Elizabeth Weiss

Elizabeth Weiss is principal director of Philanthropic Advising at the Science Philanthropy Alliance, where she works with foundations, and philanthropists to advance philanthropy in support of discovery science. Her work centers on developing philanthropic strategies aligned with donors’ goals, connecting funders with leading researchers and institutions, and supporting ambitious scientific efforts with the potential for long-term impact.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Elizabeth held a range of senior development and philanthropic leadership roles across higher education and academic medicine. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Development at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, where she was part of the leadership team for the multibillion-dollar Campaign for USC and was instrumental in increasing philanthropic support for discovery-driven research. She previously held development roles at University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of New Haven, supporting interdisciplinary science, engineering priorities, and building durable partnerships between donors and institutions.

Elizabeth is a 21/64 Certified Philanthropic Advisor and holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) credential from the American College of Financial Services. She also holds a Certificate in High Impact Philanthropy from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Haven and a B.A. from the University of Connecticut.