The Brinson Foundation has made a single, large transformational gift focused on advancing scientific research at a top-tier university. Its sole reported grant — a $100 million commitment to establish the Brinson Exploration Hub at Caltech — indicates a preference for funding major research infrastructure and discovery-oriented programs rather than many small operating grants. The foundation appears to target elite academic institutions and signature projects that create long-term institutional capacity for exploration and science.
The Brinson Foundation’s defining recent commitment is a $100 million gift that established the Brinson Exploration Hub at California Institute of Technology. That single grant sets the tone for a funder that backs ambitious scientific infrastructure, cross-disciplinary exploration, and long-horizon research capacity. The foundation’s science support reaches astrophysics, observational cosmology, geophysics, robotics, and related fields through named fellowships, prize fellowships, and institutional grants. Recent awards show a mix of large institutional support and targeted research investment. At the University of Chicago, the foundation has funded an astrophysics fellowship program, a lecture series, and a prize fellowship in observational cosmology. At Princeton University, multiple prize fellowships in observational cosmology appear across recent years, alongside similar support for Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Carnegie Institution for Science. The pattern points to a donor working with leading research universities and observatories, often through recurring fellowship structures that support scholars and specific scientific lines of inquiry. Alongside its research portfolio, the foundation also makes education grants and other discretionary awards, including support for community violence intervention and workforce housing redevelopment in recent grant activity. That combination places research, education, and selected community needs within the same grantmaking portfolio.
In astrophysics and cosmology, the foundation gave $141,700 to the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics for the Brinson Astrophysics Fellowship Program, the Brinson Lecture, and PDTA. It also awarded $120,000 to the University of Chicago Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics for a Brinson Prize Fellowship in Observational Cosmology. The foundation also funds instrumentation and observatory work. Carnegie Institution for Science received $115,000 for the Carnegie Observatories Instrumentation Program, and another $115,000 grant supported a Brinson Prize Fellowship in Instrumentation. In biomedical and applied research, Eisenhower Health received $200,000 for its Cardiovascular Institute. In community-focused work, Chicago Community Foundation Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities received $200,000 to scale community violence intervention for a safer Chicago. St John's Health Foundation received $600,000 for the Hitching Post Workforce Housing Redevelopment.
$8.5M
$193.3M
$11.8M
$11.3M
Most grants fall between $30K and $60K, with a median of $43K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$43K
75th Percentile
$60K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Highly concentrated, single large transformational grant strategy — episodic, capital-level commitments to flagship projects at elite institutions rather than broad or numerous small awards.
Notable grantees: California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Typical grant size sits at a p25 of $30,000, a median of $42,500, and a p75 of $60,000, though the portfolio also includes much larger strategic awards. The recent record shows recurring support: the same university departments and research institutions appear across multiple years, often through fellowship or prize-fellowship structures. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund and does not make program-related investments. It also funds individuals, consistent with its fellowship-oriented scientific research support. Some grants are unsolicited through education inquiry pathways, while scientific research and several special programs are by invitation or director selection.
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 64% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Chicago appears repeatedly, including grants to the Chicago Community Foundation Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the University of Chicago Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics. Outside Illinois, Pasadena, Princeton, Cambridge, and Rancho Mirage show up as recipient locations. All recorded recipient countries are in the United States.
Its active programs cover education and scientific research, with additional board- or family-directed special interest grants. Recent examples include fellowship and prize-fellowship support in astrophysics and observational cosmology, institutional support for research infrastructure, and education grants for programs serving the greater Chicago area.
Yes. The foundation’s profile indicates it funds individuals, and the grant record includes fellowship awards such as Brinson Prize Fellowships and postdoctoral fellowships tied to universities and research institutions.
The typical grant size is $30,000 at the 25th percentile, $42,500 at the median, and $60,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from smaller targeted grants to a $100 million commitment for the Brinson Exploration Hub at Caltech.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 64% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Chicago is a frequent recipient city, alongside other Illinois locations such as Urbana and Evanston.
