The Charles A. Dana Foundation concentrates its giving on neuroscience research, education, and public engagement, supporting university and hospital-based brain science programs as well as a dedicated advocacy/knowledge network. Grants are large, targeted awards to established academic medical centers and organizations that translate neuroscience for society, indicating a focus on advancing brain science and its societal implications rather than broad philanthropy. The foundation supports both basic and translational research and efforts to communicate neuroscience to professionals and the public.
A $2,000,000 award to the University of California Los Angeles in 2025 shows the Charles A Dana Foundation Incorporated’s core pattern: large, targeted support for neuroscience and society work at established universities and medical institutions. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs brain science research, public engagement, and translation between neuroscience and the broader public, with repeated awards to academic medical centers, universities, and organizations that interpret neuroscience for nonacademic audiences. The Charles A Dana Foundation Incorporated also uses general operating support when it wants to sustain a standing intermediary in the field. One example is a $1,402,004 grant in 2023 to The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives Inc in New York. Another major grant went to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for neuroscience and society work, reinforcing the foundation’s preference for institutions that can combine research, training, and public-facing activity. Its portfolio is not limited to research labs. Recent awards include support for interdisciplinary centers, policy-oriented organizations, and neuroscience outreach groups, indicating a funder that treats brain science as both an academic field and a public-interest subject. The grant list also shows continued backing for institutions that can move between scholarship, training, and engagement.
In neuroscience and society work, the foundation gave $750,000 to Loyola University of Chicago for neuroscience and society and $354,406 to Brown University for the same area. It also supported University of California Berkeley with $353,500 for neuroscience and society, pointing to a strong interest in academic projects that connect neuroscience with public or social questions. The foundation also funds institutional and policy-oriented intermediaries. It granted $235,000 to Social Good Fund for neuroscience and society, $200,000 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors for neuroscience and society, and $184,000 to the American Association for the Advancement of Science for neuroscience and society. Those awards suggest support for organizations that can translate research into broader engagement. Basic neuroscience appears alongside the society work. In 2023, Harvard University received $250,060 for neuroscience, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute received $200,000 for neuroscience, and Arizona State University received $167,000 for neuroscience. The mix shows a portfolio that includes both research and the infrastructure around it.
$8.3M
$279.4M
$3.4M
$15.5M
Most grants fall between $3K and $25K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$25K
Top 5 recipient countries by grant volume for Charles A Dana Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 374 | $18.1M | 97.7% |
| 2 | France |
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Concentrated, large grants to a small number of repeat or flagship grantees—targeted multi-hundred-thousand to multi-million dollar awards focused on research institutions and a specialized advocacy network rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: University of California Los Angeles, The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, Inc., Massachusetts General Hospital, Loyola University of Chicago
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $2,500, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $25,000. The recent-grants list also shows larger programmatic awards, which is consistent with a foundation that uses both small awards and major institutional grants. Recipients recur across years: Loyola University of Chicago appears in 2024 and 2025, and University of California Los Angeles appears in both 2023 and 2025. The foundation is not an operating foundation for individuals and makes no program-related investments. Several listed programs accept unsolicited applications, including Brain Awareness Week grants and the Professional Development Award.
Grantmaking is heavily U.S.-based, with 375 grants in the United States, or 98.4% of the country distribution. New York is the top state by grant count, and 47% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent awards also land in Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Berkeley, Baltimore, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Providence, showing a spread across major academic and medical hubs. Outside the U.S., the country distribution includes France, Belgium, Eswatini, and The Gambia, each at very small counts.
Its recent grants center on neuroscience and society work, along with neuroscience research and public engagement. The list includes major awards to universities and medical centers, plus support for organizations that communicate neuroscience to broader audiences and promote interdisciplinary work.
Yes, for several active programs. The Professional Development Award, Brain Awareness Week grants, Dana Frontiers, and the Rapid Response Bridge Funding programs all list unsolicited or open-call access. The Neuroscience & Society LOI process also accepts submissions.
