The institutions that foot the bill for scientific research tend to be best at writing big checks for big projects. Now a bunch of nonprofits are trying to fund the little guys, asking for small donations to small projects. A focus on transparency—researchers must update donors
FundScience
How it works: Microdonations to individual projects or organizations, with a time limit on the fund-raising. Projects that don’t hit their targets have their funds redistributed.
What makes it different: FundScience takes donations from individuals and organizations alike.
Sample project: Researchers at the Center for Genomic Sciences are looking to study a nasty strain of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus bacteria—the most common cause of bacterial meningitis.
Amount raised: $2,500
Still to raise: $22,500
EurekaFund
How it works: Microdonations to individual projects until funding goals are met.
What makes it different: A focus on research that could benefit people living in poor communities or the developing world. A scientific advisory board reviews all grant proposals.
Sample project: A testing facility for inexpensive solar panels, to be built on the UC Berkeley campus.
Amount raised: $25,351
Still to raise: $47,229
SciFlies
How it works: Microdonations with a financing deadline. If a project doesn’t meet its funding target, donors can choose to transfer their contributions to other research.
What makes it different: As part of its effort to make science accessible to all, SciFlies pairs researchers with professional science writers to make their proposals easier to understand.
Sample project: A network of robotic sensors for Tampa Bay to measure chemical changes in the water caused by flushed-away pharmaceuticals.
Amount raised: $0
Still to raise: $12,000
Authors: Erin Biba