The David and June Trone Family Foundation concentrates large, strategic gifts to higher-education institutions and medical centers to support neuroscience, mental health, addiction treatment, and biomedical research, while also making significant investments in civil liberties. They favor endowed chairs, research centers, and targeted hospital support, and occasionally fund advocacy organizations with unrestricted contributions. Their giving suggests an interest in advancing mental health and biomedical science alongside civic rights.
The David and June Trone Family Foundation makes some of its largest grants to higher education and medical research, with a pattern of funding endowed faculty chairs, mental health centers, and cancer-related clinical work. In 2024, it gave $1.5 million to Furman University for the Trone Center for Mental Health, alongside $1 million to American University for the Trone Family Eminent Scholar Chair in Neuroscience and Behavior. Those gifts align with earlier support for the same university and a similar chair in 2023, showing sustained interest in neuroscience and behavioral health research. The foundation also backs medical institutions and advocacy groups. Johns Hopkins University received support for cancer cell research and for an upper tract urothelial cancer multidisciplinary clinic and research, while the American Civil Liberties Union of New York received a $2 million general contribution in 2023. The grant record also includes recurring support for Jewish campus life and community organizations, including Hillel-related and Israel studies work at Furman and American University. Across these grants, the foundation appears to favor targeted, named initiatives rather than broad, undirected giving, with a mix of research, campus programming, hospital support, and civil liberties funding.
In mental health and behavioral health, the foundation has backed multiple university and hospital initiatives. Furman University received $1.5 million for the Trone Center for Mental Health in 2024, and Suburban Hospital received $500,000 in 2023 split across behavioral health, addiction treatment, and building support. Its neuroscience and biomedical research support shows up in gifts to American University and Johns Hopkins University. American University received $1 million in 2024 for the Trone Family Eminent Scholar Chair in Neuroscience and Behavior, following a $1 million grant in 2023 for the same chair. Johns Hopkins University also received $500,000 in 2023 for Dr. Ken Pienta's Keystone Cancer Cell Research. The foundation also funds Jewish campus life and Israel studies. Furman University received $300,000 for the Hillel Endowment Fund in 2024, and American University received $125,000 in 2023 for its Center for Israel Studies.
$8.3M
$12.7M
$14.9M
$8.3M
Most grants fall between $6K and $75K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$75K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of repeat institutional partners (universities, research hospitals, and a major civil liberties organization), combining endowed positions and center-level funding with occasional unrestricted contributions; relatively few but large grants.
Notable grantees: American University, Furman University (Trone Center for Mental Health), Johns Hopkins University, American Civil Liberties Union of New York, Suburban Hospital
Typical grant size sits at $6,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $75,000 at the 75th percentile, with a handful of seven-figure awards at the top end. The record shows repeat grants to the same institutions across 2023 and 2024, including American University, Furman University, Johns Hopkins University, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The mix of general contributions and named funds suggests both unrestricted support and directed, long-term commitments.
Grants are entirely U.S.-based in the recent record. Giving is most concentrated in South Carolina, led by Furman University in Greenville, and Maryland, where recipients include Suburban Hospital in Bethesda and several organizations in Rockville and North Bethesda. Washington, DC also appears frequently through American University, the American Israel Education Foundation, and Johns Hopkins University’s DC recipient listing. Other recipient cities include New York, Philadelphia, West Bloomfield, and Sparta.
The foundation gives heavily to universities, medical centers, and advocacy organizations. Recent grants include $1.5 million to Furman University for the Trone Center for Mental Health, $1 million to American University for a neuroscience chair, and $2 million to the American Civil Liberties Union of New York as a general contribution.
Yes. Furman University received $1.5 million in 2024 for the Trone Center for Mental Health, and Suburban Hospital received $500,000 in 2023 with allocations for behavioral health, addiction treatment, and building support.
The typical grant size is $6,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $75,000 at the 75th percentile. The distribution also includes much larger gifts, such as $2 million, $1.5 million, and multiple $1 million grants.
Yes. American University received $1 million in both 2023 and 2024 for the same neuroscience chair, Furman University received multiple grants in both years, Johns Hopkins University received grants in both years, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania received $25,000 in both 2023 and 2024.