The foundation’s typical grant size is small to mid-sized: p25 is $2,500, the median is $5,000, and p75 is $25,000. At the same time, the recent grants list shows much larger awards for institutional and programmatic support.
New York is the top state by grant count, with 47% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Other frequent recipient locations in the recent list include Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Berkeley, and Baltimore.
Yes. Some recipients appear in more than one year, including Loyola University of Chicago in 2024 and 2025 and University of California Los Angeles in 2023 and 2025. The pattern suggests continuing support for selected institutions rather than one-time-only awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 |
| $327K |
0.8% |
| 3 | Belgium | 3 | $102K | 0.8% |
| 4 | Germany | 2 | $105K | 0.5% |
| 5 | Switzerland | 1 | $5K | 0.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Financiamiento actual y próximo de Charles A Dana Foundation al que tu organización sin fines de lucro podría postularse.
¿Quién puede postularse? Projects organized for Brain Awareness Week in countries outside Europe; applicants follow IBRO/Dana application process.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (MGH) | BOSTON, MA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| LOYOLA UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $750,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $354,406 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY | BERKELEY, CA | $353,500 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $283,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $262,998 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| SOCIAL GOOD FUND | RICHMOND, CA | $235,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $219,270 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $186,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE | IRVINE, CA | $180,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HOUSTON, TX | $150,700 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INC | SOMERVILLE, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| USAGAINSTALZHEIMER'S | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| CHICAGO COUNCIL ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $149,906 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $149,900 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE (AAAS) | WASHINGTON, DC | $148,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $142,504 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE (SFN) | WASHINGTON, DC | $135,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION | HUNTINGON, WV | $130,100 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| INTERNATIONAL BRAIN RESEARCH ORGANIZATION (IBRO) | PARIS | $126,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| SCIENCE FRIDAY | NEW YORK, NY | $90,924 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $80,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| VIRGINIA TECH | BLACKSBURG, VA | $75,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN NEUROSCIENCE SOCIETIES (FENS) | BERLIN | $66,800 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $40,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ICAHN SCOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $37,800 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| INSTITUTE FOR METHODS INNOVATION | ARCATA, CA | $37,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| INTERNATIONAL BRAIN BEE | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| INSTITUTE OF NEUROETHICS INC IONX | ATLANTA, GA | $35,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| THE PERELMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $34,616 | 2025 | IMAGING |
| NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SCHOOL OF LAW FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY | BELMONT, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTON MUSEUM OF ART INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EUROPEAN BRAIN COUNCIL | BRUSSELS | $25,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $25,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HEALTHY BRAINS GLOBAL INITIATIVE INC | GREENWICH, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $25,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SCIENCE LIVE PRODUCTIONS INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $22,600 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY |
| FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S MARTIN HOUSE CORPORATION | BUFFALO, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PHILANTHROPY NEW YORK (PNY) | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS (COF) | WASHINGTON, DC | $16,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
$2,000,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (MGH)
$1,000,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$354,406NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
$353,500NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION
$283,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
$262,998NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$219,270NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$186,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE
$180,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INC
$150,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
$150,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
CHICAGO COUNCIL ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
$150,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
$149,900NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$142,504NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE (SFN)
$135,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
INTERNATIONAL BRAIN RESEARCH ORGANIZATION (IBRO)
$126,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
SCIENCE FRIDAY
$90,924NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
VIRGINIA TECH
$75,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN NEUROSCIENCE SOCIETIES (FENS)
$66,800NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
MAYO CLINIC
$50,000DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$40,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
INSTITUTE FOR METHODS INNOVATION
$37,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
INTERNATIONAL BRAIN BEE
$35,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
INSTITUTE OF NEUROETHICS INC IONX
$35,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
$30,000DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY
$25,000DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
EUROPEAN BRAIN COUNCIL
$25,000NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HEALTHY BRAINS GLOBAL INITIATIVE INC
$25,000DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SCIENCE LIVE PRODUCTIONS INC
$22,600NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S MARTIN HOUSE CORPORATION
$20,000DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS (COF)
$16,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
