About
Funding critical work in the environment, arts & culture, youth, and bioscience
Founded in 1988 by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, the foundation invests in communities across the Pacific Northwest to enhance the human experience of arts & culture, center under-served populations, and mobilize young people to make impact. In addition, the foundation supports a global portfolio of nonprofit partners working across science and technology solutions to protect wildlife, preserve ocean health, and create lasting change. The foundation also funds the Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, which works to advance cutting-edge research in all areas of bioscience.
Board of Directors
Marilyn Valentine
Marilyn Valentine serves as Executive Director of the Office of the Chair at Vulcan, supporting Jody Allen’s vision and strategy as trustee and executor of the Paul G. Allen Estate. Marilyn brings more than 17 years of experience at Vulcan to her role, having worked closely with Jody Allen and Paul Allen across their global business and philanthropy interests. In addition to her board service for the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Marilyn serves on the board of governors for the Swedish Medical Center Foundation, supporting the largest non-profit healthcare system in the Puget Sound region.
Thomas L. Daniel, Ph.D.
Tom serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Research Foundation (WRF), which supports groundbreaking research and early stage companies through grants and investments, focusing on life sciences and enabling technologies. He was previously a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington with adjunct appointments in Bioengineering, Computer Science & Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. His research and teaching melded neuroscience, computing, and biomechanics to understand the control and dynamics of movement in biology. Tom was a MacArthur Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow, and is a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Allen Institute and the Biological Sciences Advisory Committee for the National Science Foundation. Tom is also a member of the Washington Academy of Sciences and serves as the Director of Weill Neurohub North, a consortium of research collaborations with Berkeley and UCSF.