The Vranos Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on high-impact biomedical research and major medical institutions, favoring elite universities and top cancer centers. Most funding supports STEM cell research and general research capacity at leading hospitals and research centers. The foundation makes a small number of very large gifts, often recurring to the same flagship institutions.
Highly concentrated giving: a very small number of large grants (multi-million-dollar), repeat funding to a few flagship organizations rather than many small grantees; focused on institutional research support.
Vranos Foundation’s largest recent gift went to Harvard University’s Stem Cell Institute: $1,715,736 in 2025, following $1,700,000 in 2024 and $1,000,000 in 2023. That repeated support shows a clear preference for sustained institutional backing rather than one-off project funding. Across the recent record, the foundation directs major gifts to biomedical research and to organizations that support medical research capacity, with several awards structured as unrestricted or general support. The foundation also backed Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with seven-figure and half-million-dollar grants for unrestricted general purposes, signaling continued interest in cancer research and treatment institutions. Other large awards went to major medical centers and universities, including Mayo Clinic, Yale University, Columbia University, Duke University Health System Inc, and University of Southern California. The pattern suggests a small number of substantial grants concentrated in established research environments, especially those tied to stem cell research, cancer care, and academic medical infrastructure. Vranos Foundation’s recent giving is institution-focused, with recurring support appearing across multiple years for select grantees.
Stem cell research is the clearest named focus in the recent record. Vranos Foundation gave $1,715,736 in 2025 to Harvard University’s Stem Cell Institute, after $1,700,000 in 2024 and $1,000,000 in 2023, all tied to the institute. Cancer research and treatment capacity also appears prominently. In 2023, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center received $1,000,000 for unrestricted general purposes, and it received another $500,000 in 2025. The foundation also funds broader medical and scientific infrastructure through unrestricted support. Examples include $500,000 to Mayo Clinic in 2023 and $250,000 in 2025, plus $100,000 to Duke University Health System Inc in both 2023 and 2024. Its portfolio also includes other general-support awards to academic medical centers and research institutions such as Columbia University and Yale University.
Vranos Foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, though the recent record also includes multi-hundred-thousand-dollar and seven-figure awards. The pattern leans toward repeated support: Harvard University’s Stem Cell Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Hospital for Special Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Duke University Health System Inc, and Chicago Hope Academy each appear in multiple years. The foundation is not a funder of individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grants shown are largely unrestricted or general support, indicating flexible institutional funding rather than tightly restricted project-only awards.
$4.6M
$327K
$6.4M
$4.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Vranos Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 143 | $13.4M | 97.3% |
| 2 | Peru | 4 |
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Notable grantees: Harvard University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic
Grant recipients are heavily concentrated in the United States, which accounts for 97.3% of grants in the country distribution. New York is the top state by grant count, and many recipients are in New York City, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University, and Hospital for Special Surgery. Cambridge, Massachusetts appears through Harvard University, while Chicago appears through the Alzheimer's Association and Chicago Hope Academy. Outside the U.S., the country distribution includes Peru, with 4 grants there.
The recent grants point to biomedical research institutions, major medical centers, and universities. Named examples include Harvard University’s Stem Cell Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Duke University Health System Inc, and Columbia University, with many awards marked unrestricted or general support.
Yes. Several grantees appear in multiple years, including Harvard University’s Stem Cell Institute in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2023 and 2025; Hospital for Special Surgery in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Duke University Health System Inc in 2023 and 2024.
Its typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also shows much larger awards, including $1,715,736 and $1,000,000 gifts.
New York is the top state by grant count. Recipients also cluster in places like New York City, Cambridge, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New Haven, while 97.3% of grants go to U.S.-based recipients.
The clearest focus areas are stem cell research, cancer research and treatment capacity, and general support for medical research institutions. Harvard University’s Stem Cell Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Mayo Clinic illustrate those priorities in the recent grant list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $96K |
2.7% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,715,736 | 2025 | STEM CELL INSTITUTE |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $250,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $235,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY | NEW YORK, NY | $138,167 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM INC | DURHAM, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HOPKINS SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHICAGO HOPE ACADEMY | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| THE METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HEDGE FUNDS CARE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CASA NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $71,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GABRIELLES ANGEL FOUNDATION FOR CANCER | NEW YORK, NY | $65,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| EAST HARLEM SCHOOL AT EXODUS HOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $55,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| IRC - INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| AFRICA TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVE | LITITZ, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| REGENERATIVE SPORTSCARE FOUNDATION INC | GARDEN CITY, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE | WORCESTER, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NJ | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PACIFIC HOUSE INC | STAMFORD, CT | $47,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| THE OPEN DOOR SHELTER INC | NORWALK, CT | $38,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PERUVIAN PAWS ASSOCIATION | LIMA, MI | $37,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| WORLD CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DOMUS | STAMFORD, CT | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HILDEGARD BEHRENS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HANG TIME | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| YALE NEW HAVEN HOSPITAL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CLC OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY | STAMFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LEA'S FDN FOR LEUKEMIA RESEARCH INC | BLOOMFIELD, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| NY POLICE FIRE WIDOWS CHILDRENS FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ECSA ELLINGTON CMTY SCHOLARSHIP ASSN | ELLINGTON, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| VILLA MARIA ACADEMY | MALVERN, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FOUNDATION FOR FINANCIAL JOURNALISM | WILMINGTON, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| VIENNESE OPERA BALL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| STARELIEF AND PET ASSISTANCE INC | STAMFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIAL SERVICES | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF FSW | PURCHASE, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SAVE THE SOUND | NEW HAVEN, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| WORLD MISSION BAPTIST CHURCH | CAMPBELL, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| STAMFORD POLICE FOUNDATION | STAMFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COVENANT HOUSE NEW ORLEANS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| WOMEN'S MENTORING NETWORK INC | STAMFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| WONDER GIRLS USA INC | MAHWAH, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DAILY GIVING INC | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HEARTSHARE HUMAN SERVICES | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| RESTAURANT TRADE ASSOCIATION ALLIANCE | MADISON, CT | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,700,000 | 2024 | STEM CELL INSTITUTE |
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$1,715,736STEM CELL INSTITUTE
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$500,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
YALE UNIVERSITY
$250,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MAYO CLINIC
$250,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$235,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HOPKINS SCHOOL
$100,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
$75,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CASA NYC
$71,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
EAST HARLEM SCHOOL AT EXODUS HOUSE
$55,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
IRC - INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
AFRICA TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVE
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
REGENERATIVE SPORTSCARE FOUNDATION INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NJ
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
PACIFIC HOUSE INC
$47,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
PERUVIAN PAWS ASSOCIATION
$37,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HILDEGARD BEHRENS FOUNDATION
$30,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HANG TIME
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CLC OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
LEA'S FDN FOR LEUKEMIA RESEARCH INC
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
NY POLICE FIRE WIDOWS CHILDRENS FUND
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ECSA ELLINGTON CMTY SCHOLARSHIP ASSN
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
VILLA MARIA ACADEMY
$15,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
FOUNDATION FOR FINANCIAL JOURNALISM
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
VIENNESE OPERA BALL
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
STARELIEF AND PET ASSISTANCE INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIAL SERVICES
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF FSW
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
WORLD MISSION BAPTIST CHURCH
$8,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
STAMFORD POLICE FOUNDATION
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
WOMEN'S MENTORING NETWORK INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
WONDER GIRLS USA INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
DAILY GIVING INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HEARTSHARE HUMAN SERVICES
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
RESTAURANT TRADE ASSOCIATION ALLIANCE
$2,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$1,700,000STEM CELL INSTITUTE