Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation Inc
The Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation is a private operating foundation based in New York City that advances health by supporting medical research and recognizing research excellence. Founded in 1942, the organization is designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and has been tax-exempt since June 1944. The Foundation is not a grant-giving organization in the traditional sense; rather, it operates through awards programs, educational initiatives, and advocacy efforts to accelerate support for medical research.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$94.1M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$860K
-4.5% YoY
Grant Count
8
-42.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$108K
+67.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To improve health by accelerating support for medical research through recognition of research excellence, advocacy, and education.
The Foundation's work centers on:
- The Lasker Awards Program — Recognizing the contributions of scientists, clinicians, and public servants who have made major advances in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of human disease
- Educational Programs — Inspiring the next generation of researchers and engaging the public in support of scientific inquiry, including the annual Lasker Lecture held in partnership with leading academic institutions, outreach to high school and college students, and general public engagement
- Advocacy and Awareness Initiatives — Supporting select initiatives that raise awareness of medical discoveries and their benefits to human health, and that increase funding for the medical science enterprise, including study groups, Congressional briefings, web-based programs, educational forums, and scholarly studies
Primary funding focus areas include cancer research and broader medical research across multiple disease areas.
Grantmaking
The Foundation makes selective grants to support its mission-aligned initiatives. Recent grant activity includes:
How to Apply
. Funding is directed toward specific initiatives that align with its mission of advancing medical research recognition, education, and advocacy.
Ready to take the next step with Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's grantmaking has primary focus in New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia, with headquarters in New York City.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $92,972,371
- Total Revenue: $4,768,052
- Total Expenses: $5,503,485
- Total Liabilities: $1,020,000
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $94,057,044
- Total Giving: $860,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $94,057,044 | $92,972,371 | $88,411,911 |
| Revenue | $8,125,010 | $4,768,052 | $2,769,434 |
| Expenses | $5,476,798 | $5,503,485 | $4,825,605 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,048,302 | $4,072,073 | $4,188,284 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,308,653 | $3,342,696 | $1,196,112 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Zhigian Chen ($250,000), Dr Salim Abdool Karim ($125,000), Dr Quarraisha Abdool Karim ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| RESEARCH AMERICA ALEXANDRIA, VA | MICROGRANT PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN PHYSICAN SCIENTIST ASSOCIA WESTFORD, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ZHIGIAN CHEN DALLAS, TX | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $250,000 |
| JOEL HABENER AUBURNDALE, MA | RESEARCH AWARD | $100,000 |
| LOTTE KNUDSEN | CLINICAL RESEARCH AWARD | $100,000 |
| SVETLANA MOJSOV NEW YORK, NY | CLINICAL RESEARCH AWARD | $100,000 |
| DR SALIM ABDOOL KARIM NEW YORK, NY | PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD | $125,000 |
| DR QUARRAISHA ABDOOL KARIM NEW YORK, NY | PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation was established by Albert Davis Lasker (1880–1952), a pioneer advertising executive, and Mary Woodard Lasker (1901–1994).
Mary Lasker was a prominent advocate for medical research and public funding for science. She founded the Citizens Committee for the Conquest of Cancer and was a leading proponent of the National Cancer Act, signed by President Nixon in 1971. Her advocacy contributed to increased appropriations for the National Institutes of Health and the creation of several NIH institutes. After Albert's death in 1953, Mary Lasker continued as the driving force behind the Foundation's awards program and remained influential in health and science policy until her death in 1994.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER W BRODY | Director | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM H HAMMOND | Director | 1 | — |
| MARSHALL W FORDYCE MD | SEC & TREAS/DIR | 2 | — |
| JOSEPH L GOLDSTEIN MD | Director | 1 | — |
| SOLOMON SNYDER MD-THRU 424 | Director | 1 | — |
| JORDAN U GUTTERMAN MD | Director | 1 | — |
| CLAIRE POMEROY MD MBA | President | 40 | $524,772 |
| CHRIS JONES - THRU 824 | Director | 1 | — |
| KATALIN KARIKO PHD | Director | 1 | — |
| RUSSELL STEENBERG | Director | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH G NABEL MD | Chairman | 1 | — |
| E ALBERT REECE MD PhD MBA | Director | 1 | — |
| MARGARET A HAMBURG MD | Director | 1 | — |
| MARY-CLAIRE KING PHD | Director | 1 | — |
| ELIAS A ZERHOUNI MD | Director | 1 | — |
| ANTHONY EVNIN PhD | Director | 1 | — |
| SHERRY LANSING | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation continues to operate its flagship Lasker Awards program, with 2025 award winners announced. Recent initiatives include:
Lasker Foundation announces 2025 Lasker Award winnersAnnual Lasker Awards recognizing excellence in medical research
NIH and Lasker Foundation announce first Clinical Research ScholarA video contest (opened March 2, 2025, closing April 2 at 2pm US Eastern Time)
Next@Lasker programming
Partnership with the NIH on Clinical Research Scholar initiatives
NIH and Lasker Foundation announce first Clinical Research ScholarEducational content and public engagement through various platforms
The Foundation maintains an active presence in science communication and public education about medical research advances and their benefits to human health.
NIH and Lasker Foundation announce first Clinical Research ScholarFrequently Asked Questions
What does Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** To improve health by accelerating support for medical research through recognition of research excellence, advocacy, and education. The Foundation's work centers on: • **The Lasker Awards Program** — Recognizing the contributions of scientists, clinicians, and public servants who have made major advances in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of human disease • **Educational Programs** — Inspiring the next generation of researchers and engaging the public i…
How do I apply for a grant from Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation Inc?
The Foundation makes selective grants to support its mission-aligned initiatives. Recent grant activity includes: • Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi / University of Texas at Austin: $25,100 (2023) for Support for Ethics in Science Philanthropy • Science Communication Lab: $20,000 (2023) for General Award • UCLA Foundation: Grant for Interventional Cardiology Program (2023) Total giving in 2023 was $860,000. Typical award amounts range from $100 to $250,000. The Foundation does not maintain a trad…
Where does Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation's grantmaking has primary focus in New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia, with headquarters in New York City.
What size grants does Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation Inc awarded 8 grants totaling $860K — an average of about $108K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation Inc's EIN?
Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1680062. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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