In the face of looming funding cuts and increasing distrust of science, our ability to communicate the power of fundamental research is more important than ever. We also need a low-cost, high-impact way to engage our donors near and far with campus. Our answer? "Basic Science Lights the Way," a virtual event series now in its twelfth season, that gathers an audience of alumni and friends monthly over Zoom to hear from a panel of brilliant researchers about the most exciting, curiosity-driven science happening on campus. Across over 50 events so far, the series has welcomed over 3,000 unique participants - a significant contribution to our alumni engagement metrics, and the numbers continue to grow. From events such as “Mass Extinctions and Ancient Climate Catastrophes” to “The Science of Aging”, this series emphasizes the critical role of basic science in sparking the most consequential breakthroughs of tomorrow, and has become a hit with our constituents in the process! These events are low-cost, scalable for any institution, connect the community directly with our faculty and their research, and serve as a high-level engagement and prospecting tool. Join us to learn what has worked, what hasn’t, and get tips on how to adapt this model to fit your institution’s needs.