Why would anybody give a single damn about where the money is coming from if it's helping achieve a goal that could benefit scientific advancement? There's too much income inequality, funding problems, etc. etc. causing problems all over the US to simply ignore the amount of money that could potentially benefit people around the world depending on the discoveries that could be made.
Now, I'm not saying that the things Epstein did weren't absolutely morally and ethically bankrupt. Why can't the people/companies receiving the money simply make a public statement "we are taking this money for the greater good because we know it will help us achieve 'X', we do not, cannot, and will never support Epstein in any way other than accepting donations".