South Carolina and Maryland appear often in the recipient list, with Greenville, Bethesda, Rockville, and North Bethesda among the named cities. Washington, DC is also a repeated recipient location through American University, the American Israel Education Foundation, and Johns Hopkins University’s DC listing.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION OF MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $2,000,000 | 2026 | TRONE CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $1,934,102 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION TO VARIOUS FUNDS |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,011,840 | 2026 | TRONE FAMILY EMINENT SCHOLAR CHAIR IN NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR |
| BROOKE'S HOUSE | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $975,468 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $565,748 | 2026 | TRONE FAMILY ENDOWED FUND FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $480,882 | 2026 | TRONE FAMILY CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE FUND |
| BULLIS SCHOOL INC | POTOMAC, MD | $400,000 | 2026 | THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE BULLIS SCHOOL |
| DWIGHT HALL AT YALE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $250,000 | 2026 | YALE PRISON EDUCATION INITIATIVE |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAW | PITTSBURGH, PA | $200,000 | 2026 | ROSLYN M LITMAN CHAIR IN CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THE SCHOOL OF LAW |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA INC | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $95,783 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GREATER WASHINGTON | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE INC | WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| TEMPLE BETH AMI | ROCKVILLE, MD | $45,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF FREDERICK COUNTY | FREDERICK, MD | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| TEMPLE B'NAI ISRAEL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $23,691 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| HABCORE INC | RED BANK, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| BROOKE'S HOUSE | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $19,637 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER OF MARYLAND | CRESAPTOWN, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| CHABAD OF SUSSEX COUNTY | SPARTA, NJ | $9,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH ELECTORATE INSTITUTE | ROCKVILLE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,085 | 2026 | AU HILLEL STUDENT CENTER |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA INC | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $2,452 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| JESSE KLUMP MEMORIAL FUND | BISHOPVILLE, MD | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FRIENDS OF HALFWAY AFRICAN AMERICAN CEMETERY | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| CABIN JOHN PARK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC | BETHESDA, MD | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $1,500,000 | 2025 | TRONE FAMILY ENDOWED FUND FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TRONE FAMILY EMINENT SCHOLAR CHAIR IN NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $500,000 | 2025 | RICHARD W. RILEY INSTITUTE |
| JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE | BALTIMORE, MD | $325,000 | 2025 | PLEDGE TO GBCI UTUC PROGRAM |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $300,000 | 2025 | TRONE CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAW | PITTSBURGH, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $200,000 | 2025 | THE HILLEL ENDOWMENT FUND |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA INC | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | ARAVA INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES |
| CROHN'S AND COLITIS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | 2023 GREAT GATSBY GALA |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GREATER WASHINGTON | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE INC | WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GREATER WASHINGTON | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | EMERGENCY ISRAEL CAMPAIGN CRISIS |
| NEHEMIAH CENTRAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| TEMPLE B'NAI ISRAEL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| ST MATTHEWS PARISH | HYATTSVILLE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT NEW IMMIGRANTS |
| TEMPLE BETH AMI | ROCKVILLE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| HOWARD COUNTY NAACP | COLUMBIA, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| NATIONAL PARK TRUST INC | ROCKVILLE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | WILDFIRES IN MAUI |
| OUT FOR JUSTICE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| CHABAD OF SUSSEX COUNTY | SPARTA, NJ | $4,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
TRONE CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY
TRONE FAMILY EMINENT SCHOLAR CHAIR IN NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR
BROOKE'S HOUSE
$975,468GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
TRONE FAMILY ENDOWED FUND FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING
DWIGHT HALL AT YALE
$250,000YALE PRISON EDUCATION INITIATIVE
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAW
$200,000ROSLYN M LITMAN CHAIR IN CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THE SCHOOL OF LAW
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA INC
$95,783GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
$75,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE INC
$50,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
TEMPLE BETH AMI
$45,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF FREDERICK COUNTY
$25,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
TEMPLE B'NAI ISRAEL
$23,691GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
BROOKE'S HOUSE
$19,637GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER OF MARYLAND
$10,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
CHABAD OF SUSSEX COUNTY
$9,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
JEWISH ELECTORATE INSTITUTE
$5,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA INC
$2,452GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
JESSE KLUMP MEMORIAL FUND
$1,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
FRIENDS OF HALFWAY AFRICAN AMERICAN CEMETERY
$500GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
CABIN JOHN PARK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC
$500GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
TRONE FAMILY ENDOWED FUND FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING
TRONE FAMILY EMINENT SCHOLAR CHAIR IN NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR
JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE
$325,000PLEDGE TO GBCI UTUC PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAW
$200,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$75,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA INC
$70,000ARAVA INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE INC
$40,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
EMERGENCY ISRAEL CAMPAIGN CRISIS
NEHEMIAH CENTRAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$25,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
TEMPLE B'NAI ISRAEL
$20,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
ST MATTHEWS PARISH
$20,000TO SUPPORT NEW IMMIGRANTS
TEMPLE BETH AMI
$20,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
HOWARD COUNTY NAACP
$10,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$5,000WILDFIRES IN MAUI
CHABAD OF SUSSEX COUNTY
$4,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTION