Dedicated to advancing promising scientific discoveries and funding research to find a cure for DIPG/DMG while supporting affected families.
Chadtough Defeat Dipg Foundation centers its grantmaking on research to find a cure for DIPG and DMG, with support extending to affected families. Its recent awards show a strong preference for scientific and clinical work at major research institutions, including a $1,629,755 grant to the University of Michigan and a $1,047,540 grant to the University of California, San Francisco. Other large awards have gone to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Duke University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, indicating a portfolio built around pediatric brain cancer research rather than general health funding. The foundation’s program language emphasizes investigator-led projects, fellowships, translational research, and clinical studies. That mix fits a targeted disease-focused strategy: funding individual scientists, supporting collaborative or sponsored projects, and backing work that aims to move from laboratory findings toward treatment. Its named program pages include research grants, fellowship awards, special grants, and game changer awards, all tied to DIPG/DMG. The recipient list is concentrated in established academic medical centers, with repeated support for institutions that can carry out preclinical and translational neuro-oncology research.
In pediatric brain cancer research, the foundation gave $588,997 to the University of Michigan for research specific to DIPG, after a prior $435,528 award to the Regents of the University of Michigan for the same disease focus. It also supported Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with $385,696 in 2024 for pediatric brain cancer research specific to DIPG, showing sustained interest in institution-based scientific programs. Its portfolio also includes translational and therapeutic work. A $382,900 research grant to Duke University and a $382,560 grant to Massachusetts Institute of Technology both sit within broader research support tied to DIPG. The foundation has also funded projects on immunotherapy and mitochondrial biology, including work described as inhibition of mitochondrial ROS scavenging as a treatment strategy for DMG. Fellowship support is another clear theme. The foundation’s fellowship grant program is designed for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellows under mentor guidance, pointing to talent development alongside project funding.
$12M
$9.4M
$7.5M
$9.8M
Most grants fall between $100K and $200K, with a median of $125K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$125K
75th Percentile
$200K
About 6% of grants go to recipients in MA.
ANN FRIEDHOLM
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 FreeRegístrate gratis para ver qué tan bien se adapta tu organización sin fines de lucro a este financiador, obtener un pitch generado por IA y descubrir fundaciones similares.
Typical grant size falls between $99,516 at the 25th percentile and $200,000 at the 75th percentile, with a median of $125,000. The recent list also shows a wide upper tier, including multi-million-dollar research grants to major universities and hospitals. The foundation is a regular funder and a DAF classification of Regular Funder is listed. Its site includes competitive research grants, fellowship awards, special grants, and project-specific awards, and several program pages note that unsolicited applications are accepted. The recent grant list shows repeat support for the same institutions across multiple years, suggesting recurring relationships rather than isolated one-time awards.
Grantmaking is national, and every recent grant listed went to U.S. recipients. Massachusetts appears frequently in the recipient list, with awards to Boston and Cambridge institutions such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Broad Institute, and Harvard. Other repeated recipient cities include Ann Arbor, Houston, New York, and San Francisco. The foundation gives in Michigan as well, but only 6% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, which is far below the national spread of its awards.
Its stated focus is DIPG and DMG research, including pediatric brain cancer research, fellowship and investigator support, translational research, and clinical research. The recent grants also show work tied to preclinical studies, therapeutic development, immunotherapy, and mitochondrial biology.
The grant-size distribution centers around six figures: the 25th percentile is $99,516, the median is $125,000, and the 75th percentile is $200,000. The recent awards also include several larger research grants above $1 million.
Yes. Multiple active program pages note that unsolicited applications are accepted, including the Investigator Grant, Special Grant, Fellowship Grant, ChadTough Research Grants, and several project-specific funding pages.
No. The main recent-grant list is entirely U.S.-based, but the active program description for ChadTough Research Grants says geography can include the United States and international recipients on a case-by-case basis. The fellowship grant program is listed as global.
The recent grants show repeated funding to the same institutions across multiple years. University of Michigan and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute each appear more than once, and the University of California San Francisco also appears in more than one year, indicating recurring relationships.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $1,629,755 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,047,540 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC | BOSTON, MA | $601,500 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $382,900 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLO | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $382,560 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| METHODIST HOSPITAL RESEARCH INSTITU | HOUSTON, TX | $366,690 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER | HOUSTON, TX | $289,425 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $287,650 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BROAD INSTITUTE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $270,560 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | SEATTLE, WA | $255,058 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $233,890 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $176,260 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COL | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $150,510 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & STATE AGRI | BURLINGTON, VT | $121,104 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| LUCILE PACKARD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT STANFORD | PALO ALTO, CA | $29,578 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANTS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $13,512 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANTS |
| CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S | CINCINNATI, OH | $12,683 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $12,240 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $11,444 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HOUSTON, TX | $8,080 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA | GAINESVILLE, FL | $7,853 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANTS |
| SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE | LA JOLLA, CA | $7,426 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANTS |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $5,454 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $588,997 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC | BOSTON, MA | $385,696 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH | PALO ALTO, CA | $334,500 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $327,750 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HOUSTON, TX | $325,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANSCISCO, CA | $200,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO | DENVER, CO | $192,859 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA | GAINESVILLE, FL | $135,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $135,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| JOHNS HOPKINS | BALTIMORE, MD | $125,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $125,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL - RESEARCH | BOSTON, MA | $124,953 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $100,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| ST JUDE | MEMPHIS, TN | $99,516 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| SANFORD BURNHAM PREBY'S MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE | LA JOLLA, CA | $93,755 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $67,940 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| TOUGH2GETHER AGAINST DIPG | MANHATTAN, KS | $5,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $435,528 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANSCISCO, CA | $233,000 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CINCINNATI, OH | $200,000 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $175,000 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC | BOSTON, MA | $154,912 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $125,000 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HOUSTON, TX | $125,000 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG |
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$1,629,755RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
$1,047,540RESEARCH GRANT
DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC
$601,500RESEARCH GRANT
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$382,900RESEARCH GRANT
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLO
$382,560RESEARCH GRANT
METHODIST HOSPITAL RESEARCH INSTITU
$366,690RESEARCH GRANT
MD ANDERSON CANCER
$289,425RESEARCH GRANT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$287,650RESEARCH GRANT
BROAD INSTITUTE
$270,560RESEARCH GRANT
SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$255,058RESEARCH GRANT
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$233,890RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
$176,260RESEARCH GRANT
PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COL
$150,510RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & STATE AGRI
$121,104RESEARCH GRANT
LUCILE PACKARD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT STANFORD
$29,578RESEARCH GRANTS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$13,512RESEARCH GRANTS
CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S
$12,683RESEARCH GRANT
ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$12,240RESEARCH GRANT
WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$11,444RESEARCH GRANT
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
$8,080RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$7,853RESEARCH GRANTS
SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
$7,426RESEARCH GRANTS
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
$5,454RESEARCH GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$588,997PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC
$385,696PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH
$334,500PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
$327,750PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
$325,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
$200,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
$192,859PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$135,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
$135,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
JOHNS HOPKINS
$125,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$125,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL - RESEARCH
$124,953PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
$100,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
ST JUDE
$99,516PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
SANFORD BURNHAM PREBY'S MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
$93,755PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
$67,940PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION
$25,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
TOUGH2GETHER AGAINST DIPG
$5,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$435,528PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
$233,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$200,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE
$200,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
$200,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION
$175,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC
$154,912PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$125,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
$125,000PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO DIPG