Skylight Charitable Trust concentrates its giving in two clear areas: community safety/infrastructure and neurological disease research. The foundation makes very large, targeted gifts — often repeat payments — to a small set of organizations, including local community foundations and specialized disease research nonprofits. Its grants fund tangible public-safety projects (e.g., fire department training infrastructure) and high-impact medical research into specific neurological disorders.
SKYLIGHT CHARITABLE TRUST is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and reported $14,635,009 in annual grants with $106,197,157 in total assets on its latest 990 for 2025. Its giving is concentrated in community safety and infrastructure projects, along with neurological disease research and advocacy. The foundation’s recent grantmaking shows repeated support for a small group of recipients, often through large project-specific awards or general support. Among its largest recent grants are $1,100,000 to AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION (MINNEAPOLIS, MN) for LEWY BODY DEMENTIA RESEARCH STUDY, $1,000,000 to WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (WATERTOWN, WI) for YMCA POOL BUILDING FOUNDATION AND WALLS, and $1,000,000 to WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (WATERTOWN, WI) for YMCA GYMNASIUM BUILDING. Other sizeable grants include $1,000,000 for YMCA CAPITAL CAMPAIGN and $700,000 for WATERTOWN FIRE DEPARTEMENT TRAINING TOWER, both to WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (WATERTOWN, WI). Recent awards also include support for CUREPSP INC, CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC, MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSONS RESEARCH, and the University of Arizona Foundation. The foundation’s pattern is consistent with targeted funding for capital projects and disease-focused research rather than broad unrestricted grantmaking across many recipients.
Recent grantmaking spans neurodegenerative disease research, neuroinfectious disease studies, and public-safety or community facility construction. Notable grants include $1,100,000 to AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION (MINNEAPOLIS, MN) for LEWY BODY DEMENTIA RESEARCH STUDY, $625,000 to AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION (SAN FRANCISCO, CA) for NEUROINFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH, and $357,356 to AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION (MINNEAPOLIS, MN) for PSP GENOMICS INITIATIVE. On the community side, SKYLIGHT CHARITABLE TRUST gave $1,000,000 to WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (WATERTOWN, WI) for YMCA POOL BUILDING FOUNDATION AND WALLS and $700,000 for WATERTOWN FIRE DEPARTEMENT TRAINING TOWER. It also supported inherited peripheral neuropathy work through grants to CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association.
SKYLIGHT CHARITABLE TRUST makes large grants, with a typical size of $100,000 at the 25th percentile, $145,000 at the median, and $450,000 at the 75th percentile. Its recent awards include many six- and seven-figure grants, often repeated to the same organizations across multiple years. The foundation funds research organizations, community foundations, and public-serving capital projects. It also uses donor-advised fund support, as shown by the $450,000 grant to ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. The available data do not show an application process or grant cycle frequency.
$7.4M
$106.2M
$4.3M
$8.5M
Most grants fall between $100K and $450K, with a median of $145K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$145K
75th Percentile
$450K
About 8% of grants go to recipients in WI.
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Highly concentrated: a small number of large grants total most giving, with repeat multi-grant support to core grantees. Emphasis on capital/project funding and mission-specific research rather than many small awards or broad general operating support.
Notable grantees: Watertown Area Community Foundation, American Brain Foundation, CurePSP Inc, CMT Research Foundation Inc, Arizona Community Foundation
SKYLIGHT CHARITABLE TRUST gives nationally, and all recent grants in the data went to recipients in the United States. The state where it gives most often is Pennsylvania by grant count, while 8% of grants were made to recipients in Arizona, the foundation’s headquarters state. Other frequently funded states in the recent grants list include Wisconsin, Minnesota, Georgia, New York, California, Michigan, and Texas. Recent grant recipients also appear in Arizona and Tennessee through project and research awards.
The provided data do not describe an application process or state whether SKYLIGHT CHARITABLE TRUST accepts unsolicited applications. The recent grant record shows direct grants to research organizations, community foundations, and project partners.
Recent grants from SKYLIGHT CHARITABLE TRUST fund neurodegenerative disease research, including Lewy body dementia, PSP, Parkinson’s disease, and CMT-related work, as well as public-safety and community facility projects such as YMCA construction and a fire department training tower.
Typical grant size is $100,000 at the 25th percentile, $145,000 at the median, and $450,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include several grants of $1,000,000 and $700,000.
SKYLIGHT CHARITABLE TRUST gives nationally in the United States. The state where it gives most often is Pennsylvania. Arizona, the headquarters state, received 8% of grants in the data provided.
