SETI Institute Receives Historic $200 Million Donation for Extraterrestrial Search

Largest Ever Gift Ensures Future Operations and Expansion of Research, Fellowships, and Outreach Efforts

SETI Institute, a nonprofit research organization in Mountain View, has received a $200 million donation from the estate of Franklin Antonio, co-founder of Qualcomm, to continue its search for extraterrestrial intelligent life.
The donation is the largest the institute has ever received and will ensure its future operations, including the operation of its radio telescopes.
Franklin Antonio had been a supporter of the SETI Institute for over a decade and played a key role in upgrading the institute’s radio telescope facility.
The donation will also support new research positions, fellowships, international partnerships, and outreach efforts, with a focus on educating the public about the institute's scientific activities.
SETI Institute, founded in 1984, employs over 100 scientists across 173 separate programs and has traditionally relied on limited government grants and private donations for funding.