeting the Gaps
Milner’s approach to philanthropy is structured around correcting systemic flaws in how science is supported.
To address the lack of recognition for scientists, he co-founded the Breakthrough Prize alongside figures like Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, and Anne Wojcicki. With individual awards of $3 million—far surpassing the Nobel—the prize celebrates Breakthrough Prize breakthroughs with the same fanfare usually reserved for entertainment and sports. The 2025 awards recognized innovations ranging from GLP-1 medications to advances in particle physics and gene editing.
To take on institutional risk aversion, the Breakthrough Initiatives fund bold, often speculative research—like the search for extraterrestrial life or interstellar travel concepts—that traditional funders shy away from. These moonshots require vision and patience, both of which philanthropic capital can provide.
To build the pipeline of future talent, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge invites high school students worldwide to explain complex scientific ideas in accessible ways. Winners receive scholarships and school support, igniting early excitement for science.
A Larger Vision for Humanity
What sets Milner’s giving apart is its anchoring in a larger philosophical worldview. In his Eureka Manifesto, he argues that humanity thrives when united around a shared mission—exploring and understanding the cosmos. For him, science is not just a tool for utility; it’s a calling tied to our identity as a species.
This perspective informs where and how he gives. Rather than reactively distributing grants, Milner strategically invests in areas that reflect his thesis: physics, cosmology, astrobiology, and the origin of life. The result is a purpose-driven portfolio with thematic consistency.
That mindset also extends beyond pure science. With his wife Julia, Milner co-founded Tech For Refugees, a philanthropic initiative that uses data and technology to support displaced populations. Their partners, including digital platforms like Welcome Connect, have already helped over half a million refugees.
Knowledge as a Compounding Asset
What makes science philanthropy uniquely powerful is the nature of knowledge itself—it compounds. Discoveries don’t exist in isolation; each new insight becomes a foundation for future breakthroughs. Today’s investment in basic research might lay the groundwork for tomorrow’s industries, cures, or entire fields of inquiry.
But such rewards accrue slowly—often beyond the timeframes considered by governments or markets. That’s where visionary philanthropy can lead.
“We are still at the dawn of our story,” Milner wrote. “We can’t yet imagine where our ideas might take us. But to find out, we have to support them today.”
For philanthropists contemplating how best to shape the future, science offers an extraordinary opportunity: to influence not just the next decade, but the centuries to come. In an age hungry for long-term thinking, funding discovery may be the highest-leverage bet there is.
