The Aphorism Foundation concentrates philanthropic capital on high‑risk, high‑reward science and technology research, with a particular emphasis on advanced computing/AI and cutting‑edge biological research. It also supports higher‑education institutions, science communication/policy organizations, and occasional community needs or fellowship programs. Grants are mostly large, institutional awards to research labs, universities, and mission‑driven nonprofits rather than small local service providers.
Aphorism Foundation C/o Realize Cpa LLP places unusually large general-support grants behind frontier science and technology work, with its biggest recent award going to Earth Species Project for $10,005,300. That pattern is paired with another $10,000,000 grant to Probabilistic Computing Foundation Inc, showing a strong emphasis on advanced computing and AI-adjacent research. The foundation’s recent grant record also reaches into translational bioscience through major support for CZ Biohub Network and Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Inc, while still backing institutions that shape the research ecosystem, such as Science for America and New America Foundation. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to favor mission-driven organizations that can absorb large unrestricted awards and deploy them across research, policy, and infrastructure needs. Higher-education institutions are also part of the portfolio, including Harvard College, Columbia University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The mix of grantees suggests a grantmaker oriented toward institutional-scale science and knowledge work rather than direct local services, with occasional support extending to food access and leadership development.
In frontier AI and probabilistic computing, the foundation gave $10,000,000 to Probabilistic Computing Foundation Inc for general support. In machine learning and nonhuman intelligence work, it gave $10,005,300 to Earth Species Project for general support. These are paired with other science-and-research awards that reinforce a clear interest in computational and biological discovery. The foundation also funds translational bioscience infrastructure. It gave $2,000,000 to CZ Biohub Network and another $2,000,000 to Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Inc, both for general support. Beyond laboratory research, it has supported science communication and policy infrastructure through $3,000,000 to Science for America Inc and $2,200,000 to New America Foundation. University and fellowship-oriented support appears as well, including $1,461,858 to Association of Marshall Scholars Inc and $1,000,000 to Columbia University.
Typical grants are large: the 25th percentile is $137,500, the median is $430,000, and the 75th percentile is $1,000,000. The recent record shows repeated support to some recipients across multiple years, including New America Foundation and Hypothesis Fund Pbllc, which each appear in both 2023 and 2025. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Available grants are overwhelmingly unrestricted or general support rather than project-specific awards.
$43.4M
$1.1B
$34.4M
$44.5M
Most grants fall between $138K and $1M, with a median of $430K.
25th Percentile
$138K
Median
$430K
75th Percentile
$1M
About 19% of grants go to recipients in MA.
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Aphorism Foundation C/O Realize Cpa Llp.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 42 | $55.6M | 93.3% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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Concentrated, large seven‑ to eight‑figure grants to a small set of institutional grantees focused on research and knowledge infrastructure; a mix of repeat funding to select organizations and one‑off major commitments across universities, research institutes, and policy nonprofits.
Notable grantees: Earth Species Project, Probabilistic Computing Foundation Inc, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub / CZ Biohub Network, Science for America Inc, New America Foundation
Grantmaking is national, with 93.3% of grants going to US recipients and 6% to recipients in California. By count, New York is the top state for recipient location. Recent grants also land in Massachusetts, Washington, DC, and North Carolina, alongside a Canadian recipient in Toronto and a UK presence in the recipient mix. City-level recipients include Cambridge, Washington, San Francisco, Brooklyn, and Toronto.
The recent grants point to research labs, universities, science-policy organizations, and mission-driven nonprofits. Examples in the data include Science for America Inc, New America Foundation, Harvard College, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and translational bioscience groups such as CZ Biohub Network and Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Inc.
The grant-size distribution is large: p25 is $137,500, the median is $430,000, and p75 is $1,000,000. Several recent awards are at the million-dollar level or above, including grants to Earth Species Project, Probabilistic Computing Foundation Inc, and Science for America Inc.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeat awards to New America Foundation and Hypothesis Fund Pbllc in both 2023 and 2025. That indicates some recipients receive support across more than one grant year rather than only one-time awards.
