June 26, 2025 – The Leinweber Foundation today announced its gift to Stanford University to endow the Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics at Stanford, further expanding its visionary network of institutes committed to advancing one of the most intellectually ambitious fields in science. With its latest investment in Stanford, the Leinweber Foundation’s total support for theoretical physics research across six top institutions now exceeds $100 million.
Stanford joins a growing network of Leinweber Institutes announced last month at the University of Michigan, University of California, Berkeley, University of Chicago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Institute for Advanced Study. This collective initiative is designed to foster independent research at each institution while also creating a new model for cross-institutional collaboration—supporting graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty in exploring fundamental questions about the universe.
With Stanford joining the network, the Leinweber Institutes are poised to deepen their collective impact. Stanford’s strengths in both fundamental physics and interdisciplinary research make it an essential addition to this growing collaboration, building momentum for cross-institution idea exchange and accelerating progress on the most challenging theoretical questions.
“Theoretical physics has always captured my imagination,” said Larry Leinweber, Founder and President of the Leinweber Foundation. “Stanford already has an extraordinary reputation in physics, and we’re proud to help build on that foundation. Our goal in creating this network is to give brilliant minds the freedom to pursue bold, long-term ideas—on their own campuses and across institutional lines. With Stanford’s addition, the potential for discovery and collaboration is even greater.”
The institute at Stanford will bolster the university’s capabilities in theoretical physics and enhance opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement. It will also offer new support for early career researchers and position Stanford as a key collaborator in the growing Leinweber Institute network.
“We are honored to join the Leinweber Institute network,” said Eva Silverstein, Director of the Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics at Stanford. “This transformative gift will significantly strengthen our capacity to reliably support extraordinary students and postdocs who are advancing the field. It will deepen our engagement with other leading theoretical physicists across the country. Physicists aren’t quasiparticles: Science advances through a rich interplay of contributions requiring strong interactions.”
“This expansion speaks to the strength of the vision behind the Leinweber Institutes,” said France Córdova, President of the Science Philanthropy Alliance. “It’s been a privilege to support Larry and the Foundation in building a network that not only advances discovery science, but also builds lasting bridges between leading institutions and future generations of scientists.”
ABOUT THE LEINWEBER FOUNDATION
The Leinweber Foundation is a Michigan-based family foundation dedicated to advancing broader society by investing in three key mission areas: Research, Education, and Community. The Leinweber Foundation strives to support innovative and impactful research, expand access to education for students from underserved and rural areas, and support the health and vitality of the community and beyond. Learn more at https://www.leinweberfoundation.org/.
ABOUT THE SCIENCE PHILANTHROPY ALLIANCE
The Science Philanthropy Alliance is the world’s first and longest-standing advising firm focused on helping philanthropists support basic science. Since 2014, the Alliance has influenced over $4 billion in giving, working with nearly 40 partners to advance scientific discovery through visionary philanthropy. Learn more at https://sciencephilanthropyalliance.org/.
Media Contact:
Dustin Sposato
Communications Manager, Science Philanthropy Alliance
dsposato@sciphil.org