Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a New York–based, not-for-profit grantmaking institution founded in 1934 that funds scientific research, STEM higher education, and public understanding of science through endowment-backed grants to researchers, universities, and cultural organizations across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1934
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM type—
- OfferingServices
What Alfred P. Sloan Foundation does
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a not-for-profit grantmaking institution founded in 1934 by industrialist Alfred P. Sloan Jr. and headquartered at 630 Fifth Avenue in New York City. The Foundation supports high-quality, impartial scientific research; fosters a robust, diverse scientific workforce; strengthens public understanding of science; and promotes the health of institutions of scientific endeavor. Grantmaking is organized across four main program areas — Research (Economics, Energy and Environment, History of Science and Technology, Matter-to-Life, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Small-Scale Fundamental Physics), Higher Education, Technology, and Public Understanding of Science & Technology — plus a New York City Program and a portfolio of completed legacy initiatives. Funding is sourced from an endowment rather than commercial revenue, and distributions range from approximately $25,000 for small grants to multi-million-dollar commitments such as the $6,000,000 grant to the Astrophysical Research Consortium for SDSS-V.
Sloan's flagship offerings are its grant programs rather than commercial products. The Sloan Research Fellowship provides two-year $75,000 awards to early-career researchers across seven fields and is among the most prestigious recognitions of its kind, with a record 1,430 nominations for 126 slots in the 2026 cycle. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey operates as shared astronomical research infrastructure with over 40 institutional partners, having produced nearly 10,000 papers and over 500,000 citations historically. Other major programs include a Professional Science Master's initiative (100+ programs at 50+ universities), a Film program (750+ projects since 1996), a Theater program (60+ NYC productions, 250+ commissions), a Book program (200+ authors), and a Science on Screen program at 96 independent cinemas. The Foundation does not develop proprietary technology products; instead, it acts as a funder and convener across academic, cultural, and media ecosystems.
The Foundation's business model is endowment-based grantmaking: it does not sell products or services but distributes capital from its investment portfolio to researchers, institutions, and organizations selected through structured Letters of Inquiry and full grant proposals. Pricing is programmatic, with grant tiers ranging from individual fellowships and book awards to major multi-year infrastructure commitments. Customer segments are highly diversified across academic researchers, universities, museums, independent cinemas, theaters, playwrights, filmmakers, podcast producers, content creators, and public knowledge institutions including Wikipedia and the Digital Public Library of America. Operations are supported by a lean staff of 11–50 program professionals and governed by a Board of Trustees.
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- Legal name
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- Website
- http://www.sloan.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1934
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a New York–based, not-for-profit grantmaking institution founded in 1934 that funds scientific research, STEM higher education, and public understanding of science through endowment-backed grants to researchers, universities, and cultural organizations across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Research Grants and Scientific Philanthropy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation business model
Business model- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Endowment-based Grantmaking: The Foundation operates as a not-for-profit grantmaking institution that distributes funds from its endowment to support scientific research, education, and public understanding of science. The Foundation does not generate commercial revenue but distributes grants to researchers, institutions, and organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Major Research Grants |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard Research Grants |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Sloan Research Fellowship |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Film and Media Grants |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Book Program Grants |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels10 records
Marketing channels10 records
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a not-for-profit grantmaking institution that distributes funds from its endowment to support high-quality, impartial scientific research; foster a diverse scientific workforce; strengthen public understanding of and engagement with science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economics; and promote the health of institutions of scientific endeavor. Its offerings include the Sloan Research Fellowships (two-year, $75,000 awards to early-career researchers), targeted research grants across multiple disciplines, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, higher education pathway programs, technology and open-source science grants, and a portfolio of public understanding grants covering books, film, theater, radio, television, and digital media.
Product overview
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a not-for-profit grantmaking institution founded in 1934 by industrialist Alfred P. Sloan Jr. The Foundation's 'products' are its grantmaking programs and initiatives rather than commercial offerings. Its portfolio includes Sloan Research Fellowships (prestigious early-career researcher awards), Research Programs (supporting Economics, Energy and Environment, History of Science and Technology, Matter-to-Life, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and Small-Scale Fundamental Physics), Higher Education Programs (expanding STEM access), Technology Programs (supporting open source in science, scientific collaboration, and exploratory technology), and Public Understanding Programs (supporting science communication through books, film, radio, television, theater, and social media). The Foundation also funds the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, a major astronomical research infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS): One of the largest astronomical surveys, supporting all-sky spectroscopic observation program mapping the night sky
- Sloan Research Fellowships
- Special Initiatives
Products and services
- Sloan Research Fellowships Two-year fellowships honoring outstanding early-career researchers in seven fields (chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, molecular biology, neuroscience, ocean sciences, physics, and related disciplines), providing $75,000 to each fellow. One of the most prestigious and sought-after awards for young scholars, with past fellows having gone on to win Nobel Prizes, Fields Medals, and Turing Awards.
