Open nowCloses Jan 10, 2027Award: Up to $3.4M
2020 - Brown University: ONC212 as Novel Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancerTranslational therapeuticsOncology drug development
About Warren Alpert Foundation
The Warren Alpert Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving on higher-education institutions and university-affiliated medical/research programs, providing large philanthropic donations to major research universities. Grants are sizable and directed to a small set of repeat institutional beneficiaries, suggesting a focus on supporting academic research, medical advancement, and endowed university programs rather than many small community organizations.
Focus Areas
University-based medical and biomedical research fundingEndowments and major gifts to Ivy League and research universitiesSupport for academic clinical programs and hospital-affiliated foundationsCapital and programmatic donations to higher education institutions
Giving Approach
Concentrated, high-value grants to a small number of repeat institutional grantees (major universities and medical foundations) rather than broad, distributed giving; multiple multi-million dollar gifts to core university partners.
Funding Style
donation-based grantsprize/award fundingeducation-designated support
About Warren Alpert Foundation
The Warren Alpert Foundation’s giving is anchored by large university gifts, with Brown University receiving the three biggest recent grants in the dataset: $9,716,727 in 2024, $8,092,536 in 2023, and $6,408,253 in 2025. That pattern points to a foundation that supports higher education and research institutions at a significant scale, rather than distributing many small awards across a broad field. Recent grants also show multi-year support for other major academic beneficiaries, including the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and the President and Fellows of Harvard College. Alongside those institutional donations, the foundation funds biomedical research, medical education, and prize and fellowship programs tied to scientific advancement. Its active programs include the Warren Alpert Prize, administered with Harvard Medical School, and neuroscience-focused scholar awards for postdoctoral researchers. The grant record also includes hospital and research-center support, suggesting an emphasis on academic medicine, translational research, and university-affiliated clinical programs. The foundation funds individuals as well as institutions, and its grantmaking includes both unrestricted-style donations and designated program support.
What Warren Alpert Foundation Funds
Biomedical research is a core theme. The foundation gave $3,400,000 in 2020 to Brown University for ONC212 as a novel therapy for pancreatic cancer and other treatment-refractory solid tumors, a multi-year translational project. Neuroscience is another clear line of support: it awarded $200,000 annually for two years through the Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Fellowship Award — Neuroscience, a transitional fellowship for exceptional postdoctoral scientists. The Warren Alpert Prize also recognizes scientists, physicians, and researchers whose work has advanced prevention, cure, or treatment of human disease; one recent prize award was $500,000 to David J Lipman. In addition to research, the foundation makes general funding grants of $25,000 and under for medical research, medical education, general education, and basic human services, with priority consideration in New England.
How Warren Alpert Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $35,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a mix of smaller general awards and much larger institutional gifts. The recent record also includes episodic prize and fellowship funding, plus multi-year support in research and education. Grants are made through both direct applications and letters of inquiry for requests over $25,000. The foundation funds individuals, and its programs show a combination of nomination-based awards and competitive institutional grants.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$24.3M
Total Assets
$397.3M
Total Revenue
$21.4M
Total Expenses
$27.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $200K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$200K
Geographic Reach
Regional28 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Warren Alpert Foundation Funds
Top 4 recipient countries by grant volume for Warren Alpert Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 248 | $70.6M | 98.4% |
| 2 | Germany |
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