In 2018, newly retired entrepreneur Ross Brown contacted the Science Philanthropy Alliance with an ambitious goal: to dedicate the majority of his fortune—nearly half a billion dollars—to advancing discovery science. Though he was deeply committed to the cause, Brown was new to science philanthropy and, as he candidly put it in his first conversation with Alliance leaders, “didn’t know what the hell [he] was doing.”
With the Alliance’s support, Brown embarked on a deeply engaged philanthropic journey. Working closely with Senior Director of Philanthropic Advising Sue Merrilees, he explored giving models, met with institutional leaders, and learned from peer philanthropists.
Over several years, he refined a bold yet focused vision: a fellowship program that would provide significant, unrestricted support to mid-career chemists and physicists—those with “restless minds” and perhaps high-risk, high-reward ideas. He valued leanness and impact over scale and bureaucracy, aiming to support science directly rather than build a large foundation.
The result was the Brown Investigator Program, which awarded its first fellowships in 2021 and scaled up quickly in subsequent years. But as Brown considered the long-term future of the program, he became concerned about the risk of mission drift and unrestrained overhead expenses. Rather than build a perpetually staffed institution, he sought a partner whose values aligned with his own—and who could provide durable, trusted stewardship of the program.
That partner turned out to be Caltech, chosen not because it was his alma mater, but because he had observed it for over 70 years, “and it was remarkably unchanged.” In 2023, Brown finalized a $400 million gift to establish the Brown Institute for Basic Sciences at Caltech, which would take over administration of the program through 2070. The agreement was notable not only for its scale, but also for its structure. Caltech committed to awarding at least eight Brown Investigator grants per year—each providing $2 million in unrestricted funding over five years—while also receiving support for related research activity in chemistry and physics and for convening an annual scientific symposium.
This model was carefully designed to be a win-win: investigators across the country benefit from flexible support during a pivotal stage in their careers, while Caltech is resourced to maintain program fidelity and community without bearing undue administrative or opportunity costs.
For Brown, the arrangement offers peace of mind: a lasting legacy that reflects his values and supports generations of scientists. For Caltech, it’s an opportunity to amplify its role as a hub for discovery science while fostering a national community of investigators. And for the field, it sets a precedent—showing how thoughtful philanthropy can craft institutional partnerships that are both strategic and sustaining.