About Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a center for scholarly research, informed and creative teaching, and service to the community and society at large. Vanderbilt will uphold the highest standards and be a leader in the quest for new knowledge through scholarship, dissemination of knowledge through teaching and outreach, and creative experimentation of ideas and concepts.
Focus Areas
Higher educationAcademic researchStudent scholarships and financial aidCommunity development and economic impactHealthcare (via Vanderbilt University Medical Center)
Funding Style
research grantmakingprogram/project support (sponsored funding)training and capacity-building supportinstructional/educational supportsponsorships/fellowships
Topics
About Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University’s recent grantmaking is dominated by sponsored research and training tied to its medical and academic enterprise. The largest recent award in the file is $46,951,845 to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for research, followed by $39,587,168 in 2024 for research, training, other sponsored activity, and instruction. A third major grant of $36,712,569 in 2023 carried contribution, research, training, and other sponsored purposes. That pattern places the university’s giving around large institutional support rather than small discretionary awards. Beyond its own medical center, the foundation funds a broad set of universities and research organizations across the country. Recent recipients include the University of Texas at Austin, The University of Tennessee, Northwestern University, and the University of Pittsburgh, each receiving research support in six- and seven-figure amounts. The grant record also includes research funding for Dana Farber Cancer Institute Inc, Johns Hopkins University, and Oregon Health & Science University, along with contribution grants to Stanford University and Yale University. Taken together, the portfolio points to a funder centered on higher education, academic research, and healthcare-related scholarship and training.
What Vanderbilt University Funds
Higher education and academic research are the clearest themes in the recent record. Vanderbilt University gave $1,363,800 to The University of Texas at Austin for research and $1,336,054 to The University of Tennessee for research, showing sustained support for university-based inquiry. It also awarded $939,555 to Northwestern University for research and $834,788 to the University of Wisconsin System for research. Healthcare-related research is another recurring area. The foundation gave $696,450 to Dana Farber Cancer Institute Inc for research and $628,973 to Johns Hopkins University for research. Training appears alongside research in several awards, including $895,141 to the University of Memphis for research and training and $588,304 to the University of Minnesota Regents for research and training. The presence of contribution grants, such as $898,895 to Stanford University and $767,113 to Yale University, shows that some support is structured outside direct project research.
How Vanderbilt University Gives
Typical grant size clusters around a mid-five-figure level: the 25th percentile is $15,721, the median is $52,698, and the 75th percentile is $159,586. The recent record also shows very large institutional awards at the top end, especially to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Grants are overwhelmingly to U.S. recipients, and the foundation is classified as a regular funder. The file shows repeated awards to the same institutions across multiple years, including The University of Tennessee, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin System, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Memphis, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-off support. Vanderbilt University also makes program-related investments.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$71.9M
Total Assets
$13.8B
Total Revenue
$2.6B
Total Expenses
$2.3B
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $16K and $160K, with a median of $53K.
25th Percentile
$16K
Median
$53K
75th Percentile
$160K
Geographic Reach
Regional39 states funded
About 36% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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