The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives by funding research and drug development, partnering with the CF community, and advancing high-quality, specialized care.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s grantmaking is built around a single disease: cystic fibrosis. Recent awards show a pattern of sustained support for research centers, clinical studies, therapeutics discovery, and patient assistance, alongside training awards that develop the next generation of CF investigators and clinicians. That mix reflects a funder working across the research pipeline rather than concentrating on one stage. At the high end of recent giving, Seattle Children’s Hospital received multiple large awards for clinical research and clinical research center activity, including a $12,893,328 grant in 2025 and a $10,180,397 grant in 2025. Other substantial awards reached the Jaeb Center for Health Research Foundation Inc for clinical research studies and Healthwell Foundation for patient assistance. The foundation also supports translational work, with grants to institutions such as the State University of Iowa for therapeutics discovery research and the Trustees of Indiana University for clinical research studies. Its active programs reinforce that structure: the Path to a Cure awards, bridge funding, and investigator-development awards all point toward research progress, clinical capacity, and sustained talent development in CF-related science and care.
In clinical research and infrastructure, the foundation gave $12,893,328 to Seattle Children’s Hospital for a clinical research study and $10,180,397 to the same institution for a clinical research center. That combination suggests support for both studies and the centers that host them. For therapeutics discovery, it awarded $3,706,113 to State University of Iowa for therapeutics discovery research and $2,053,746 to State University of Iowa for the same category in 2025. Those grants sit alongside its active Path to a Cure initiative, which targets cellular and genetic approaches. Patient support is another clear theme. Healthwell Foundation received $6,000,000 for patient assistance in 2024 and $3,000,000 for patient assistance in 2025. The foundation also backs workforce development, including training awards for postdoctoral researchers and clinicians working in CF endocrinology and reproductive health.
The typical award sits at $75,518 at the 25th percentile, $160,540 at the median, and $291,494 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants show a wide range above that, from small traineeships to multimillion-dollar center and study awards. The foundation is a public charity and a regular DAF funder, and it makes program-related investments. The pattern also shows repeat funding to the same institutions across multiple years, especially in research and patient support. Its active programs are mostly unsolicited, including awards for postdoctoral fellows, clinical investigators, pilot studies, and bridge funding for unfunded NIH applications. Several programs are time-limited training or project grants rather than open-ended operating support.
$189.6M
$5B
$355.8M
$439.1M
Most grants fall between $76K and $291K, with a median of $161K.
25th Percentile
$76K
Median
$161K
75th Percentile
$291K
About 2% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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The foundation gives nationally, with recipient locations entirely in the United States across the recent grants file. Illinois is the top state by grant count, while Maryland accounts for 2% of grants. Seattle appears repeatedly among the largest awards through Seattle Children’s Hospital, and other named recipient cities include Tampa, Gaithersburg, Iowa City, Durham, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Chapel Hill. Recent grants also reached Cleveland through Case Western Reserve University.
Its active programs and recent grants center on cystic fibrosis research, clinical trials, therapeutics discovery, clinical care research, patient assistance, and workforce development. The foundation funds projects ranging from pilot studies and bridge funding to training awards for postdoctoral researchers and clinicians.
Yes. Recent grants include $6,000,000 to Healthwell Foundation for patient assistance in 2024 and $3,000,000 for patient assistance in 2025. Patient support is also listed among the foundation’s existing focus areas.
The typical grant size is $75,518 at the 25th percentile, $160,540 at the median, and $291,494 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes large center and study awards in the multimillion-dollar range.
Yes. Active programs include the Path to a Cure Postdoc-to-Faculty Transition Award, Path to a Cure Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award, Clinical Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award, Student Traineeship Award, and Harry Shwachman Clinical Investigator Award. These awards support training, transition to independence, and research development.
Its giving is national, and the recent grants file shows 1,856 grants to U.S. recipients. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and Maryland receives 2% of grants.
MICHAEL P BOYLE MD
PRESIDENT & CEO
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Independent investigators from non-profit or academic institutions; for-profit entities are not eligible. U.S. residents and applicants from outside the U.S. are welcome. Applicants must demonstrate access to sufficient CF patients and appropriate controls.
Deadline: LOI due April 2, 2026; full application due August 17, 2026
Who can apply: Non-Path to a Cure basic science research relevant to cystic fibrosis.
Deadline: May & December
Who can apply: See program guidelines; intended for research teams developing CF therapies or therapeutic strategies.
Deadline: November
Who can apply: Non-Path to a Cure related basic science research studies relevant to cystic fibrosis.
Deadline: May & December
Who can apply: See guidelines for areas of interest related to the Path to a Cure Initiative.
