Discovery Institute
Discovery Institute is a Seattle-based nonprofit focused on research, education, action, and cultural renewal. Its 2024 filing identifies it as a public charity and describes programs spanning science and culture, economics, artificial intelligence, technology, education, and public service.
Discovery Institute at a glance
In short: Discovery Institute gave $639K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $53K), mostly in Texas. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $639,148
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $53,262
- -4.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $28,126
- Total assets
- $10,129,488
- -13.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (2 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (69% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Discovery Institute
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Center for Science and Culture does not accept unsolicited requests; research funding requests are considered by invitation only. The website says prospective recipients generally need a PhD in their field and an established record of research excellence. Grants do not provide funding for indirect costs.
- Contact
Mailing address: 208 Columbia St, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 292-0401
Website: https://discovery.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Discovery Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was William Marsh Rice University ($260K). Together the top 10 received $627K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 41 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Institute is based in Seattle. Its 2024 grants were distributed among recipients in multiple states. Texas accounted for 69% of grant dollars, followed by New York (13%), New Mexico (7%), Alabama (5%), and California (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Discovery Institute open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 12 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $46K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $46K first-time, $28K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $495K (2022) to $639K (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $639K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| William Marsh Rice University Houston, TX | Scientific Research | $260,000 |
| Education Access LLC Aubrey, TX | Scientific Research | $125,000 |
| Stony Brook Foundation Stony Brook, NY | Research | $85,676 |
| Continental Economics Edgewood, NM | Research | $42,500 |
| Baylor University Waco, TX | Scientific Research | $32,000 |
| TELLUS1 Scientific LLC Huntsville, AL | Scientific Research | $31,252 |
| Chesalon USA Houston, TX | Scientific Research | $25,000 |
| Morio Labs Fullerton, CA | Scientific Research | $12,000 |
| Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH | Scientific Research | $7,000 |
| Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, TN | Scientific Research | $7,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Discovery Institute?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,129,488 | $11,832,816 | $13,203,778 | $639,148 | 12 | $211,685 |
| 2023 | $11,739,895 | $10,240,771 | $9,846,072 | $559,004 | 10 | $98,123 |
| 2022 | $11,431,910 | $10,099,775 | $10,816,758 | $494,767 | 7 | $4,562 |
| 2021 | $11,437,135 | $11,706,535 | $11,467,910 | $621,546 | 6 | $265 |
| 2020 | $11,143,661 | $9,291,981 | $5,859,879 | $542,029 | 6 | $6,401 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Institute’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is “to advance a culture of purpose, creativity, and innovation in a diverse set of fields” through education, research, and analysis of local, regional, national, and international issues.
The filing describes programs addressing intelligent design; free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and stewardship; artificial intelligence and human exceptionalism; leadership and public service; technology and democracy; Pacific Northwest regional cooperation; human exceptionalism; religion and civic life; and education policy. The Institute’s website describes its Center for Science and Culture as supporting scientific research, scholarship, education, outreach, and academic freedom.
In 2024, grants went to universities, foundations, and businesses. The grantees’ own descriptions reflect varied missions: Rice University describes itself as a research university committed to undergraduate education; Stony Brook Foundation says it advances SUNY Stony Brook’s mission by managing philanthropic gifts; and Baylor University says its mission integrates academic excellence and Christian commitment. Other university grantees describe missions involving research and scholarship, student development and service, or liberal-arts education in the context of Christian faith.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Institute reported 12 grants totaling $639,148. Grant amounts ranged from $5,720 to $260,000, with a median of $28,126. The largest awards were $260,000 to William Marsh Rice University for scientific research, $125,000 to Education Access LLC for scientific research, and $85,676 to Stony Brook Foundation for research. Other notable awards included $42,500 to Continental Economics for research and $32,000 to Baylor University for scientific research.
The Institute’s website says grants and fellowships have primarily gone to scientists and scholars affiliated with its Center for Science and Culture, with a small number more recently allocated to researchers at other institutions and universities. It states that research funding requests are considered by invitation only; recipients generally are required to have a PhD in their field and an established record of research excellence. Grants do not cover indirect costs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Steven Buri as president; John West as vice president/PR; Steve Schwarz as director of finance and operations; and Kelley Unger as secretary. It also lists Stephen Meyer, Keri Ingrahm, Jonathan Choe, David Klinghoffer, Jonathan Witt, and Nate Jacobson as employees.
Discovery Institute is led by John West, Vice President & President on every filing since 2020; 11 of 27 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John West
Vice President & President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$155K (2020) → $215K (2024)
Steven Buri
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$185K (2020) → $253K (2024)
Bruce Chapman
Chairman
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$91K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Steve Schwarz
Director Finance
Vice President → Director Finance, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$101K (2020) → $130K (2024)
Jonathan Witt
Employee
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$112K (2020) → $148K (2024)
Kelley Unger
Secretary
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$87K (2020) → $124K (2024)
Stephen Meyer
Employee
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$225K (2020) → $218K (2024)
Keri Ingrahm
Employee
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$129K (2021) → $155K (2024)
David Klinghoffer
Employee
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$127K (2022) → $131K (2024)
Jonathan Choe
Employee
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$145K (2023) → $164K (2024)
Nate Jacobson
Employee
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$135K (2023) → $137K (2024)
Bryan Mistele
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Byron Nutley
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Chuck Barbo
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David Barber
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Howard Ahmanson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James Spady
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kathy Conners
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mariana Parks
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mike Dunn
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard Greiling
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Skip Gilliland
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Edmund Moy
Board Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Walter Myers III
Board Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Annmarie Kelly
Board Member
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Cole Smead
Board Member
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Eric Garcia
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Tony Whatley (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: William Dembski (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Andrew McDiarmid (2022) — Employee
- Former: Casey Luskin (2022) — Employee
- Former: Ann Kelly (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jonathan Wells (2020–2021) — Employee
- Former: Raymond J. Waldmann (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Chris Rufo (2020) — Employee
- Former: Slade Gorton (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $253K, to Steven Buri (President). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Discovery Institute
How much does Discovery Institute give each year?
Discovery Institute gave $639K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $559K across 10 grants.
What is Discovery Institute's typical grant size?
Discovery Institute's median grant in 2024 was $28,126, and its average grant was $53,262, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Discovery Institute that year got $46K on average.
Where does Discovery Institute give grants?
Discovery Institute gives mostly in Texas: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (13%) and New Mexico (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (2 grants).
Does Discovery Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Discovery Institute's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scientific Research" (8 grants) and "Research" (4 grants).
Who are Discovery Institute's largest grantees?
Discovery Institute's largest 2024 grantees include William Marsh Rice University ($260,000), Education Access LLC ($125,000) and Stony Brook Foundation ($85,676), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Discovery Institute?
Discovery Institute reported $10.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.8M.
What does Discovery Institute fund?
The Institute’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is “to advance a culture of purpose, creativity, and innovation in a diverse set of fields” through education, research, and analysis of local, regional, national, and international issues. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Discovery Institute?
The Center for Science and Culture does not accept unsolicited requests; research funding requests are considered by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Discovery Institute's EIN?
Discovery Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1521697. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Discovery Institute accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Discovery Institute funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/discovery-institute-morg_31b8e55814e94176b897f771c4d55837
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911521697_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Discovery Institute funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/discovery-institute-morg_31b8e55814e94176b897f771c4d55837},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Discovery Institute's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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