About Christopher Reeve Foundation
Advance cures and improve quality of life for people living with paralysis through research, advocacy, and programs that provide support and resources.
Focus Areas
Spinal cord injury researchParalysis-related medical researchPeer mentoring and community supportRehabilitation and quality-of-life programsPublic policy and advocacy for people with disabilities
Who They Fund
people with disabilities (mobility and access needs)nursing home residents / individuals transitioning back to communityrural and otherwise underserved communitiescaregivers and family caregiversracially marginalized communities (racial equity focus)
About Christopher Reeve Foundation
A 2023 grant of $492,345 to University of Louisville Research Foundation Inc for BIG IDEA signals how the Christopher Reeve Foundation backs paralysis research at a meaningful scale. The foundation supports work across spinal cord injury research, paralysis-related medical research, peer mentoring, rehabilitation, quality-of-life programs, and public policy advocacy for people with disabilities. Its recent awards show a mix of research, direct service, and systems-focused support, with grants reaching universities, disability organizations, and community programs. Research appears alongside practical support for people living with paralysis. The foundation gave $282,550 to Psychogenics Inc in 2025 for OPEN DATA SHARING, and it also supported groups such as Help Hope Live for RACIAL EQUITY and Als Association Greater Chicago Chapter for DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. The same portfolio includes funding for adaptive sports, nursing-home transition, employment, and rural and underserved communities, indicating a grantmaker that combines scientific priorities with day-to-day quality-of-life needs. Program design matters here: the active grant programs include Research Grants / Tomorrow’s Cure Research Funding, Quality of Life Grants, and Grants for Nonprofits through the National Paralysis Resource Center. The overall pattern is one of disability-focused grantmaking centered on paralysis, with support flowing to nonprofit organizations and research institutions rather than individuals.
What Christopher Reeve Foundation Funds
In research, the foundation backed University of Alabama at Birmingham with $100,000 for ARTS, one of several grants tied to spinal cord injury and treatment development. The research stream also included funding for data-sharing and translational work, showing attention to both discovery and the infrastructure that supports it. Their community-oriented giving is equally specific. Life Waters received $100,000 for ADAPTIVE SPORTS, while Catalyst Sports Inc got $40,000 for TIER 3 - RURAL UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED, linking recreation to access for people in less-served places. The foundation also funded Roads to Independence and Services for Independent Living for NURSING HOME TRANSITION, reflecting support for people moving back into community living. Equity appears as another thread. Help Hope Live received $99,711 for RACIAL EQUITY, and The Legal Clinic for the Disabled Inc received $40,000 for the same area. These awards show a focus on disability services shaped by both access and fairness.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.9M
Total Assets
$30.9M
Total Revenue
$22.6M
Total Expenses
$16.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $19K and $25K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$19K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
National47 states funded
About 4% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
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