The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 55 West 39th Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Established in 1981, AFAR is a leading national organization dedicated to supporting biomedical research focused on aging and age-related diseases. The organization employs 13 staff members and operates as a research services organization advancing knowledge in gerontology and geriatric medicine.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$48.4M
+3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.8M
-1.6% YoY
Grant Count
57
+14.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$225K
-13.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
AFAR's mission is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research, including development of the next generation of aging researchers.
The organization focuses on four major initiatives:
- Identifying and funding cutting-edge research most likely to increase knowledge about healthy aging
- Attracting physicians to geriatric medicine to meet the demands of an aging population with expert healthcare
- Creating knowledge-sharing opportunities for scientists and clinicians to exchange ideas and drive innovation in aging research
- Providing public information on new medical findings that can help people live longer, healthier lives with reduced susceptibility to disease and disability
AFAR's primary research focus areas include biomedical research into aging mechanisms and age-related diseases, including cancer, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease.
Grantmaking
AFAR is an active grantmaker supporting biomedical research. In 2023, AFAR awarded $13,161,657 to 102 researchers and research centers.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $6,000 to $1,155,485.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AFAR's grantmaking activities have primary focus in New York, California, and Massachusetts, though the organization funds researchers across the country through its national programs.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Revenue: $22,829,335
- Total Expenses: $17,507,802
- Total Assets: $46,621,992
- Total Liabilities: $15,900,000
Audit Findings: An independent audit for fiscal year 2023 identified a significant deficiency in internal controls related to the organization's ability to track and report financial data reliably. This deficiency is less severe than a material weakness but warrants management attention.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,385,387 | $46,621,992 | $33,818,934 |
| Revenue | $15,855,058 | $22,829,335 | $15,127,134 |
| Expenses | $17,690,407 | $17,507,802 | $16,259,535 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,454,319 | $697,124 | $412,743 |
| 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 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
211 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from American Federation for Aging
AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Grants for Junior Faculty
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR AGING
Amount
Up to US $160,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Diana Jacobs Kalman/AFAR Graduate Student Awards in Geroscience Grant
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR AGING
Amount
US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Diana Jacobs Kalman/AFAR Scholarships for Research in the Biology of Aging
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR AGING
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rockefeller University ($905,000), University of California San Diego ($776,450), Boston University ($757,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $905,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO LA JOLLA, CA | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $776,450 |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY CHESTNUT HILL, MA | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH/CONFERENCE | $757,500 |
| PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY STATE COLLEGE, PA | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $750,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MINNEAPOLIS, MN | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $750,000 |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMBRIDGE, MA | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $525,000 |
| UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER DALLAS, TX | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $450,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE BALTIMORE, MD | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $428,978 |
| YALE UNIVERSITY NEW HAVEN, CT | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $414,453 |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE HOUSTON, TX | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $380,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS A RANDO MD PHD | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| LAURA M BARZILAI JD LLM | BOARD CHAIR | 2 | — |
| CHARLES BEEVER MBA | SECRETARY & TREASURER | 2 | — |
| STEVEN N AUSTAD PHD | SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR | 2 | $41,500 |
| NIR BARZILAI MD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ANDRE BERTRAM | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| RICHARD BESDINE MD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| HARVEY J COHEN MD | DIRECTOR | 2 | $1,000 |
| ALEX COLVILLE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ANA MARIA CUERVO MD PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAVID L EIGEN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SARA E ESPINOZA MD MSC | DIRECTOR | 2 | $3,500 |
| RICHARD G A FARAGHER PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES FICKEL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ALEXANDRA L GATJE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL HODIN PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CATHERINE KACZOROWSKI PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| THOMAS G KAHN CFA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| PETER KIMMELMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES L KIRKLAND MD PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARK S LACHS MD PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KEVIN J LEE PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL RINGEL PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SAMI SAGOL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| GARETH W SHEPHERD PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ROBERT W STEARNS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| TERRIE FOX WETLE PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KEITH E WHITFIELD PHD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SERGEY YOUNG | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| NIGEL EMMETT | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DENISE LEFEBVRE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES MELLON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LAURA NIEDERNHOFFER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAVID SNCLAIR | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| STEPHANIE LEDERMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $442,719 |
| FREDERICA BLUM | FINANCE DIRECTOR | 40 | $188,553 |
| ODETTE VAN DER WILLIK | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $250,194 |
| JOHN CHAICH | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | 40 | $162,879 |
| KELLY WHALEN | DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR | 40 | $143,783 |
| HATTIE HERMAN | SR PROGRAM OFFICER I | 40 | $142,032 |
| LEE NUNLEY | STRAT PROG MGR/DEV OFF | 40 | $136,339 |
| CATHERINE CULLAR | ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER | 40 | $122,169 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
AFAR conducted 5 conferences and workshops in 2023 that connected researchers across the country to share knowledge and encourage innovative collaborations.
Recent grant announcements include:
2025 AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty Recipients
AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical ...2025 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research awards
AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical ...Third cohort of Hevolution/AFAR funding initiatives
Announcing the third cohort of the Hevolution/AFAR new ...2024 Grants for Junior Faculty, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Discovery Awards, and Sagol Award
AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does American Federation for Aging fund?
AFAR's mission is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research, including development of the next generation of aging researchers. The organization focuses on four major initiatives: • **Identifying and funding cutting-edge research** most likely to increase knowledge about healthy aging • **Attracting physicians to geriatric medicine** to meet the demands of an aging population with expert healthcare • **Creating knowledge-sharing opportunities** for scientists and clinicia…
How do I apply for a grant from American Federation for Aging?
AFAR is an active grantmaker supporting biomedical research. In 2023, AFAR awarded $13,161,657 to 102 researchers and research centers. **Grant Programs Include:** • AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty (offered in partnership with Glenn Foundation for Medical Research) • Diana Jacobs Kalman/AFAR Graduate Student Awards in Geroscience • Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Discovery Award • Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Continuation Award • Hevolution/AFAR funding ini…
Where does American Federation for Aging make grants?
AFAR's grantmaking activities have primary focus in New York, California, and Massachusetts, though the organization funds researchers across the country through its national programs.
What size grants does American Federation for Aging award?
In 2024, American Federation for Aging awarded 57 grants totaling $12.8M — an average of about $225K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is American Federation for Aging's EIN?
American Federation for Aging's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3045282. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in American Federation for Aging's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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