To mobilize people and resources to drive research, provide programs and services, and advocate for people affected by multiple sclerosis.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s recent grantmaking centers on research, with multimillion-dollar awards flowing to universities, hospitals, and research institutes across the country. Among the largest recent grants are $2,101,846 to University of California San Francisco, $1,761,092 to Columbia University, and $1,727,835 to Johns Hopkins University, all marked for research. That pattern points to a funder that backs scientific work on multiple sclerosis through large institutional grants rather than individual awards. The Society’s portfolio also shows support for research capacity and career development. Current funding streams include requests for applications for targeted MS research topics, fellowships for physician-scientists, postdoctoral rehabilitation awards, and early-career researcher awards such as the Harry Weaver Scholar program. Its stated purpose is to mobilize people and resources to drive research, provide programs and services, and advocate for people affected by multiple sclerosis. Recent recipients include major academic medical centers such as Brigham & Women's Hospital, Yale University, Stanford University, and Weill Cornell Medical College. Together, these grants show a funder working through established research institutions to advance MS science and related training pathways.
Multiple sclerosis research is the clearest theme in the Society’s grantmaking. It gave $1,361,092 to Cleveland Clinic Foundation for research and $767,750 to University of Colorado Denver for research, alongside other institutional awards in the same category. The funding reaches both basic and translational work, with dedicated research opportunities listed for MS cures, clinical research, and basic science. Training and career development are another thread. The Society awards Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowships for physician-scientists pursuing MS research training, and it offers postdoctoral fellowships and mentor-based postdoctoral rehabilitation awards for rehabilitation-focused work. Its Harry Weaver Scholar Award supports early-career MS investigators. The organization also funds programmatic research infrastructure through targeted RFAs, which are tied to specific topics or initiatives. That structure suggests a mix of open research support and mission-directed calls for work in priority areas.
$23.2M
$189.2M
$162M
$155.7M
Most grants fall between $68K and $280K, with a median of $142K.
25th Percentile
$68K
Median
$142K
75th Percentile
$280K
TIMOTHY COETZEE
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Typical grant sizes sit at $68,192 at the 25th percentile, $141,782 at the median, and $280,368 at the 75th percentile, while the recent grant list also includes awards in the seven-figure range for major research institutions. The Society appears to fund repeatedly over time: Johns Hopkins University, University of Utah, University of California San Francisco, Columbia University, Brigham & Women's Hospital, and University of Colorado Denver each appear more than once in the recent grants list across different years. It is a regular funder rather than a DAF or individual grantmaker, and its listed programs include both unsolicited opportunities and targeted requests for applications.
Grantmaking is national, and every recent grant in the provided sample goes to a U.S. recipient. Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, and recent awards include Boston, Waltham, and nearby research institutions such as Brigham & Women's Hospital and Accelerated Cure Project for Ms. New York City also appears multiple times through Columbia University, Weill Cornell Medical College, and other recipients. Other recurring recipient cities include Baltimore, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Aurora.
Its recent grants are concentrated in multiple sclerosis research, with awards to universities and hospitals for research rather than to individuals. The organization also lists research training, rehabilitation research, and targeted RFAs among its active funding programs.
The typical grant size is $68,192 at the 25th percentile, $141,782 at the median, and $280,368 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include multi-million-dollar research grants to major institutions.
Yes. Johns Hopkins University, University of Utah, University of California San Francisco, Columbia University, Brigham & Women's Hospital, and University of Colorado Denver each appear multiple times in the recent grants list across different years.
It lists research funding opportunities, targeted RFAs, Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowships, mentor-based postdoctoral rehabilitation awards, postdoctoral fellowships, and the Harry Weaver Scholar Award. Some are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, while targeted RFAs depend on specific announced topics.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from National Multiple Sclerosis Society that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Early-stage research proposals addressing the impact of aging in MS; preliminary data not explicitly required.
Deadline: LOI deadline: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 5 p.m. Eastern Time; Full proposal deadline: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 5 p.m. Eastern Time
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $1,615,407 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,310,088 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,280,874 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $966,543 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | PALO ALTO, CA | $910,753 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $836,987 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $635,345 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER | BOULDER, CO | $601,810 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| KESSLER FOUNDATION RESEARCH CENTER | EAST HANOVER, NJ | $599,688 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $590,898 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $539,079 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, OH | $518,246 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $494,655 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $474,490 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MYROBALAN THERAPEUTICS INC | MEDFORD, ME | $425,482 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | DETROIT, MI | $408,831 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE MGH INSTITUTE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS | CHARLESTOWN, MA | $400,085 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY | RICHMOND, VA | $386,077 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| ACCELERATED CURE PROJECT FOR MS | WALTHAM, MA | $332,688 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $315,168 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| BENAROYA RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT VIRGINIA MASON | SEATTLE, WA | $314,851 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CENTER FOR RESEARCH INC | LAWRENCE, KS | $301,673 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO | LA JOLLA, CA | $295,713 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NAT'L INST OF HEALTHNAT'L INST OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS & STROKE | BETHESDA, MD | $294,817 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $278,281 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE | RIVERSIDE, CA | $271,156 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $263,920 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $261,932 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| EMPIRE DISCOVERY INSTITUTE INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $245,499 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC | KANSAS CITY, KS | $242,482 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS | WESTBOROUGH, MA | $239,800 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| REHABILITION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $237,286 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $228,367 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $225,342 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D | NEW YORK, NY | $224,584 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY | FORT COLLINS, CO | $223,380 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $221,873 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $221,476 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $213,481 | 2026 | CLINICAL |
| OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY | PORTLAND, OR | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIV OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE CMLTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDU | PITTSBURGH, PA | $192,708 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $184,694 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $180,980 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $173,125 | 2026 | CLINICAL |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $170,348 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER | BOULDER, CO | $161,019 | 2026 | CLINICAL |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $150,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MOUNT SINAI REHABILITATION HOSPITAL INC | HARTFORD, CT | $147,294 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $140,194 | 2026 | CLINICAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC | NOTRE DAME, IN | $137,500 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
$1,310,088RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
RESEARCH
BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
$635,345RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
$601,810RESEARCH
WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE
$590,898RESEARCH
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
$518,246RESEARCH
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$474,490RESEARCH
MYROBALAN THERAPEUTICS INC
$425,482RESEARCH
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
$408,831RESEARCH
THE MGH INSTITUTE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
$400,085RESEARCH
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
$386,077RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
$295,713RESEARCH
NAT'L INST OF HEALTHNAT'L INST OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS & STROKE
$294,817RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
$271,156RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$263,920RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
$261,932RESEARCH
EMPIRE DISCOVERY INSTITUTE INC
$245,499RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
$239,800RESEARCH
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
$223,380RESEARCH
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$221,873RESEARCH
OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
$200,000RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$184,694RESEARCH
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$173,125CLINICAL
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$170,348RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
$161,019CLINICAL
MOUNT SINAI REHABILITATION HOSPITAL INC
$147,294RESEARCH