Deadline: May & December
Who can apply: See guidelines for areas of interest related to the Path to a Cure Initiative.
Deadline: May & December
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Children's Hospital | — | $12,893,328 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| Seattle Children's Hospital | — | $10,180,397 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER |
| Jaeb Center for Health Research Foundation Inc | — | $6,907,230 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| Seattle Children's Hospital | — | $5,459,200 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH |
| Trustees of Indiana University | — | $4,014,448 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| HEALTHWELL FOUNDATION | — | $3,000,000 | 2025 | Patient Assistance |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | — | $2,962,497 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| Case Western Reserve University | — | $2,183,802 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| University of Washington | — | $2,155,537 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| State University of Iowa | — | $2,053,746 | 2025 | THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH |
| Case Western Reserve University | — | $2,022,810 | 2025 | RESEARCH CENTER |
| Children's Hospital Corporation | — | $1,738,647 | 2025 | ADHERENCE |
| University of Washington | — | $1,709,639 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | — | $1,671,124 | 2025 | THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH |
| The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York | — | $1,415,822 | 2025 | THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | — | $1,258,183 | 2025 | THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | — | $1,215,200 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York | — | $1,202,973 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| Johns Hopkins University | — | $1,178,622 | 2025 | THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH |
| National Jewish Health | — | $1,170,525 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| The Regents of the University of California Los Angeles | — | $1,117,717 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| Emory University | — | $1,078,305 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| The Cleveland Clinic Foundation | — | $1,050,149 | 2025 | CLINICAL CARE RESEARCH |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | — | $1,044,102 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| Trustees of Dartmouth College | — | $1,026,711 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| Johns Hopkins University | — | $993,137 | 2025 | CLINICAL CARE RESEARCH |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | — | $969,087 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER |
| St Louis University | — | $966,263 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| State University of Iowa | — | $955,934 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| Trustees of Dartmouth College | — | $939,998 | 2025 | RESEARCH CENTER |
| Children's Hospital Corporation | — | $931,134 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER |
| University of Washington | — | $900,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH CENTER |
| State University of Iowa | — | $900,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH CENTER |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | — | $900,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH CENTER |
| Johns Hopkins University | — | $875,850 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| Washington University | — | $865,569 | 2025 | THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | — | $838,749 | 2025 | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | — | $815,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH CENTER |
| Duke University | — | $773,403 | 2025 | CLINICAL CARE RESEARCH |
| The Research Foundation for State University of New York | — | $761,029 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | — | $755,978 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| Children's Hospital Corporation | — | $716,089 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY |
| The Regents of the University of California San Francisco | — | $710,753 | 2025 | CLINICAL CARE RESEARCH |
| Trustees of Indiana University | — | $678,111 | 2025 | CF CARE CENTER |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | — | $664,412 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER |
| The Regents of the University of Colorado | — | $662,964 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER |
| The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital | — | $650,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH CENTER |
| University of Utah | — | $648,411 | 2025 | CF CARE CENTER |
| Emory University | — | $633,668 | 2025 | THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH |
| The General Hospital Corporation | — | $626,133 | 2025 | CLINICAL RESEARCH |
Trustees of Indiana University
$4,014,448CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY
Patient Assistance
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$2,962,497RESEARCH
Case Western Reserve University
$2,183,802RESEARCH
University of Washington
$2,155,537CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY
State University of Iowa
$2,053,746THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH
Case Western Reserve University
$2,022,810RESEARCH CENTER
University of Washington
$1,709,639CLINICAL RESEARCH
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$1,671,124THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH
THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
$1,258,183THERAPEUTICS DISCOVERY RESEARCH
Regents of the University of Michigan
$1,215,200RESEARCH
National Jewish Health
$1,170,525CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY
The Regents of the University of California Los Angeles
$1,117,717RESEARCH
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
$1,044,102RESEARCH
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
$969,087CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER
St Louis University
$966,263CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY
State University of Iowa
$955,934RESEARCH
University of Washington
$900,000RESEARCH CENTER
State University of Iowa
$900,000RESEARCH CENTER
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
$900,000RESEARCH CENTER
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$838,749QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$815,000RESEARCH CENTER
The Research Foundation for State University of New York
$761,029CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$755,978CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY
The Regents of the University of California San Francisco
$710,753CLINICAL CARE RESEARCH
Trustees of Indiana University
$678,111CF CARE CENTER
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$664,412CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER
The Regents of the University of Colorado
$662,964CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER
The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
$650,000RESEARCH CENTER
University of Utah
$648,411CF CARE CENTER
The General Hospital Corporation
$626,133CLINICAL RESEARCH
