Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Funds academic and public-interest research in science, technology and economics through invitations to universities and nonprofits.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a U.S. private foundation founded in 1934 by former General Motors chief executive Alfred P. Sloan Jr. It funds research and education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economics, and it backs universities, nonprofit institutions, and researchers rather than commercial applicants.

Its active program areas include Economics, Energy and Environment, Matter-to-Life, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Small-Scale Fundamental Physics, History of Science and Technology, Higher Education, Digital Technology, Public Understanding of Science and Technology, and a New York City program. The foundation also makes fellowships and exploratory technology grants, with awards ranging from smaller research fellowships to larger program grants.

Applications run through a rolling letter of inquiry model. Applicants send a two-page LOI to the relevant program director, and only invited proposals move forward. That structure, plus quarterly board approval for larger awards, makes Sloan a selective foundation for carefully scoped academic and public-interest work.