Yes for education and some general grantseeker inquiries. The foundation accepts a Grantseeker Information Form for education priority inquiries and lists unsolicited acceptance for education grants and general grantmaking inquiries, while scientific research and several named research programs are by invitation or existing-grantee based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Brinson Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Inquiries must fall under the Foundation's Education Priority focus areas. Grantseekers should review the Foundation's guidelines and FAQs to determine whether their organization or program qualifies for consideration.
Deadline: Grantseeker Information Forms may be submitted at any time.
Who can apply: Inquiries must fall under the Foundation's Education Priority focus areas. Organizations and programs should review the Foundation's grantmaking guidelines, legal requirements, geographic considerations, limitations, and FAQs to assess eligibility.
Deadline: Grantseeker Information Forms may be submitted at any time.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST JOHN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION | JACKSON, WY | $600,000 | 2025 | HITCHING POST WORKFORCE HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT |
| EISENHOWER HEALTH | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE |
| CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP FOR SAFE AND PEACEFUL COMMUNITIES | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | SCALING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION FOR A SAFER CHICAGO |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS EDWARD H LEV | CHICAGO, IL | $141,700 | 2025 | BRINSON ASTROPHYSICS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, BRINSON LECTURE, AND PDTA |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $120,000 | 2025 | NU-UCHICAGO BRINSON POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN ASTROPHYSICS |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICAL SCIENCES | PRINCETON, NJ | $120,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $120,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICAL SCIENCES | PRINCETON, NJ | $120,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO KAVLI INSTITUTE FOR COSMOLOGICAL PHYSICS | CHICAGO, IL | $120,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY |
| CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE CARNEGIE OBSERVATORIES INSTRUMENTATION PRO | PASADENA, CA | $120,000 | 2025 | CARNEGIE-CALTECH BRINSON POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $120,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS EDWARD H LEV | CHICAGO, IL | $120,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GALACTIC CENTER GROUP | LOS ANGELES, CA | $115,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN BLACK HOLE ASTROPHYSICS |
| WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | MIDDLE TOWN, CT | $115,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN RADIO ASTRONOMY |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $115,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN INTERSTELLAR MATTER RESEARCH |
| CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE CARNEGIE OBSERVATORIES INSTRUMENTATION PRO | PASADENA, CA | $115,000 | 2025 | CARNEGIE-CALTECH BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY |
| CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE CARNEGIE OBSERVATORIES INSTRUMENTATION PRO | PASADENA, CA | $115,000 | 2025 | BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN INSTRUMENTATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY AND ANATOMY | CHICAGO, IL | $103,000 | 2025 | GENETIC BASIS FOR THE ORIGIN OF LIMBS RESEARCH AND PDTA |
| SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES | LA JOLLA, CA | $103,000 | 2025 | BRAIN METABOLISM AND DNA REPAIR IN PRIMATE EVOLUTION AND PDTA |
| LSST INC | TUCSON, AZ | $102,700 | 2025 | DATA SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND PDTA |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | BRINSON MEDICAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | BRINSON MEDICAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP |
| SMITHSONIAN ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | SOLAR ASTROPHYSICS AND ASTROAI RESEARCH |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | BRINSON MEDICAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | PASADENA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | EXPLORING THE WARPED SPACE- TIME AROUND BLACK HOLES |
| REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB | CHICAGO, IL | $90,000 | 2025 | BRINSON STROKE FELLOWSHIP |
| ADLER PLANETARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $88,000 | 2025 | COSMOLOGY AND ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH AND PDTA |
| GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $83,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND PDTA |
| FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | CHICAGO, IL | $83,000 | 2025 | LEARNING CENTER PROGRAMS AND PDTA |
| LA RABIDA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $82,750 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PDTA |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM SOCIETY JOHN G SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE EARTH AND PLANETS LABORATORY | WASHINGTON, DC | $78,000 | 2025 | EXPERIMENTAL AND OBSERVATIONAL GEOPHYSICS AND PDTA |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | PALISADED, NY | $77,200 | 2025 | LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY - ANTICIPATING EARTHQUAKES INITIATIVE AND PDTA |
