Elaine and Stuart Sevier, council members of the Shanahan Family Foundation, bring to the Foundation a bold and future-oriented vision that reimagines public engagement with science. Their leadership catalyzed the launch of the Independent Media Initiative (IMI) in 2022, a nonprofit that empowers digital creators to explore and share science with rigor, creativity, and cultural fluency—reaching broad new audiences across the country.
From IMI's inception, the Science Philanthropy Alliance has served as a close collaborator, helping the Seviers think strategically about how to fund this emerging field and inspire peer foundations to join the effort. In IMI's first year, the Alliance helped the organization foster a partnership with the John Templeton Foundation—an early validation of the Seviers’ vision that established the first annual IMI Fest as a hub for leading educational and artistic creators on the internet.
In 2024, the Alliance helped facilitate an exciting new collaboration between IMI and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Sloan, seeking to broaden its reach through digital media, found a mission-aligned partner in IMI. Together, they launched the Sloan Science Prizes for Youtube, supporting science creators who combine intellectual depth with mainstream appeal.
The need for this work is urgent and clear. With 2.7 billion monthly active users, YouTube is the second most visited website in the world and reaches over 80% of U.S. adults—across political lines, income levels, and geographic divides. Americans now watch YouTube as much or more than television, and a single video's reach can rival the combined annual attendance of U.S. science museums. Yet despite its massive influence, YouTube remains largely overlooked by philanthropy. Supporting evidence-based creators on platforms people already trust is one of the most effective ways for funders to ensure science remains visible, relevant, and accessible.
Throughout, the Alliance has acted as a trusted advisor and connector—identifying moments of strategic alignment, opening doors, and lending credibility to a bold new model for science communications. As digital platforms reshape how people engage with science, IMI offers an inspiring blueprint for how philanthropy can meet audiences where they are and invest in a media ecosystem that is credible, inclusive, and built for the future.