American Brain Foundation
The American Brain Foundation accelerates breakthrough research across brain diseases and disorders by investing in innovative science, early-career investigators, and cross-disease discoveries that advance treatments, cures, and brain health for all.
American Brain Foundation at a glance
In short: American Brain Foundation gave $8.1M across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $2.7M), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $8,126,423
- +240.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,708,808
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $22,081,098
- +2.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to American Brain Foundation
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from American Brain Foundation
American Brain Foundation’s Cure One, Cure Many Award in Neuroinflammation: Breakthrough Grants
American Brain Foundation
Amount
Up to US $2,000,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
American Brain Foundation’s Cure One, Cure Many Award in Lewy Body Dementia Grant
American Brain Foundation
Amount
Up to US $2,000,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who American Brain Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Academy of Neurology Insitute ($8.1M). Together the top 3 received $8.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 5 grants of 14 (36%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How American Brain Foundation gives
- Giving grew 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2020) to $8.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $8.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Academy of Neurology Insitute Minneapolis, MN | Clinical research training scholarships, scientific awards, and non scientific awards for work on diseases of the brain and nervous system. | $8,076,423 |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society Denver, CO | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Society for Neuroscience Washington, DC | Program Support | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $22,081,098 | $7,843,535 | $11,025,024 | $8,126,423 | 3 | $654,254 |
| 2024 | $21,621,469 | $6,240,028 | $5,254,803 | $2,384,275 | 1 | $512,199 |
| 2023 | $21,918,542 | $10,383,820 | $4,956,400 | $2,352,351 | 3 | $403,606 |
| 2022 | $16,866,097 | $5,946,773 | $7,713,651 | $5,578,094 | 3 | $54,689 |
| 2021 | $18,178,228 | $8,882,210 | $4,478,036 | $2,245,008 | 4 | $2,901,992 |
| 2020 | $15,127,777 | $5,925,989 | $4,093,611 | $1,955,619 | 4 | $301,592 |
About American Brain Foundation
Based on IRS filings
American Brain Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in Minneapolis, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $22.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $8.1M. Net investment income was $654K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
American Brain Foundation is led by Michelle Heritage, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 4 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michelle Heritage
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$263K (2024) → $366K (2025)
Sean Sansiveri
Chair
Director → Chair Elect, 2024
Chair Elect → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julia Miglets-Nelson
Director, Research Programs & Partnerships
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$123K (2024) → $131K (2025)
Kimberly Howard
Director of Operations
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$128K (2025)
David W. Dodick
Director
Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frances Jensen
Director
Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline French
Director
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Merit Cudkowicz
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alfredo Quiones-Hinojosa
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joanne L. Smikle
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew S. Picard
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phyllis C. Zee
Executive Officio Voting Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thabele Leslie-Mazwi
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Kahne
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christina M. Francis
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul J. Cairns
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Ransohoff
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Heart
Deputy Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$170K (2025)
Ben Lenail
Vice Chair
Trustee → Director, 2021
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ralph R. Leslie
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alyx B. Porter Umphrey
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (26)
- Former: Alyx B. Portor (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: James Essey (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Ronald C. Petersen (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Emily Christian (2021–2024) — Deputy Director
- Former: Stephen L. Houser (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: John Pohlad (2024) — Director
- Former: David Eagleman (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: James C. Grotta (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jane Ransom (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Robert C. Griggs (2020–2023) — Executive Officio Voting Director
- Former: Mary E. Post (2021–2023) — Executive Officio Non-Voting Director
- Former: Ralph R. Lesile (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Carlayne E. Jackson (2023) — Executive Officio Voting Director
- Former: Thabele Lesile-Mazwi (2023) — Director
- Former: Dan Gasby (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Orly Avitzur (2021–2022) — Executive Officio Voting Director
- Former: Kevin P. Goodno (2020–2021) — Past Chair & Trustee
- Former: Martin Shenkman (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Shafali Jeste (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Susan Schneider Williams (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Suzanne Miller (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ken Shubin Stein (2021) — Director
- Former: Cindy McCain (2020) — Trustee
- Former: James C. Stevens (2020) — Executive Officio Voting Director
- Former: James Erwin (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Joseph I. Sirven (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $366K, to Michelle Heritage (Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about American Brain Foundation
How much does American Brain Foundation give each year?
American Brain Foundation gave $8.1M across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.4M across 1 grant.
What is American Brain Foundation's typical grant size?
American Brain Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $2,708,808, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does American Brain Foundation give grants?
American Brain Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does American Brain Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on American Brain Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is American Brain Foundation?
American Brain Foundation reported $22.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.8M.
What is American Brain Foundation?
American Brain Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in Minneapolis, MN. It holds $22.1M in total assets as of 2025.
What is American Brain Foundation's EIN?
American Brain Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1717098. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Brain Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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American Brain Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?