- Research Programs Grantmaking across scientific research disciplines including Economics, Energy and Environment, History of Science and Technology, Matter-to-Life, and Small-Scale Fundamental Physics. Provides project-specific research grants typically ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 for individual research projects.
- Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) One of the largest and most detailed astronomical surveys, supporting an all-sky spectroscopic observation program mapping the night sky through telescopes in New Mexico and Chile. Includes over 40 contributing institutional partners and has produced nearly 10,000 papers with over 500,000 citations over its history. Data is released publicly under open use principles.
- Higher Education Program Programs expanding fair access and opportunity in STEM higher education including University Centers of Exemplary Mentoring, Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership, and Exemplary Pathways to STEM Graduate Education. Supports systemic institutional change to broaden the STEM professoriate and widen pathways for underrepresented students.
- Technology Programs Grantmaking supporting technology benefiting the research community, including Exploratory Grantmaking in Technology, Open Source in Science, and Scientific Collaboration. Funds virtual conferences, group dynamics research, human-AI collaboration tools, and open source scientific software sustainability through partners such as NumFOCUS.
- Public Understanding of Science & Technology Multifaceted program building bridges between science and humanities through Books, Film, New Media, Radio, Television, Theater, and YouTube and TikTok. Has supported over 200 authors since 1996, over 750 film projects since 1996, and over 60 plays staged in NYC alone.
- New York City Program Program supporting New York City's scientific and educational institutions, including administration of the Sloan Public Service Award in partnership with the Fund for the City of New York.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 10,000 papers with over 500,000 citations produced from SDSS data over its history
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
41 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HHMI Tangled Bank StudioscoreCo-founding partner in the 50x50: Science Across America initiative, pairing 50 YouTube creators with 50 scientists across all 50 US states to produce 50 original videos over 10 weeks in 2026, coinciding with America's 250th anniversary.
- Winn Family FoundationcoreFunding partner in the 50x50: Science Across America initiative supporting science media content creation across all 50 states.
- Shanahan Family FoundationcoreFunding partner in the 50x50: Science Across America initiative supporting science media content creation across all 50 states.
- Allen InstitutecoreFunding partner in the 50x50: Science Across America initiative supporting science media content creation across all 50 states.
- The Brinson FoundationcoreFunding partner in the 50x50: Science Across America initiative supporting science media content creation across all 50 states.
- Carnegie ObservatoriescorePartner in SDSS-V conducting full set of observations across both hemispheres using the Irenee du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.
- American Film InstitutecoreLong-term film school partner offering screenwriting, production, and tuition awards for science-themed film projects.
- UCLA School of Theater, Film and TelevisioncoreLong-term film school partner offering screenwriting and production awards for science-themed film projects.
- Carnegie Mellon University School of DramacoreLong-term film school partner offering screenwriting awards for science-themed film projects.
- Columbia University School of the ArtscoreLong-term film school partner for science-themed film development.
- NYU Tisch School of the ArtscoreLong-term film school partner offering screenwriting, production, and feature film awards for science-themed projects.
- USC School of Cinematic ArtscoreLong-term film school partner offering screenwriting, production, and animation awards for science-themed projects.
- Sundance InstitutecoreFestival partner for science-in-film initiatives including feature film prizes and filmmaker development programs.
- SFFILMcoreFestival partner offering Science in Cinema filmmaker fellowship and science film awards including Science in Cinema Prize.
- Toronto International Film FestivalcoreFestival partner supporting two-year science and technology film program including screenwriting fellowships, project pitches, and science panels.
- The Black ListcoreScreenwriting development partner connecting science-themed screenwriters with industry opportunities.
- Film IndependentcoreFilm development partner offering grants and awards for science and technology themed film projects.
- Athena Film FestivalcoreFestival partner supporting women filmmakers tackling science and technology themes.
- Coolidge Corner Theater FoundationcoreLead partner for national Science on Screen program, now expanded to 96 independent cinemas showing Sloan-supported films with researcher presentations.
- Museum of the Moving ImagecorePartner for science and film educational resources, including Teacher's Guide and web content hub at scienceandfilm.org.
- Science and Entertainment ExchangecorePlatform connecting film industry professionals with working scientists for science content consultation.
- Academy Museum of Motion PicturescorePartner for screenings, filmmaker discussions, and public programs focused on science and technology of motion pictures.
- Ensemble Studio TheatrecorePrimary NYC theater partner for science-themed play commissions, development, and production since program's inception.
- Manhattan Theatre ClubcorePrimary NYC theater partner for science-themed play commissions, development, and production including Tony-nominated 'Eureka Day'.
- National Theatre, LondonminorPilot grant recipient for science-themed theater productions, expanding the program internationally.
- LA Theatre WorkscorePartner for recording science-themed plays with A-list actors, broadcasting on public radio, and distributing to schools and libraries.
- Science FridaycoreMajor partner for science radio programming including broadcasts, digital videos, blog posts, live events, and associated media.
