Research Grants

3,985 foundations$30.9B total annual giving$14K median grant54 states with funders

Discover 3,985 grantmaking foundations funding research programs, with combined annual giving of $30.9B. The median grant size for research is $14K.

Research Grantmaking at a Glance

Foundations

3,985

Total Annual Giving

$30.9B

Total Assets Under Management

$162.8B

Median Grant Size

$14K

States with Funders

54

Total Grants on Record

66,090

Open Grant Opportunities

Live programs funding research that your nonprofit can apply to now.

Open nowCloses in 4 days (Jul 1, 2026)Award: Up to $40K

$40,000 Research Grant (Research Grant Award)

From Francine Shapiro Emdr Foundation

EMDR therapy effectivenessAnxietyDepression+10 more

Who can apply: Applicant with master’s degree or doctorate in social work, psychology, nursing, or related field; affiliation with a college, university, or research institution preferred. Practitioners/clinicians with relevant research experience may apply. Institutional affiliation must serve as fiscal agent if award is given; international applicants accepted (application in English, budget in USD). IRB approval required.

View & apply
Open nowCloses in 9 days (Jul 6, 2026)Award: Up to $8K

Suzanne Wright Memorial Research Accelerator Awards

From Autism Science Foundation

autism researchresearch accelerationknowledge dissemination+1 more

Who can apply: Applicants must hold active autism research grants and seek supplemental funding to accelerate existing projects.

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Open nowCloses Nov 15, 2026

KOH Research Grant Program (annual research proposals)

From Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation

Ovarian cancer researchTranslational researchEarly detection and therapeutics

Who can apply: Researchers conducting ovarian cancer research. Specific eligibility details are provided in the annual Grant Application materials (contact kohgrantinfo@kohnj.org for questions).

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Open nowRolling / open intake

de Gunzburg Myeloma Research Fund — Research Grants

From De Gunzburg Myeloma Research Foundation

multiple myelomaearly-stage/basic researchnovel therapeutics development+1 more

Who can apply: Fundamental early-stage myeloma research projects. DGMRF does not fund purely clinical projects or clinical protocols. Applications may be submitted by US laboratories/groups and leading medical institutions.

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Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Varies

Medical Research Grants

From John S Dunn Foundation

medical researchbiomedical researchcancer research+3 more

Who can apply: Open to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that are 501(c)(3) public charities (not private foundations or Type III supporting organizations). Requests must support programs or projects within the greater Houston area. No grants to individuals, businesses, capital campaigns, construction, furnishings, or advocacy.

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Open nowRolling / open intake

IFCR Grant Program (Seed Grants, Junior Investigator Grants, Clinical Research Fellowships)

From International Foundation for Cdkl5 Research

basic researchclinical researchCDKL5 deficiency disorder+7 more

Who can apply: Available to both established and junior investigators. Materials must be submitted in English. IFCR encourages collaborative and multidisciplinary projects. Indirect costs are not supported.

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Deadlines and program details come from public sources and can change. Always confirm on the funder's official site before applying.

Largest Research Foundations

THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$240.2M

Total Assets

$439M

Median Grant

$321K

H48National
FUTURE OF LIFE INSTITUTE

NARBERTH, PA

Annual Giving

$207.1M

Total Assets

$6.3M

Median Grant

$2.5M

U99National
THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$187.8M

Total Assets

$6.4B

Median Grant

$11K

U20National
THE BROAD INSTITUTE INC

CAMBRIDGE, MA

Annual Giving

$147M

Total Assets

$2.7B

Median Grant

$201K

H20National
FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER

SEATTLE, WA

Annual Giving

$122.1M

Total Assets

—

Median Grant

$58K

H300National
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND SERVICE FOUNDATIONINC

STATESBORO, GA

Annual Giving

$103.2M

Total Assets

$42.1M

Median Grant

$65.4M

U12Local
CLIMATEWORKS FOUNDATION

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Annual Giving

$96.3M

Total Assets

$533.1M

Median Grant

$250K

U12National
THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

LA JOLLA, CA

Annual Giving

$93.9M

Total Assets

$1.3B

Median Grant

$220K

H92National
ASTERA INSTITUTE

BERKELEY, CA

Annual Giving

$83.3M

Total Assets

$2.6B

Median Grant

—

U41unknown
WELLCOME LEAP INC

SAN DIEGO, CA

Annual Giving

$71M

Total Assets

$252.2M

Median Grant

$492K

H12National
See all 3,985 foundations

Explore Research Foundations

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Research(locked)

Where Research Funders Are Located

Top 15 states by foundation count

CaliforniaView all
Foundations

501

Total Giving

$1.1B

New YorkView all
Foundations

435

Total Giving

$544.2M

TexasView all
Foundations

324

Total Giving

$435M

FloridaView all
Foundations

307

Total Giving

$237.2M

MassachusettsView all
Foundations

200

Total Giving

$225.7M

PennsylvaniaView all
Foundations

195

Total Giving

$347.2M

IllinoisView all
Foundations

186

Total Giving

$325.1M

New JerseyView all
Foundations

137

Total Giving

$312.7M

VirginiaView all
Foundations

92

Total Giving

$9.8B

DelawareView all
Foundations

89

Total Giving

$65.6M

MarylandView all
Foundations

89

Total Giving

$1.3B

MissouriView all
Foundations

86

Total Giving

$189.5M

OhioView all
Foundations

86

Total Giving

$73.8M

ColoradoView all
Foundations

84

Total Giving

$267.3M

MichiganView all
Foundations

80

Total Giving

$180.6M

Types of Foundations in Research

Family Foundation1,481 (37.2%)

$765.3M in annual giving

Independent Foundation1,161 (29.1%)

$1.1B in annual giving

Private Operating Foundation320 (8.0%)

$138.9M in annual giving

Operating Nonprofit312 (7.8%)

$1.4B in annual giving

Professional Association181 (4.5%)

$200.5M in annual giving

Issue Fund157 (3.9%)

$402.3M in annual giving

Corporate Foundation67 (1.7%)

$175.2M in annual giving

Other306 (7.7%)

$26.6B in annual giving

Typical Grant Profile in Research

Median Grant Size

$14K

New Grantee Rate

64%

Accept Unsolicited Proposals

86%

Most Recent Filing Year

2026

The typical Research foundation awards grants of $14K. Approximately 64% of Research foundations actively fund new organizations, and 86% accept unsolicited proposals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Grants

How many foundations fund research?
There are 3,985 grantmaking foundations that fund research programs across 54 states.
What is the median grant size for research?
The median grant from foundations funding research is $14K. Actual grant sizes vary widely depending on the foundation's size and giving strategy.
What are the largest research foundations?
The largest foundations funding research by annual giving include THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH, FUTURE OF LIFE INSTITUTE, THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION, with combined giving of $635M.
Which states have the most research funders?
The states with the most research foundations are California (501), New York (435), Texas (324). Use the geographic breakdown above to see the full distribution.
How do I find research grants for my nonprofit?
Kindora's free foundation directory includes 3,985 foundations funding research with IRS 990 financial data, grant history, and geographic reach. Use the interactive discovery table above to filter by state, foundation type, and grant size. Sign up for a free account to access AI-powered grant intelligence including fit scores and application tips.

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