| SCIENCE PHILANTHROPY ALLIANCE ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | PASADENA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | QUANTUM COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND QUANTUM SENSING FOR FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS RESEARCH |
| LAKE FOREST ACADEMY | LAKE FOREST, IL | $71,500 | 2025 | CLASS OF '93 SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PDTA |
| WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS | CHICAGO, IL | $70,000 | 2025 | LOCAL BROADCAST OF NOVA AND GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE PARTNERSHIP FOR COLLEGE COMPLETION | CHICAGO, IL | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RESEARCH CORPORATION FOR SCIENCE ADVANCEMENT | TUCSON, AZ | $66,000 | 2025 | SCIALOG: EARLY SCIENCE WITH THE LSST |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $65,000 | 2025 | NURSE EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING |
| CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $63,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PDTA |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | PASADENA, CA | $63,000 | 2025 | BRINSON POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN QUANTUM SCIENCE |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | CHICAGO, IL | $62,800 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PDTA |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $60,900 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PDTA |
| FRIENDS OF GROS VENTRE FIRE STATION | JACKSON, WY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $58,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PDTA |
| POSSE FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT - CHICAGO |
| CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $53,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PDTA |
CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP FOR SAFE AND PEACEFUL COMMUNITIES
$200,000SCALING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION FOR A SAFER CHICAGO
BRINSON ASTROPHYSICS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, BRINSON LECTURE, AND PDTA
NU-UCHICAGO BRINSON POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN ASTROPHYSICS
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICAL SCIENCES
$120,000BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY
BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICAL SCIENCES
$120,000BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY
BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE CARNEGIE OBSERVATORIES INSTRUMENTATION PRO
$120,000CARNEGIE-CALTECH BRINSON POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY
BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY
BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GALACTIC CENTER GROUP
$115,000BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN BLACK HOLE ASTROPHYSICS
BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN INTERSTELLAR MATTER RESEARCH
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE CARNEGIE OBSERVATORIES INSTRUMENTATION PRO
$115,000CARNEGIE-CALTECH BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE CARNEGIE OBSERVATORIES INSTRUMENTATION PRO
$115,000BRINSON PRIZE FELLOWSHIP IN INSTRUMENTATION
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY AND ANATOMY
$103,000GENETIC BASIS FOR THE ORIGIN OF LIMBS RESEARCH AND PDTA
SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
$103,000BRAIN METABOLISM AND DNA REPAIR IN PRIMATE EVOLUTION AND PDTA
LSST INC
$102,700DATA SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND PDTA
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE
$100,000BRINSON MEDICAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
BRINSON MEDICAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
SMITHSONIAN ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY
$100,000SOLAR ASTROPHYSICS AND ASTROAI RESEARCH
EXPLORING THE WARPED SPACE- TIME AROUND BLACK HOLES
BRINSON STROKE FELLOWSHIP
GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
$83,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND PDTA
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE EARTH AND PLANETS LABORATORY
$78,000EXPERIMENTAL AND OBSERVATIONAL GEOPHYSICS AND PDTA
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$77,200LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY - ANTICIPATING EARTHQUAKES INITIATIVE AND PDTA
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
QUANTUM COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND QUANTUM SENSING FOR FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS RESEARCH
LAKE FOREST ACADEMY
$71,500CLASS OF '93 SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PDTA
WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS
$70,000LOCAL BROADCAST OF NOVA AND GENERAL SUPPORT
RESEARCH CORPORATION FOR SCIENCE ADVANCEMENT
$66,000SCIALOG: EARLY SCIENCE WITH THE LSST
NURSE EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING
CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM
$63,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PDTA
BRINSON POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN QUANTUM SCIENCE
FRIENDS OF GROS VENTRE FIRE STATION
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
POSSE FOUNDATION
$55,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT - CHICAGO
CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER
$53,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PDTA
