The Alexander W Casdin Foundation appears to make targeted, high-dollar gifts to institutions supporting biomedical research and higher education, with a notable emphasis on cancer research. Its small grant portfolio is directed toward established national and academic organizations rather than many grassroots groups, suggesting a preference for institutional impact over broad, distributed giving.
Concentrated, episodic giving: very few grants but relatively large amounts to established institutions; favors one-off or occasional major gifts rather than many small or grassroots awards.
The largest recent grant in the Alexander W Casdin Foundation’s record is a $104,000 award to Conquer Cancer for its General Fund, which points to a style of giving centered on established institutions rather than many small awards. The foundation’s recent activity also includes a $45,000 general fund gift to Brown University and a $10,000 general fund grant to Erasca Foundation, all within a compact portfolio of direct institutional support. That pattern fits an overall emphasis on biomedical research, higher education, and cancer-related philanthropy. The foundation’s grants are concentrated enough to suggest deliberate targeting. Its recent recipients include a national oncology philanthropy organization, a major university, and a cancer-focused foundation, with each award designated for general use. It also made a smaller $1,000 general fund grant to Congregation Emanu-El in New York, showing that its giving is not limited strictly to one sector, even though the larger awards are anchored in research and education. Across the recent grants listed, the foundation gives to organizations that already have established operating capacity and institutional reach.
Cancer philanthropy is the clearest thread in the Alexander W Casdin Foundation’s recent record. It gave $104,000 to Conquer Cancer for its General Fund and also made a $10,000 general fund grant to Conquer Cancer in the prior year, showing repeated support for the same oncology-related organization. Higher education and biomedical research are another major theme. The foundation awarded $45,000 to Brown University for General Fund support, aligning with institutional support for academic research. A separate $10,000 general fund grant to Erasca Foundation adds a biomedical-research-oriented nonprofit to the mix. The only non-research recipient in the recent list is Congregation Emanu-El, which received a $1,000 general fund grant, indicating that the portfolio includes some community-based giving alongside its larger institutional awards.
The foundation’s typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile, even though one 2024 grant reached $104,000. That spread suggests a small number of larger awards alongside a tighter cluster of standard gifts. The recent record shows at least one repeat recipient across years: Conquer Cancer received grants in both 2024 and 2023. All listed awards are general fund grants, which is consistent with flexible support rather than project-specific funding. The foundation is a private foundation with a regional giving scope, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$159K
$20K
$182K
$165K
Most grants fall between $10K and $45K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$45K
About 20% of grants go to recipients in VA.
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Notable grantees: Conquer Cancer, Brown University
The Alexander W Casdin Foundation’s giving is U.S.-only in the recent record, with all five listed grants going to recipients in the United States. New York is the top state by grant count, with one recipient in New York, NY, and the foundation gives 20% of its grants to recipients in its headquarters state. Other recipient locations include Alexandria, VA; Providence, RI; and San Diego, CA. The pattern shows a regional footprint rather than a single-city focus, with awards landing in both the Northeast and other major U.S. research and nonprofit hubs.
Its recent grants go to established nonprofit and academic institutions, including Conquer Cancer, Brown University, Erasca Foundation, and Congregation Emanu-El. The larger awards are tied to biomedical research, cancer philanthropy, and higher education, with all listed grants designated as general fund support.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile. Recent grants also include a larger $104,000 award, so the foundation makes some higher-dollar gifts alongside a standard $10,000 level.
Yes. Conquer Cancer appears in both 2024 and 2023, with grants of $104,000 and $10,000, respectively. That indicates at least some recurring support rather than entirely one-time giving.
All listed recent grants go to U.S. recipients. New York is the top state by grant count, and the recipient cities in the recent list include Alexandria, Providence, San Diego, and New York.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONQUER CANCER | Alexandria, VA | $104,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Brown University | Providence, RI | $45,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| ERASCA FOUNDATION | San Diego, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| CONQUER CANCER | Alexandria, VA | $10,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Congregation Emanu-El | New York, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
CONQUER CANCER
$104,000General Fund
Brown University
$45,000General Fund
ERASCA FOUNDATION
$10,000General Fund
CONQUER CANCER
$10,000General Fund
Congregation Emanu-El
$1,000General Fund