[perl4ever]

>Random rich people rarely fund individual researchers.

Yes and no. There are private foundations that, if someone donates a reasonably large amount, say at least the amount of their typical grant, they will match the donor with a particular researcher, and the researcher will have lunch, give a tour, and send them a letter later about about the conclusions (more research is needed).

That doesn't mean the donor gets input into which proposals are accepted; that is indeed done by a panel of experts as far as I know. It's more of a thing to keep them engaged and relating to where the money goes when there are emotional reasons for supporting e.g. medical research.

[throwawaygh]

Even less than that now. The ability of specific donors to direct funds to specific academic groups for specific research is WAY more constrained now than it was pre-Epstein. Institutions want that that extra layer of indirection.