The Science History Institute collects, preserves, interprets, and shares the history of science and technology—telling the stories behind scientific discoveries and examining how science and society intersect through research, public programming, exhibitions, publications, and education.
A recurring pattern defines Science History Institute Support Company’s recent giving: large general-assistance grants to the Science History Institute itself. The three largest grants on file all went to Science History Institute in Philadelphia for general assistance, including $6,160,985 in 2025, $5,811,625 in 2024, and $5,700,940 in 2023. That funding sits alongside a broader program of fellowships, awards, and travel support tied to the history of science and technology, with particular emphasis on chemistry, chemical engineering, biotechnology, and the life sciences. The Institute’s grantmaking is closely connected to its own collections and public mission, supporting research that uses archival and digital resources as well as public understanding of scientific discovery. The support company also backs named fellowships funded through endowed and donor gifts, including Allington, Cain, Doan, Garfield, Haas, Price, and Ullyot fellowships. In addition to research support, its programs reach public audiences through exhibitions, publications, education, and awards recognizing contributions in chemistry and related fields.
The foundation supports research centered on the history of science and technology, especially the history of chemistry and the chemical and molecular sciences. Its fellowships include support for scholars using the Institute’s collections, and the Beckman Center fellowships add residential options for research in the history of chemistry, the molecular and chemical sciences, history of technology, and the history and social studies of science, medicine, and technology. It also funds the Othmer Library Travel Grants, which help scholars travel to Philadelphia for research visits. Public recognition is another clear thread. The Science History Institute Awards Program includes medals and prizes such as the Othmer Gold Medal, the Bolte Award, the Perkin Medal, the Biotechnology Heritage Award, the SCI Moore Medal, and the Ullyot Public Affairs Lecture & Award. These awards point to support for achievements in chemistry, biotechnology heritage, public affairs, and industry-related innovation.
The grant size profile is tightly clustered: p25 is $5,756,282, median is $5,811,625, and p75 is $5,986,305. That concentration aligns with a pattern of substantial, repeated support rather than many small awards. The top grants on file appear in consecutive years, all to the Science History Institute for general assistance, showing a recurring relationship. The organization does not fund individuals directly as a general practice, but its active programs include fellowships and travel grants for scholars. Accepting unsolicited applications is part of several fellowship and travel-grant programs.
$6.2M
$213.9M
$32.7M
$9.5M
Most grants fall between $5.8M and $6M, with a median of $5.8M.
25th Percentile
$5.8M
Median
$5.8M
75th Percentile
$6M
About 100% of grants go to recipients in PA.
STEPHANIE KISH
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Giving is local and entirely U.S.-based in the recent grants sample, with 100% of grants going to recipients in Pennsylvania. The named recipient city in the recent-grants list is Philadelphia. Program geography is broader than the recent grants: fellowships and travel grants can reach U.S. and international scholars, and the Beckman Center fellowships are listed as international. The recent grant record itself, however, lands in the foundation’s own city and state.
It supports research in the history of science and technology, with emphasis on the history of chemistry, chemical engineering, the life sciences and biotechnology, and the social history of the chemical and molecular sciences. Several programs are built around use of the Institute’s collections and archives.
Yes. Its active programs include named fellowships, general fellowships, Beckman Center fellowships, and Othmer Library Travel Grants. These programs support scholars conducting research with the Institute’s collections and resources, and the travel grants are specifically for researchers more than 75 miles from Philadelphia.
Typical grant size is very large and tightly grouped: the 25th percentile is $5,756,282, the median is $5,811,625, and the 75th percentile is $5,986,305. The recent grants list shows three consecutive annual awards in that same range.
Recent grantmaking is local: 100% of grants in the sample went to Pennsylvania recipients, all in Philadelphia. The program offerings themselves reach beyond Pennsylvania, with fellowships and travel grants listed for U.S. and international scholars.
Several program types accept unsolicited applications, including Named Fellowships, Fellowships, Beckman Center Fellowships, and Othmer Library Travel Grants. The Awards Program is not listed as accepting unsolicited applications.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $6,160,985 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,811,625 | 2024 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,700,940 | 2023 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE
$6,160,985GENERAL ASSISTANCE
SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE
$5,811,625GENERAL ASSISTANCE
SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE
$5,700,940GENERAL ASSISTANCE