Shaping a brighter STEM future

Our Approach

Social impact through culture change

Lyda Hill Philanthropies encompasses the charitable giving initiatives of founder Lyda Hill, and LH Capital comprises her investment portfolio, together unlocking impact in nature and science. We invest across asset classes, and on rare occasions we incubate initiatives internally, like IF/THEN®

We are convinced that representation in media and the visual world around us plays an outsized role in how young people think about their future careers. IF/THEN® is in a prime spot to team up with brands, nonprofits, and creators  to finance, develop, produce, house or distribute content that actually makes a difference. Our approach is a two-fold:

  • 1) Produce, Influence & Distribute Content

    Through its affiliates, IF/THEN® invests across asset classes to depict women in STEM in media in ways that motivate more girls and women to emerge as future STEM leaders.

  • 2) Advance STEM Education & Scientific Research

    A future-ready STEM workforce demands all kinds of talent and ideas are at the table. Lyda Hill remains committed to supporting STEM education and advancing basic and applied scientific research.

How we invest

Examples of grants and investments across content mediums

  • Broadcast

    Mission Unstoppable, Project Runway

  • Digital

    GirlsWhoCode, GoldieBlox

  • Advertising

    AdCouncil, #SheCanSTEM, Super Bowl ad

  • Gaming

    Beyond Blue, Roblox

  • Podcasts

    Techsetters with Karlie Kloss, NPR's Shortwave

Press Play. Volume Up. Inspiration On.
The IF/THEN® Difference

"Do what others can't and won't do, not what they can and will do"

Balancing big bets and sure bets

Leveling the playing field in STEM is a win for everyone

Attributed to advice given by Warren Buffett to Lyda Hill after she signed the Giving Pledge, Lyda takes seriously the sentiment, “Do what others can’t do and won’t do, not what they can and will do.” Through this lens, Lyda Hill Philanthropies takes calculated risks by supporting and empowering change-makers closest to the problem or by incubating solutions internally, driving innovations from conception to execution.

We believe it takes a balance of big bets and sure bets to tackle systemic and complex issues like gender equity in STEM. Our “big bets” are high risk, innovative projects with transformative but longer term potential - such as media projects and scientific research. While seeking to champion “big bet” solutions, we must not overlook the “sure bet” opportunities by supporting high-quality, evidence-based STEM education programs that are all but guaranteed to achieve their intended impact.

When everyone gets a fair shot to bring their skills and ideas to the table, we tap into next-level creativity to take on the world's biggest challenges. By breaking down barriers and showing young people you've got a place in STEM, we're shaping a future that's a brighter future that's brighter and built to last.

The IF/THEN® Difference

"Do what others can't and won't do, not what they can and will do"

Attributed to advice given by Warren Buffett to Lyda Hill after she signed the Giving Pledge, Lyda takes seriously the sentiment, “Do what others can’t do and won’t do, not what they can and will do.” Through this lens, Lyda Hill Philanthropies takes calculated risks by supporting and empowering change-makers closest to the problem or by incubating solutions internally, driving innovations from conception to execution.

Balancing big bets and sure bets

We believe it takes a balance of big bets and sure bets to tackle systemic and complex issues like gender equity in STEM. Our “big bets” are high risk, innovative projects with transformative but longer term potential - such as media projects and scientific research. While seeking to champion “big bet” solutions, we must not overlook the “sure bet” opportunities by supporting high-quality, evidence-based STEM education programs that are all but guaranteed to achieve their intended impact.

Leveling the playing field in STEM is a win for everyone

When everyone gets a fair shot to bring their skills and ideas to the table, we tap into next-level creativity to take on the world's biggest challenges. By breaking down barriers and showing young people you've got a place in STEM, we're shaping a future that's a brighter future that's brighter and built to last.