Founders Day

May 20

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"Throughout the whole history of science most of the really great discoveries which had ultimately proved to be beneficial to mankind had been made by men and women who were driven not by the desire to be useful but merely the desire to satisfy their curiosity" –Abraham Flexner

Since its beginning, IAS has been an incubator and accelerator for groundbreaking ideas and scholars. Founders Day recognizes Louis Bamberger and Caroline Bamberger Fuld, the brother and sister who founded and endowed IAS on May 20, 1930, providing for its lasting and essential independence. Their visionary gift provided for the Institute’s lasting and essential independence. To this day, philanthropy remains critical to the Institute—IAS receives no tuition or fees and relies fully on gifts and grants, along with the endowment, to support scholars during their time at IAS. With generous support from Trustees, Friends, AMIAS, numerous foundations, government agencies, and other individuals committed to theoretical research, we are able to create an environment for scholars to do their best work.

In the spirit of Founders Day and the philanthropic tradition that continues to sustain IAS, we hope you will join our community of donors by making a gift this May 20th. Your gift signals your belief in the enduring power of advancing knowledge and celebrates the Institute’s 92 years of limitless, curiosity-driven research.

You can make a gift here or learn about different ways to support IAS by reviewing these options.

Materials related to the Institute’s founding are located here.