The 2025 ARCS Annual Report delivers a clear and timely message: ARCS Foundation continues to stand strong with science, even as federal research funding faces new challenges and uncertainty. When national funding cuts were announced during the ARCS National Board meeting in February, chapters across the country responded with renewed commitment—supporting academic partners, checking in on Scholars, and ensuring that critical research could continue uninterrupted.

For 66 years, ARCS has played a vital role in keeping American science competitive. In 2024-25, that legacy grew even stronger.

By the Numbers: A Year of Meaningful Impact

This year, ARCS awarded 677 Scholar awards, with 92% supporting graduate-level researchers conducting work that strengthens national security, public health, environmental resilience, and technological innovation. Chapters invested $5.6 million in unrestricted funding—support Scholars can use for research, materials, travel, or even basic living expenses. This flexibility remains one of ARCS’s strongest differentiators.

In total, ARCS has now supported 12,835 Scholars at 50 approved universities across 677 STEM programs, powered by the dedication of more than 1,091 members nationwide.

Fueling Discovery When It Matters Most

The report features Scholars who emphasize how ARCS funding gives them freedom to pursue high-risk, high-reward ideas that might otherwise stall. As University of Washington Scholar Stevie Walker shared:

“Just knowing people are cheering you on and reminding you that you’re capable—it has made a huge difference.”

Expanding National Partnerships

Two strategic partnerships helped ARCS broaden its national reach this year:

• A $100,000 Danaher Foundation grant launched the Danaher National Impact Awards, supporting a more diverse STEM workforce.
• A pilot program with Roche Diagnostics and ARCS Atlanta is funding graduate Scholars preparing for careers in clinical lab science, addressing acute workforce shortages in healthcare.
   

Alumni Making a Global Difference

The long-term impact of ARCS support shines through the alumni stories featured:

• Eric DeJesus, PhD is pioneering new cancer therapies, building on ideas he first explored as an ARCS Scholar.
• Emily Levesque, PhD, award-winning astronomer and author, credits ARCS for early confidence and flexibility.
• Dr. Anurag Agrawal, the 2025 Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, is advancing climate and ecosystem resilience through groundbreaking environmental research.

A Community United for Science

The 2025 Annual Report ultimately celebrates a powerful truth: supporting science means supporting people. Through donors, chapters, and nationwide collaboration, ARCS continues to fuel discoveries that improve lives and ensure America remains a global leader in scientific innovation.