Amaranth Foundation
Amaranth Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its website says it supports ambitious research and ideas in longevity and neuroscience, including work related to aging, brain research, and neurotechnology.
Amaranth Foundation at a glance
In short: Amaranth Foundation gave $358K across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 3% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $358,260
- +24.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- -19.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,428
- +53.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,200
- Total assets
- $30,237
- -33.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 38, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Amaranth Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and **does not accept unsolicited requests**. Its website also describes a research-proposal process and says applicants of varied backgrounds and organizational affiliations may apply; mission-oriented for-profit companies are asked to inquire first. These statements describe different application policies, so prospective applicants should note the distinction.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Duane Morris Llp 30 S 17Th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 979-1906
Website: https://amaranth.foundation
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Amaranth Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Allentown Symphony Association ($87K). Together the top 10 received $287K.
Grant Size Distribution
286 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 281 grants of 286 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients. The remaining shares went to New York (2%), Massachusetts (2%), California (1%), and Washington, DC (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Amaranth Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 38 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $287K (2022) to $368K (2019). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $358K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown Symphony Association Allentown, PA | General Purpose | $87,000 |
| Baum School of Art Allentown, PA | General Purpose | $37,500 |
| St John's United Church of Christ Allentown, PA | General Purpose | $30,000 |
| Allentown Art Museum Allentown, PA | General Purpose | $25,500 |
| Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Center Valley, PA | General Purpose | $24,000 |
| The Allentown Band Allentown, PA | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| The Bach Choir of Bethlehem Bethlehem, PA | General Purpose | $17,500 |
| Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley Allentown, PA | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Kempton, PA | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| United Way of Lehigh Valley Allentown, PA | General Purpose | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Amaranth Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,237 | $357,137 | $372,379 | $358,260 | 38 | $363,581 | $242,034 | $3,178 |
| 2024 | $45,479 | $303,737 | $297,952 | $288,715 | 47 | $292,083 | $187,209 | $2,881 |
| 2023 | $39,694 | $311,611 | $320,609 | $313,467 | 53 | $316,350 | $151,096 | $2,752 |
| 2022 | $48,692 | $267,637 | $298,622 | $287,004 | 56 | $291,125 | $146,203 | $2,110 |
| 2021 | $79,677 | $345,869 | $307,178 | $296,768 | 92 | $299,535 | $221,016 | $1,358 |
| 2020 | $40,986 | $365,753 | $328,410 | $321,560 | 62 | — | $220,019 | $951 |
| 2019 | $3,643 | $369,263 | $386,499 | $367,533 | 59 | — | $167,631 | $828 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Amaranth Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says its mission is to engage skilled researchers and support ambitious ideas in longevity and neuroscience. Its website describes funding projects from pure biological research to policy, and highlights areas such as understanding the aging brain, aging drugs, damaged tissues and organs, and biopreservation.
Its 2025 grants also went to organizations with other missions. For example, the Allentown Symphony Association says its mission is to provide an orchestra and hall, performing arts, and cultural education in partnership with the community. The Allentown Art Museum says it collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits art to enrich life in the Lehigh Valley. Wildlands Conservancy says it works to protect and restore natural areas and waterways and educate the community. Other 2025 recipients included organizations whose stated missions involve orangutan care and research, community philanthropy, local history, wildlife conservation, and investigative journalism.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $358,260. Grants ranged from $150 to $87,000, with a median of $3,200. The largest reported awards included $87,000 to Allentown Symphony Association, $37,500 to Baum School of Art, $30,000 to St John’s United Church of Christ, $25,500 to Allentown Art Museum, and $24,000 to Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. The stated purpose for these grants was “general purpose.”
The foundation’s website describes research awards typically ranging from $10,000 to $2 million, with no upper limit on requests and a maximum of 10% institutional overhead. It says projects may be of any duration; long projects are expected to provide regular updates. Applicants may submit multiple proposals, and university or nonprofit affiliation is not required if applicants have access to any facilities or institutions needed for the research. The website says proposals are kept confidential and that the foundation may reject proposals fundable by mainstream organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joan M. Moran as trustee. The foundation’s website identifies James Fickel as founder and Joanne Peng as president and research director.
Amaranth Foundation is led by Joan M. Moran, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joan M. Moran
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Amaranth Foundation
How much does Amaranth Foundation give each year?
Amaranth Foundation gave $358K across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $289K across 47 grants.
What is Amaranth Foundation's typical grant size?
Amaranth Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,200, and its average grant was $9,428, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Amaranth Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Amaranth Foundation give grants?
Amaranth Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Allentown, PA (14 grants), Bethlehem, PA (5 grants), Philadelphia, PA (4 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Amaranth Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Amaranth Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (38 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Amaranth Foundation's largest grantees?
Amaranth Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Allentown Symphony Association ($87,000), Baum School of Art ($37,500) and St John's United Church of Christ ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Amaranth Foundation?
Amaranth Foundation reported $30K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $364K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Amaranth Foundation fund?
The foundation says its mission is to engage skilled researchers and support ambitious ideas in longevity and neuroscience. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Amaranth Foundation?
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Amaranth Foundation's EIN?
Amaranth Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7743235. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Amaranth Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 5, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 8, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Amaranth Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Amaranth Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/amaranth-foundation-morg_b2a0a8945dd849ed9877e09e35b869fb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237743235_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Amaranth Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/amaranth-foundation-morg_b2a0a8945dd849ed9877e09e35b869fb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Amaranth Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Amaranth Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?