Cover 501C(3) & patent fees to open path to research grants

Help Launch a Nonprofit & Secure a Patent to Unlock $1.8M in Research Funding

Hi, my name is Sam Leizerman. I’m a disabled veteran, a public policy researcher Presidential Management Fellow semifinalist and a 10yr plan of physical and vocational rehabilitation ended with a series of tweets.

In that time I have been working on solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in democracy and social resilience today. I’ve developed a new systems model that could fundamentally change how we understand ideological polarization and prevent democratic collapse—and I have a real shot at bringing it to life.

Here’s the opportunity: I’ve identified a federal research grant worth up to $1.8 million, with $350,000 available in the first year alone. But to qualify, I need to take two critical steps first:

1. Form a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

2. File for a patent to protect the innovation behind my model. I simply don’t want this tech to follow OpenAI

Together, these legal and administrative steps cost just under $2,000—but as a disabled veteran living on a fixed income, that’s a barrier I simply can’t cross alone.

This isn’t just a passion project. It’s a vetted, high-impact research proposal built on interdisciplinary work that’s already drawn interest from top scholars. But without nonprofit status I can’t even apply.

What makes this worth up to $1.8 million—regardless of your politics?

Because it helps explain how people lose trust, fall into misinformation, and turn against each other—no matter what side they’re on.

We live in a time when people are angrier, more divided, and more easily misled than ever. My research breaks down why that happens—not just in theory, but in a way that can be modeled, predicted, and potentially prevented.

This system doesn’t pick sides. It studies the process of collapse—how fear, identity, and emotional overload can push anyone, left or right, into extreme thinking. And just as importantly, it offers ways to help people climb back out.

That kind of insight is something governments, educators, and communities are desperate for. It’s why the federal research grant I’m applying for offers up to $1.8 million in funding—because tools that can reduce hate, rebuild trust, and strengthen democracy are that valuable.

But to qualify, I need to file for a patent (to protect the intellectual property) and set up a nonprofit (to meet eligibility rules). That’s why I’m asking for help now—to get this idea off the ground and working for everyone, before it’s too late.

What Your Support Will Cover:

• IRS filing fees for nonprofit incorporation

• State registration and legal documentation

• Patent filing fees

• Basic setup costs (e.g., accountant/filing assistance)

Every dollar helps move this forward. If you’ve ever wanted to invest in someone who’s building solutions from the ground up—not for profit, but for people—this is your chance.

If I meet the fundraising goal, I can file immediately and submit the grant application within the next funding window. And if there are somehow overages, they will go toward moving this forward by putting any surplus toward hiring a grant writer or outreach team to build public support and transparency into the project from day one.