- RadiolabcorePartner for science podcast revolution, supporting original high-quality science storytelling.
- GastropodcorePartner for food science podcast exploring food through lens of science and history.
- Planet MoneycorePartner for NPR ground-breaking economics podcast series.
- WikipediacoreSupported since 2008, Wikipedia is the fifth largest website in the world and a key platform for universal access to knowledge.
- Digital Public Library of AmericacorePartner in nation's first digital library initiative for public access to cultural heritage materials.
- Consumer ReportscorePartner for unbiased ratings and reviews, digital lab fellows program, and science-based product testing content.
- Scholar Rescue FundcorePartner providing fellowships for scholars whose lives and work are threatened in their home countries.
- Resources for the FuturecoreCo-leader of Resilient Energy Economies (REE) initiative alongside Columbia University SIPA, University of Notre Dame, and Montana State University, funding research on fossil fuel-dependent communities.
- University of Notre DamecoreCo-leader of Resilient Energy Economies (REE) initiative funding research on fossil fuel-dependent communities.
- Montana State UniversitycoreCo-leader of Resilient Energy Economies (REE) initiative funding research on fossil fuel-dependent communities.
- Research Corporation for Science AdvancementcorePartner in Scialog: Sustainable Minerals, Metals and Materials initiative supporting cross-disciplinary research on critical materials sustainability.
- Kavli FoundationcorePartner in Scialog initiative supporting cross-disciplinary research on critical materials sustainability.
- ACME CollaborationcoreExperimental collaboration attempting to detect new particles through measuring electron's electric dipole moment, supported through eEDM Initiative.
- NumFOCUScorePartner supporting open source scientific software ecosystem and sustainability initiatives.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute: HHMI is one of the largest US science philanthropies, funding biomedical research and science education. It is a natural peer to Sloan given its scale and similar focus on basic scientific research and workforce development, though HHMI has a much larger endowment and broader biomedical focus.
- Wellcome Trust: Wellcome is one of the world's largest science-focused philanthropic foundations, with a much larger endowment. It is a broad incumbent peer given its global scale, biomedical research focus, and emphasis on public engagement with science.
Direct peers
- Simons Foundation: The Simons Foundation supports mathematics, basic sciences, and autism research. It is a direct peer given overlapping focus on basic scientific research, particularly in physics and mathematics, and co-funds initiatives like SDSS-V with Sloan.
- Kavli Foundation: The Kavli Foundation funds basic scientific research in astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience, and theoretical physics. It is a direct peer given the shared emphasis on fundamental science, and partners with Sloan in the Four Foundations physics collaboration and Scialog.
- Heising-Simons Foundation: Heising-Simons Foundation funds science, education, and climate-related initiatives. It is a direct peer and active co-funder with Sloan on SDSS-V and the 50x50: Science Across America initiative.
- Research Corporation for Science Advancement: RCSA is a foundational science funder focused on early-career researchers and Scialog initiatives. It is a direct peer given its similar emphasis on curiosity-driven research and is a confirmed Scialog partner with Sloan.
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation: MacArthur Foundation is a major US private foundation funding research, education, and public engagement. It is a direct peer given its comparable portfolio of science grantmaking, fellowship programs (MacArthur Fellows), and emphasis on public understanding.
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation: The Moore Foundation funds science, environmental conservation, and patient care improvement. It is a direct peer given overlapping focus on fundamental science, environmental research, and the multi-program structure mirroring Sloan's portfolio.
- William and Flora Hewlett Foundation: The Hewlett Foundation funds education, environment, and performing arts. It is a direct peer given comparable focus on education, science policy, and significant grantmaking scale, though with a broader mission profile than Sloan.
- Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation: The Beckman Foundation supports fundamental chemical and life science research, particularly through early-career awards. It is a direct peer given overlapping focus on young investigator programs in basic scientific disciplines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceAlfred P. Sloan Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Alfred P. Sloan Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments256 records
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Frequently asked questions about Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
What does Alfred P. Sloan Foundation do?
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a not-for-profit grantmaking institution that distributes funds from its endowment to support high-quality, impartial scientific research; foster a diverse scientific workforce; strengthen public understanding of and engagement with science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economics; and promote the health of institutions of scientific endeavor. Its offerings include the Sloan Research Fellowships (two-year, $75,000 awards to early-career researchers), targeted research grants across multiple disciplines, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, higher education pathway programs, technology and open-source science grants, and a portfolio of public understanding grants covering books, film, theater, radio, television, and digital media.
Is Alfred P. Sloan Foundation a public or private company?
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Alfred P. Sloan Foundation founded?
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation was founded in 1934. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Alfred P. Sloan Foundation based?
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alfred P. Sloan Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: endowment-based Grantmaking.
Who are Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Wellcome Trust. Direct peers are Simons Foundation, Kavli Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, Research Corporation for Science Advancement, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.
Does Alfred P. Sloan Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
What industry is Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in?
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's product category is Research Grants and Scientific Philanthropy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAI, Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.