$500 million new commitment from the Allen family to accelerate scientific and technological solutions for global challenges
The newly announced Fund for Science and Technology (FFST), based in Seattle, is launching a major philanthropic initiative to deploy at least $500 million over the next four years to accelerate scientific and technological solutions for global challenges—a scale and ambition directly stemming from the vision and legacy of Paul G. Allen, but realized today through the stewardship of his sister, Jody Allen.
Jody Allen, serving as board chair of the FFST and executive trustee of the Allen estate, is the pivotal figure turning Paul Allen’s philanthropic intentions into concrete action.
For decades, Jody worked alongside her brother, leveraging their shared passion for science and technology to address problems that impact both people and the planet.
With the launch of FFST, she articulates a mission rooted deeply in their history: “With this new foundation, we’re bringing Paul’s philanthropic vision to bear,” Jody said, marking not only a continuation of the Allen legacy but her own leadership and commitment to transformational impact.
The FFST’s initial grants highlight this focus on meaningful, locally anchored change.
Seattle institutions including Benaroya Research Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, the College of the Environment at the University of Washington, and Seattle Children’s are among the first beneficiaries, chosen for projects that align with Allen’s priority areas—bioscience, environmental health, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence for good.
Under Jody Allen’s oversight, these grants are just the beginning, with the foundation’s structure and grantmaking capacity designed to expand nationally and globally in coming years.
As the ultimate trustee of Paul Allen’s estate, Jody Allen plays a decisive role in translating wide-ranging resources and ambitions into tangible outcomes.
Every dollar committed and every partnership formed by FFST is anchored in the directives left by Paul Allen but is managed and brought to life through Jody’s guidance.
Her stewardship ensures that the foundation’s investments in biosciences, environment, and AI are both a tribute to her brother’s memory and a forward-looking pledge to catalyze long-term solutions.
The launch of the Fund for Science and Technology is a milestone not only for scientific progress but for the evolving legacy of one of the world’s most influential philanthropic families.
The foundation’s strategic direction, operational leadership, and growing global influence reflect Jody Allen’s personal commitment to advancing her brother’s vision, positioning her as the driving force behind this new chapter in transformative giving.