New Philanthropic Consortium to Reduce Nuclear Dangers Announced by Carnegie Corporation of New York

New York, New York, April 22, 2025 – A call to action in philanthropy has resulted in a first-of-its-kind consortium to fund collaborative efforts to reduce nuclear dangers, including launch support of up to $10.2 million. Carnegie Corporation of New York is organizing the consortium and has committed up to $4 million over the next two years. The initial group of additional funders includes Founders Pledge, Longview Philanthropy, PAX sapiens, and an anonymous donor.

Despite rising nuclear dangers, support for policy-relevant research and investments in next-generation expertise on nuclear issues has dwindled in recent years. Carnegie, the largest private philanthropic funder in this area, is calling on other foundations to heed the warnings and join in this effort.

“The risks of nuclear proliferation have never been higher, and the risks of nuclear war are growing along with regional tensions and geopolitical changes,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie. “We hope to attract to the consortium those focused on reducing existential threats, funders seeking to reduce risks associated with emerging and disruptive technologies, as well as funders who have traditionally supported peace initiatives.”

The consortium aims to issue its first call for applications later in 2025. It will request proposals on nuclear issues and plans to explore, in part, the future of nuclear threats related to emerging and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence and outer space security. Think tanks, university-based centers, independent nongovernmental organizations, and individual researchers (associated with an organization or institution) are encouraged to apply. The consortium will release more information about the grants and application process as it develops.

“It is our hope that this consortium will incentivize new, bold, and enterprising proposals to reduce nuclear dangers and encourage novel collaboration between potential grantee institutions and philanthropic organizations,” said Richardson. She announced the consortium during the 2025 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference hosted by fellow Carnegie institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The consortium’s commitment to reducing the risk of nuclear war reflects the priorities of its funders’ respective organizations. Founders Pledge’s Global Catastrophic Risks Fund issues grants to reduce the probability of large-scale catastrophic events, mitigate negative impacts, and improve the ability to anticipate new and emerging risks. Longview Philanthropy’s Nuclear Weapons Policy Fund focuses on the highest-leverage interventions to reduce risks from nuclear arsenals. PAX sapiens’ Open Nuclear Network helps reduce nuclear risk through open-source research, analytical foresight, and engagement of impact-capable networks.

“Founders Pledge’s participation in this consortium reflects our conviction that a collaborative, forward-thinking approach, uniting the entrepreneurial spirit and rigor of effective giving with established philanthropy, is essential to building a safer world, particularly in the face of escalating nuclear risks,” said Christian Ruhl, manager of Founders Pledge’s Global Catastrophic Risks Fund.

“With Carnegie’s leadership, this consortium is bringing in a new wave of philanthropists who understand these weapons pose a threat to us all and that there are practical, achievable steps to improve our safety,” said Carl Robichaud, director of Nuclear Weapons Policy at Longview Philanthropy. “Civil society has been indispensable to the successes of the first eighty years of the nuclear age and is needed more than ever to deal with today’s challenges.”

“Reducing the risk of nuclear conflict can only happen through deep and coordinated collaboration,” said Conor Seyle, PAX sapiens’ chief operating officer. “PAX sapiens is honored to help launch this consortium alongside our Open Nuclear Network program.”

Andrew Carnegie, founder of Carnegie Corporation of New York, was an outspoken advocate for peace and known for his efforts to prevent the outbreak of World War I. Since 1983, Carnegie’s nuclear security program has awarded over 600 grants totaling more than $160 million, not adjusted for inflation. Today, the program focuses on promoting a greater understanding of nuclear dangers and averting the spread and use of nuclear weapons.

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To learn more about the call for proposals, click here.

Watch the video of the announcement on YouTube, and read more about this new consortium in Axios and Inside Philanthropy.