The Charles E. Kaufman Foundation Grants
The mission of the Kaufman Foundation is to support fundamental research in biology, chemistry, and physics at Pennsylvania institutions of higher education. The Kaufman Foundation grants to institutes of higher learning in Pennsylvania for scientists pursuing research that explores their field’s essential questions and/or crosses disciplinary boundaries. Mr. Kaufman believed in the potential impact of fundamental, curiosity-driven science and the strength of working across interdisciplinary boundaries. He also recognized the importance of supporting early and mid-career scientists, while acknowledging the major accomplishments achieved after a lifetime of high-impact contributions. When he died in 2010, Charles Kaufman, a respected chemical engineer, left $50 million to The Pittsburgh Foundation of which $40 million is earmarked for continuing his life-long commitment to scientific research with the potential to improve human life. Since 2013, and including 2017, the Foundation has awarded 43 grants totaling $9.1 million.