The Warren Alpert Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving on higher-education institutions and university-affiliated medical/research programs, providing large philanthropic donations to major research universities. Grants are sizable and directed to a small set of repeat institutional beneficiaries, suggesting a focus on supporting academic research, medical advancement, and endowed university programs rather than many small community organizations.
Concentrated, high-value grants to a small number of repeat institutional grantees (major universities and medical foundations) rather than broad, distributed giving; multiple multi-million dollar gifts to core university partners.
The Warren Alpert Foundation’s giving is anchored by large university gifts, with Brown University receiving the three biggest recent grants in the dataset: $9,716,727 in 2024, $8,092,536 in 2023, and $6,408,253 in 2025. That pattern points to a foundation that supports higher education and research institutions at a significant scale, rather than distributing many small awards across a broad field. Recent grants also show multi-year support for other major academic beneficiaries, including the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and the President and Fellows of Harvard College. Alongside those institutional donations, the foundation funds biomedical research, medical education, and prize and fellowship programs tied to scientific advancement. Its active programs include the Warren Alpert Prize, administered with Harvard Medical School, and neuroscience-focused scholar awards for postdoctoral researchers. The grant record also includes hospital and research-center support, suggesting an emphasis on academic medicine, translational research, and university-affiliated clinical programs. The foundation funds individuals as well as institutions, and its grantmaking includes both unrestricted-style donations and designated program support.
Biomedical research is a core theme. The foundation gave $3,400,000 in 2020 to Brown University for ONC212 as a novel therapy for pancreatic cancer and other treatment-refractory solid tumors, a multi-year translational project. Neuroscience is another clear line of support: it awarded $200,000 annually for two years through the Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Fellowship Award — Neuroscience, a transitional fellowship for exceptional postdoctoral scientists. The Warren Alpert Prize also recognizes scientists, physicians, and researchers whose work has advanced prevention, cure, or treatment of human disease; one recent prize award was $500,000 to David J Lipman. In addition to research, the foundation makes general funding grants of $25,000 and under for medical research, medical education, general education, and basic human services, with priority consideration in New England.
Typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $35,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a mix of smaller general awards and much larger institutional gifts. The recent record also includes episodic prize and fellowship funding, plus multi-year support in research and education. Grants are made through both direct applications and letters of inquiry for requests over $25,000. The foundation funds individuals, and its programs show a combination of nomination-based awards and competitive institutional grants.
Current and upcoming funding from Warren Alpert Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations seeking funding over $25,000 must submit an LOI. Indirect costs allowed up to 15% of direct costs.
Deadline: LOIs and applications must be received by January 10, April 10, July 10, and October 10 for consideration at the next board meeting (reviews prior to Feb, May, Aug, Nov).
$24.3M
$397.3M
$21.4M
$27.7M
Most grants fall between $15K and $200K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$200K
About 35% of grants go to recipients in RI.
Top 4 recipient countries by grant volume for Warren Alpert Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 248 | $70.6M | 98.4% |
| 2 | Germany | 2 | $200K |
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Notable grantees: Brown University, President and Fellows of Harvard College, Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Intermountain Foundation, The Regents of the University of Michigan
Giving is national, but it is heavily concentrated in Rhode Island, which accounts for 35% of grants. Providence appears repeatedly in the recipient list, including Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, and Pan-massachusetts Challenge Incjimmy Fund. Other frequent recipient cities include Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. The country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 248 grants in the United States and a small number outside the U.S. in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
For general, medical, and research grants over $25,000, it accepts a Letter of Inquiry first, and LOIs are reviewed quarterly before any invitation to a full application. For requests of $25,000 and under, applicants can use the foundation’s application portal, with priority consideration in New England.
Its active programs and recent grants center on biomedical research, neuroscience, medical education, translational science, and university-based clinical and research programs. It also funds some general education and basic human services through smaller general funding grants.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals through award programs such as the Warren Alpert Prize and neuroscience scholar awards, including a $500,000 prize award to David J Lipman and a two-year neuroscience fellowship that provides $200,000 annually.
The grant-size distribution is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $35,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile. That range reflects a mix of smaller general grants and larger institutional awards.
The top state by grant count is Rhode Island, which receives 35% of grants. Recent recipient cities include Providence, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York, and the overall recipient-country mix is almost entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 | Italy | 1 | $361K | 0.4% |
| 4 | China | 1 | $35K | 0.4% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Who can apply: For requests over $25,000, applicants must submit an LOI with required program details and contact information. LOIs and requested applications are reviewed quarterly prior to board meetings.
Deadline: Quarterly board review cycle; LOI deadlines listed as January 10, April 10, July 10, and October 10.
Who can apply: Applicants seeking general funding requests of $25,000 or less. Priority consideration is focused on the general New England area.