By recipient count, New York is the top state. The distribution is national overall, with 93.3% of grants to US recipients and a small share going outside the US, including one recipient in Toronto and two grants to UK recipients.
It does not fund individuals and it does not make program-related investments. The foundation is classified as a regular funder.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 2 |
| $407K |
4.4% |
| 3 | Canada | 1 | $329K | 2.2% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EARTH SPECIES PROJECT | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $10,005,300 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROBABILISTIC COMPUTING FOUNDATION INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $10,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SCIENCE FOR AMERICA INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $3,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | SAN JOSE, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CZ BIOHUB NETWORK | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONNECTED LEARNING ALLIANCE | DANA POINT, CA | $1,865,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MATHESAR FOUNDATION INC | COMMACK, NY | $1,498,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASSOCIATION OF MARSHALL SCHOLARS INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,461,858 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEADERSHIP NETWORK | CAROLINA BEACH, NC | $1,200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| US JAPAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORTICO CORPORATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEADERS IN TECH INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HYPOTHESIS FUND PBLLC | MERCER ISLAND, WA | $900,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $515,835 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP FOR TOMORROW | BETHESDA, MD | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HIM FOR HER INC | OAKLAND, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DOLLAR FOR | VANCOUVER, WA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOOD FOR SOUL INC | LIVERPOOL, NY | $140,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LIMN | DURHAM, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASPEN INSTITUTE | — | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LOCUS SCIENCE FICTION FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $63,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ENDEAVOR GLOBAL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAFECAST GLOBAL | WELLESLEY, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHAN ZUCKERBERG BIOHUB INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLORS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER OF COMPLEX INTERVENTIONS | WELLESLEY, MA | $1,500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KNOWLEDGE FUTURES INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLAYERS PHILANTHROPY FUND | TOWSON, MD | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LIBI | BRIGHTON, MA | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HYPOTHESIS FUND PBLLC | MERCER ISLAND, WA | $800,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER ON RURAL INNOVATION | HARTLAND, VT | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MERCATUS CENTER INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $360,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO | TORONTO | $329,293 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASPEN INSITUTUTE UK | — | $306,600 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MADISON SQUARE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ENDEAVOR GLOBAL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE | MONTGOMERY, AL | $46,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE PUTNEY SCHOOL | PUTNEY, VT | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
EARTH SPECIES PROJECT
$10,005,300GENERAL SUPPORT
PROBABILISTIC COMPUTING FOUNDATION INC
$10,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SCIENCE FOR AMERICA INC
$3,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION
$2,200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
$2,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CZ BIOHUB NETWORK
$2,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CONNECTED LEARNING ALLIANCE
$1,865,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MATHESAR FOUNDATION INC
$1,498,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ASSOCIATION OF MARSHALL SCHOLARS INC
$1,461,858GENERAL SUPPORT
LEADERSHIP NETWORK
$1,200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
US JAPAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CORTICO CORPORATION
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LEADERS IN TECH INC
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HYPOTHESIS FUND PBLLC
$900,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
$515,835GENERAL SUPPORT
MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP FOR TOMORROW
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HIM FOR HER INC
$350,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DOLLAR FOR
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOOD FOR SOUL INC
$140,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LIMN
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ASPEN INSTITUTE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LOCUS SCIENCE FICTION FOUNDATION
$63,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ENDEAVOR GLOBAL INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SAFECAST GLOBAL
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION
$2,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHAN ZUCKERBERG BIOHUB INC
$2,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PRESIDENT AND FELLORS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
$1,500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTER OF COMPLEX INTERVENTIONS
$1,500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KNOWLEDGE FUTURES INC
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLAYERS PHILANTHROPY FUND
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LIBI
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HYPOTHESIS FUND PBLLC
$800,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTER ON RURAL INNOVATION
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MERCATUS CENTER INC
$360,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
$329,293GENERAL SUPPORT
ASPEN INSITUTUTE UK
$306,600GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MADISON SQUARE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FOUNDATION INC
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ENDEAVOR GLOBAL INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
$46,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE PUTNEY SCHOOL
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT