Alice and Doug Diamond: Leading with curiosity and generosity

The Front Row lecture series at Scripps Research not only presents a unique opportunity for people to hear fascinating scientific findings, but it also serves as an invitation for the public to dive into the journey of Science Changing Life alongside leading-edge researchers.

For philanthropists Alice and Doug* Diamond, engaging with an organization is a valuable part of their experience as donors. “We want not just to support an organization’s mission but also learn from them and feel like we are taking part in something with them,” says Alice. Always on the lookout for new ways to get involved in the local community, the couple initially began attending the Front Row lecture series a few years ago.

“As a nonscientist, I really enjoy that these lectures bring cutting-edge science out to the public in a way that’s very clear,” Doug says. Now in its eighth season, the Front Row features presentations by Scripps Research scientists. In this public lecture series, world-class researchers provide an inside look at the transformative science happening in their labs, covering a wide range of topics from how we perceive touch to the journey behind a precision therapy.

“We’re definitely lifelong learners, and that’s why we seek out these lectures and other events that are happening in our community. It’s sad if you go to bed and you haven’t learned anything new that day,” Alice says.

The couple appreciates how the researchers present their science as stories. Throughout the presentations, the speaker guides the audience down the pathway of their research, discussing interesting questions that ignited the project, showing obstacles encountered along the journey and explaining the potential impact of their findings.

“These presentations inspire hope,” Doug says. “They open doors to ideas that sound quite exciting and promising. The researchers are building toward a better world, and the basic science that they’re doing affects all of us.”

In 2024, Alice and Doug made their first gift to support the institute, becoming members of The Science Trust at Scripps Research. Unrestricted giving, like theirs, supports a spectrum of essential activities at the institute, including powering the buildings housing the labs, maintaining equipment in the institute’s shared core facilities, providing bridge funding for innovative projects and allowing leadership to allocate resources to where they are most needed.

Both from the East Coast, Alice and Doug met on their first day of student orientation at University of Rochester, and they’ve now been married 54 years. Following their respective graduate programs, they worked for the federal government before transitioning into consulting. As part of Alice’s consulting business, the couple visited San Diego to conduct student financial assistance workshops for college and university administrators. They grew to love the area and decided to move to San Diego.

After many years of hard work building successful careers, the couple views their current stage of life as a time to focus on giving back. When they moved here, they made their first philanthropic connection in San Diego supporting the San Diego Zoo. After 35 years in San Diego, they’ve now engaged with more than 50 different nonprofit organizations. Through their philanthropy, Alice and Doug seek to improve the world around them from multiple angles, supporting efforts in medicine, education, social justice, spiritual organizations, international programs, arts and culture, civic initiatives and the environment.

For individuals looking to make a difference through donations, Alice says, “Look for areas where you feel your support can have the most impact and truly make the world a better place.”

*Sadly, Doug Diamond passed away shortly after this interview. The institute extends our deepest condolences to the Diamond family.