In 2012, Yuri Milner and his wife joined other prominent people in taking the Giving Pledge sponsored by Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Melinda French Gates. The pledge requires the Milners to donate most of their income to philanthropic causes. To fulfill their promise, the Milners founded the Breakthrough Foundation, which sponsors scientific philanthropy causes.

Also, in 2012, Milner joined a long list of others, including Mark Zuckerberg and Anne Wojcicki, in creating the Breakthrough Prize. The Breakthrough Prize’s goal is to bring recognition to scientists, reward advances in research, and inspire the next generation of scientists.

In 2015, the group started the Breakthrough Junior Challenge. It is a global challenge created for high school students. Students are required to make a short video explaining a scientific or math concept. In 2015, Yuri Milner joined forces with Stephen Hawking to announce the Breakthrough Initiatives. The Breakthrough Initiatives are research programs focusing on life outside of Earth.

Yuir Milner’s Breakthrough Foundation also sponsors another program called Tech For Refugees. The Milners have donated a lot of money to many humanitarian causes. However, the refugee crisis hits close to their hearts. Yuir Milner’s father’s family is from Ukraine, and Milner spent his summers there while growing up.

The object of Tech for Refugees is to help provide technical assistance to people in need. Technology can aid in finding aid, food, help people find shelter, and other resources. Access to technology can provide children access to online education and entertainment, which can help improve their lives.