Recent grants include AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION, WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, CUREPSP INC, CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC, MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSONS RESEARCH, UNVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION, ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, and DREAM CENTERS OF MICHIGAN.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | YMCA POOL BUILDING FOUNDATION AND WALLS |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000,000 | 2025 | LEWY BODY DEMENTIA RESEARCH STUDY |
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | YMCA CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $700,000 | 2025 | WATERTOWN FIRE DEPARTEMENT TRAINING TOWER |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $625,000 | 2025 | NEURAL INFLAMMATION PROJECT FUND STUDY |
| CUREPSP INC | NEW YORK, NY | $550,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $550,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $377,167 | 2025 | NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH PROGRAM |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $357,356 | 2025 | PSP GENOMICS INITIATIVE |
| CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR TYPE 1A RESEARCH |
| CUREPSP INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | PSP GENOMICS INITIATIVES |
| MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSONS RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $234,822 | 2025 | NEUROTROPIC VIRAL INFECTION AND THE ANTIVIRAL RESPONSE IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | REIMAGINE THE FIRST KINDERGARTEN VISITOR EXPERIENCE |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,100,000 | 2024 | LEWY BODY DEMENTIA RESEARCH STUDY |
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $1,000,000 | 2024 | YMCA GYMNASIUM BUILDING |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $625,000 | 2024 | NEUROINFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH |
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $476,000 | 2024 | FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF THE "HISTORICAL ART INSTALLATION" |
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $450,000 | 2024 | DONOR ADVISED FUND |
| CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $382,983 | 2024 | ALLAN JACKSON CHALLENGE GRANT |
| CUREPSP INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | STUDY GRANT |
| UNVERSITY OF ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $224,664 | 2024 | RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $200,000 | 2024 | KINDERGARTEN ADDITION |
| CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT |
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $50,000 | 2024 | OCTAGON HOUSING |
| CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH ASSOCIATION | GLENDOLDEN, PA | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMERICA CHARITABLE TRUST | DETROIT, MI | $500,000 | 2023 | OVERLOOK FUND |
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $170,000 | 2023 | FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF THE "HISTORICAL ART INSTALLATION" |
| WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERTOWN, WI | $145,000 | 2023 | WATERTOWN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT - SUPPORTING STEM EDUCATION PROPOSAL |
| CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $117,017 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CUREPSP INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | FURTHER GROUND BREAKING RESEARCH IN PSP, CBD & MSA |
| LEBANON HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LEBANON, WI | $100,000 | 2023 | MATCHING GRANT |
| DREAM CENTERS OF MICHIGAN | TROY, MI | $100,000 | 2023 | RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
| MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSONS RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | FURTHER SUPPORT IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH |
| LEBANON HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LEBANON, WI | $100,000 | 2023 | NEW HOME/BUILDING |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2023 | FURTHER GROUND BREAKING RESEARCH IN BRAIN DISEASES AND DISORDERS |
| DEMENTIA SOCIETY INC | DOYLESTOWN, PA | $100,000 | 2023 | FURTHER GROUND BREAKING RESEARCH IN LEWY BODY DEMENTIA |
| BLUEFIELD PROJECT TO CURE FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | FURTHER GROUND BREAKING WORK IN FTD |
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$1,000,000YMCA POOL BUILDING FOUNDATION AND WALLS
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$1,000,000YMCA CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$700,000WATERTOWN FIRE DEPARTEMENT TRAINING TOWER
GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION
$377,167NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH PROGRAM
AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION
$357,356PSP GENOMICS INITIATIVE
UNVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION
$234,822NEUROTROPIC VIRAL INFECTION AND THE ANTIVIRAL RESPONSE IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$100,000REIMAGINE THE FIRST KINDERGARTEN VISITOR EXPERIENCE
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$1,000,000YMCA GYMNASIUM BUILDING
AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION
$625,000NEUROINFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$476,000FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF THE "HISTORICAL ART INSTALLATION"
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$200,000KINDERGARTEN ADDITION
CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
$100,000GENERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$50,000OCTAGON HOUSING
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$170,000FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF THE "HISTORICAL ART INSTALLATION"
WATERTOWN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$145,000WATERTOWN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT - SUPPORTING STEM EDUCATION PROPOSAL
LEBANON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$100,000MATCHING GRANT
FURTHER SUPPORT IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH
LEBANON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$100,000NEW HOME/BUILDING
FURTHER GROUND BREAKING RESEARCH IN BRAIN DISEASES AND DISORDERS
FURTHER GROUND BREAKING RESEARCH IN LEWY BODY DEMENTIA
FURTHER GROUND BREAKING WORK IN FTD