Deadline: No deadline stated; available by application with limited availability.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $6,408,253 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $4,588,876 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $1,939,729 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| INTERMOUNTAIN FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,611,313 | 2025 | DONATION |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA | LA JOLLA, CA | $1,080,129 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $890,940 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL CORPORATION | CHELSEA, MA | $775,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| SOUTH COUNTY HEALTH | WARWICK, RI | $621,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| NEW YORK STEM CELL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500,750 | 2025 | DONATION |
| PAN-MASSACHUSETTS CHALLENGE INCJIMMY FUND | PROVIDENCE, RI | $500,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| CCRI FOUNDATION | WARWICK, RI | $308,459 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | LA JOLLA, CA | $281,517 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $279,995 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY | MILLERS FALLS, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| THE GENESIS CENTER | PROVIDENCE, RI | $246,404 | 2025 | DONATION |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HOUSTON, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM | MADISON, WI | $200,000 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $200,000 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| CROSSROADS RHODE ISLAND | PROVIDENCE, RI | $200,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $200,000 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| ZELIG ESHHAR | MILWAUKEE, WI | $125,000 | 2025 | PRIZE |
| CARL H JUNE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $125,000 | 2025 | PRIZE |
| BRENTJENS CONSULTING LLC | SHORT HILLS, NJ | $125,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| MICHEL SADELAIN | CARY, NC | $125,000 | 2025 | PRIZE |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL OF RI | PROVIDENCE, RI | $115,000 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF RI | WARWICK, RI | $85,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $75,000 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| PROVIDENCE PROMISE | PROVIDENCE, RI | $50,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| THE MIRIAM HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | PROVIDENCE, RI | $40,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| CYSTIC FIBROSIS & MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS FUND FDN | BETHESDA, MD | $40,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| KIF1AORG | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| JEWISH ALLIANCE OF GREATER RI | PROVIDENCE, RI | $38,500 | 2025 | DONATION |
| COMMUNITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL | PROVIDENCE, RI | $38,400 | 2025 | DONATION - EDUCATION |
| READ TO SUCCEED | HOPE, RI | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| HOLY FAMILY HOME FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN | PROVIDENCE, RI | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| PINE STREET INN | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| THE NEW HAMPSHIRE FOOD BANK | MANCHESTER, NH | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| ELDER SERVICES OF WORCESTER AREA INC | WORCESTER, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOOD BANK ASSOCIATION | PROVIDENCE, RI | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| ETHOS | JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK INC | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| JOHN CLARK SENIOR LIVING | MIDDLETOWN, RI | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| MAE ORGANIZATION INC | CRANSTON, RI | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF RI INC | PROVIDENCE, RI | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| BOSTON HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$6,408,253DONATION - EDUCATION
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$4,588,876DONATION - EDUCATION
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
$1,939,729DONATION - EDUCATION
INTERMOUNTAIN FOUNDATION
$1,611,313DONATION
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
$1,080,129DONATION - EDUCATION
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$890,940DONATION - EDUCATION
CHILDRENS HOSPITAL CORPORATION
$775,000DONATION
SOUTH COUNTY HEALTH
$621,000DONATION
NEW YORK STEM CELL FOUNDATION
$500,750DONATION
PAN-MASSACHUSETTS CHALLENGE INCJIMMY FUND
$500,000DONATION
CCRI FOUNDATION
$308,459DONATION - EDUCATION
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$281,517DONATION - EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
$279,995DONATION - EDUCATION
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
$250,000DONATION
THE GENESIS CENTER
$246,404DONATION
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$200,000DONATION - EDUCATION
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
$200,000DONATION - EDUCATION
BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
$200,000DONATION - EDUCATION
TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$200,000DONATION - EDUCATION
TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$200,000DONATION - EDUCATION
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$200,000DONATION - EDUCATION
CROSSROADS RHODE ISLAND
$200,000DONATION
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$200,000DONATION - EDUCATION
SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$200,000DONATION
ZELIG ESHHAR
$125,000PRIZE
CARL H JUNE
$125,000PRIZE
BRENTJENS CONSULTING LLC
$125,000DONATION
MICHEL SADELAIN
$125,000PRIZE
JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL OF RI
$115,000DONATION - EDUCATION
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF RI
$85,000DONATION
EMORY UNIVERSITY
$75,000DONATION - EDUCATION
PROVIDENCE PROMISE
$50,000DONATION
THE MIRIAM HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$40,000DONATION
CYSTIC FIBROSIS & MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS FUND FDN
$40,000DONATION
KIF1AORG
$40,000DONATION
JEWISH ALLIANCE OF GREATER RI
$38,500DONATION
COMMUNITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$38,400DONATION - EDUCATION
READ TO SUCCEED
$35,000DONATION
HOLY FAMILY HOME FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
$35,000DONATION
PINE STREET INN
$35,000DONATION
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE FOOD BANK
$35,000DONATION
ELDER SERVICES OF WORCESTER AREA INC
$35,000DONATION
RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOOD BANK ASSOCIATION
$35,000DONATION
ETHOS
$35,000DONATION
THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK INC
$35,000DONATION
JOHN CLARK SENIOR LIVING
$35,000DONATION
ROSIE'S PLACE
$35,000DONATION
MAE ORGANIZATION INC
$35,000DONATION
MEALS ON WHEELS OF RI INC
$35,000DONATION
BOSTON HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM
$35,000DONATION