Announcing major new donations, and recapping the 2025 fundraiser

2026-06-08 · Source: Machine Intelligence Research Institute · Field: Business & Management — Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Fundraising & Philanthropy · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

The Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI) announced significant new donations and recapped its 2025 fundraiser, which aimed for \$6M. The December 2025 fundraiser secured \$1,802,437 from small donors and \$1,600,000 in matching from the Survival and Flourishing Fund (SFF), totaling \$3,402,437, or 56.7% of its goal. Despite not reaching the initial target, this represented MIRI's strongest fundraising outcome ever. Momentum was slow initially but surged in late December, with \$1,287,584 received on or after December 25, including \$582,427 on December 31st. Approximately 350 unique donors contributed, with 155 returning donors providing 62% of funds and 195 new donors providing 38%. Subsequently, MIRI received an additional \$10M from Dustin Moskovitz and \$2.9M from an anonymous donor in early 2026. These combined contributions have roughly tripled MIRI's reserves, establishing a strong financial position for future hires and ambitious plans.

Key takeaway

For non-profit leaders planning your next fundraising campaign, MIRI's experience highlights the power of matching grants and late-stage donor engagement. You should prioritize securing matching funds, as they significantly amplify individual contributions. Also, prepare for a surge in donations during the final days of your campaign, and tailor your outreach accordingly to capitalize on this momentum. Cultivating both new and returning donors is crucial for long-term financial stability.

Key insights

MIRI substantially increased its financial reserves via a successful fundraiser and major new donations, securing future operational capacity.

Principles

• Matching grants amplify donor contributions.
• Fundraising momentum often peaks late in campaigns.
• Diversify funding across donor types.

In practice

• Secure matching funds for campaigns.
• Intensify outreach in campaign's final days.
• Track new vs. returning donor contributions.

Topics

• Fundraising Strategy
• Non-profit Finance
• Philanthropy
• Matching Grants
• Donor Engagement
• Organizational Reserves

Best for: Investor, Consultant

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Machine Intelligence Research Institute.