A world free of lung disease. Improve lung health and prevent lung disease through research, education, advocacy and community programs.
The American Lung Association channels major grant dollars into research on lung health and lung disease, with recent awards reaching university labs, hospitals, and cancer research groups across the country. Its recent list includes seven-figure support for Entertainment Industry Foundation (Stand Up 2 Cancer), Johns Hopkins University, and Northwestern University, alongside repeated grants to the same institutions in later years. That pattern points to a funder that backs both large research collaborations and ongoing work with established scientific teams. The foundation’s grantmaking aligns with its stated mission to improve lung health and prevent lung disease through research, education, advocacy, and community programs. Recent awards cover lung cancer, asthma and COPD, tobacco cessation and policy, clean air and air quality, and infectious respiratory diseases and immunization. The portfolio also includes support for interstitial lung disease, allergic respiratory disease, and public health research tied to healthy air. Across the recent grants list, recipients include academic medical centers such as Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the University of California San Francisco. American Lung Association gives nationally and uses research awards as a core part of its funding approach. The recent grants show a mix of broad lung-health funding and narrower topic-specific awards, reflecting a structured research agenda rather than a single-program model.
In lung cancer research, the foundation backed Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with $400,000 in 2025 and the Regents of the University of California San Francisco with $815,160 in 2025. It also supported Johns Hopkins University with $970,310 in 2025, showing continued investment in major research institutions working on lung disease. Its portfolio also reaches chronic and inflammatory respiratory conditions. Northwestern University received $1,056,242 in 2024 and $462,675 in 2025, while the University of Alabama at Birmingham received $530,000 in 2025 and $464,289 in 2023. Those grants sit alongside awards tied to asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and related lung-health research. The foundation additionally funds environmental and policy-oriented work. The active Indoor Air Award supports research on indoor air quality and policy-relevant interventions, and the Public Health & Public Policy Research Award is designed to inform public policy debates about healthy air and lung disease.
$13.5M
$225.7M
$118.7M
$116.9M
Most grants fall between $150K and $306K, with a median of $200K.
25th Percentile
$150K
Median
$200K
75th Percentile
$306K
About 7% of grants go to recipients in NY.
HAROLD WIMMER
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Typical award sizes cluster in the mid-six figures: p25 is $150,000, median is $200,000, and p75 is $305,541. The recent grant list shows both one-time and repeat support, including multiple awards to Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham across different years. That suggests ongoing relationships with selected research institutions rather than isolated grants. American Lung Association is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Several active research programs accept unsolicited letters of intent or applications, including the Indoor Air Award, Emerging Respiratory Pathogen Award, Innovation Award, Catalyst Award, and Public Health & Public Policy Research Award.
American Lung Association gives nationally, and every recent grant in the provided list went to U.S. recipients. Massachusetts appears most often among recipient locations, with Boston-area grants to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Trustees of Boston University. Other frequent recipient cities include Baltimore, New York City and New York, Evanston, and Los Angeles. Illinois accounts for 6% of grants, even though the foundation’s headquarters is in Chicago.
Its active programs and recent grants center on lung health research, lung cancer, asthma and COPD, tobacco cessation and policy, clean air and air quality, and infectious respiratory diseases. Specific awards also target indoor air quality, interstitial lung disease, allergic respiratory disease, and public health policy research related to healthy air.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited submissions, including the Indoor Air Award, Emerging Respiratory Pathogen Award, Hastings Innovation Award for Interstitial Lung Disease, Innovation Award, Catalyst Award, Public Health & Public Policy Research Award, and Allergic Respiratory Diseases Award.
Typical grant size sits in the mid-six-figure range: the 25th percentile is $150,000, the median is $200,000, and the 75th percentile is $305,541. Individual recent grants range from smaller research awards like $373,132 to larger commitments above $1 million.
No. The grant recipient country distribution shown in the data is entirely U.S.-based: 150 grants, or 100.0%, went to U.S. recipients.
Yes. Johns Hopkins University appears with grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Northwestern University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham also receive awards in multiple years. That indicates repeated support to selected institutions rather than a strictly one-time model.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $825,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $790,907 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $600,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NEMOURS CHILDREN CLINIC | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $474,465 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CENTER FOR RESEARCH | LAWRENCE, KS | $467,495 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $461,793 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $400,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| TEXAS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $400,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $400,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $350,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $350,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC | BOSTON, MA | $350,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $324,415 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT | BURLINGTON, VT | $323,130 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $317,874 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $300,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERISTY OF ILLINOIS | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY | PORTLAND, OR | $300,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $295,532 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $289,565 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NATIONAL JEWISH MEDICAL AND RESEARCH CENTER | DENVER, CO | $288,015 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $287,620 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS - CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HOUSTON, TX | $208,030 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $201,085 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE WISTAR INSTITUTE OF ANATOMY AND BIOLOGY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY | PISCATAWAY, NJ | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON | GALVESTON, TX | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| AMERICAN THORACIC SOCIETY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $160,001 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $150,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER | AURORA, CO | $150,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $150,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| SEATTLE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SEATTLE, WA | $135,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA | IOWA CITY, IA | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| H LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER & RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC | TAMPA, FL | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE BROAD INSTITUTE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH DHHS | BETHESDA, MD | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE | MEDFORD, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| DELFI DIAGNOSTICS | PALO ALTO, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CHEST PHYSICIANS | GLENVIEW, IL | $60,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
Current and upcoming funding from American Lung Association that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and employed by a U.S. not-for-profit institution. Applicants may submit only one application or LOI per review cycle.
Deadline: LOI due September 18, 2026; applications due December 1, 2026.
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$400,000RESEARCH
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
$400,000RESEARCH
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC
$350,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
$324,415RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
$323,130RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
$300,000RESEARCH
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERISTY OF ILLINOIS
$300,000RESEARCH
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
$300,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$295,532RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
$289,565RESEARCH
NATIONAL JEWISH MEDICAL AND RESEARCH CENTER
$288,015RESEARCH
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
$287,620RESEARCH
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS - CHICAGO
$250,000RESEARCH
WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$201,085RESEARCH
THE WISTAR INSTITUTE OF ANATOMY AND BIOLOGY
$200,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$200,000RESEARCH
RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY
$200,000RESEARCH
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$200,000RESEARCH
AMERICAN THORACIC SOCIETY INC
$160,001RESEARCH
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$150,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
$150,000RESEARCH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
$150,000RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$100,000RESEARCH
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
$100,000RESEARCH
STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
$100,000RESEARCH
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH DHHS
$100,000RESEARCH
DELFI DIAGNOSTICS
$75,000RESEARCH
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CHEST PHYSICIANS
$60,000RESEARCH
Who can apply: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and employed by a U.S. not-for-profit institution. Applicants may submit only one application or LOI per review cycle.
Deadline: LOI due September 18, 2026; applications due December 1, 2026.
Who can apply: The program is intended for strategic alliances and co-funded research partnerships with government, nonprofits and private industry sharing the lung health mission. The page invites prospective partners to contact the American Lung Association and describe their interest and partnership type.
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