The Philanthropy 50 2009 Gift Profile: Paul G. Allen

Paul G. Allen: $85-million

Biggest beneficiary: Allen Institute for Brain Science

Other key beneficiaries: Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Experience Music Project, and the Science Fiction Museum

Donor’s background: Mr. Allen founded Vulcan, an investment company in Seattle, and helped establish Microsoft, in Redmond, Wash.

Mr. Allen, 57, gave $42-million to the Allen Institute for Brain Science, in Seattle, for neuroscience and genomics research programs, such as the Allen Brain Atlas projects, an effort to map gene activity in the brains of both mice and humans. Mr. Allen founded the institute in 2003.

In addition, he donated approximately $31-million to the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, in Seattle, to support arts and culture programs, as well as social-service organizations. The grant maker gave out $15-million in grants in 2009. The largest of those include $400,000 to the Washington State STEM Education Foundation, in Richland, for its Delta High School program, in Kennewick, Wash., to help teachers gain additional skills in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; $250,000 to the Seattle Economic Development Association for the King County Low Income Credit Union Project; $200,000 to the Oregon Food Bank, in Portland, to purchase food; $150,000 to the Hopa Mountain Foundation, in Bozeman, Mont., for literacy and youth programs in rural and tribal areas; and $75,000 to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, in Anchorage, for an exhibit.

Mr. Allen also gave a total of $12-million to the Experience Music Project, a museum he established in 2000 that is dedicated to rock music, and to the Science Fiction Museum, which he started in 2003. Both are in Seattle.

—Maria Di Mento

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