American Federation for Aging Research Inc
The American Federation for Aging Research Inc. (AFAR) is a New York, New York-based public charity that supports and advances healthy aging through biomedical research. It funds research and fellowships, supports scientific conferences, and works to develop early-career researchers in aging research and geroscience.
American Federation for Aging Research Inc at a glance
In short: American Federation for Aging Research Inc gave $12.8M across 57 grants in 2024 (avg $225K), top state New York. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,808,497
- -1.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- +14.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $224,710
- -13.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $150,000
- Total assets
- $48,385,387
- +3.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (18 of 57, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (17% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to American Federation for Aging Research Inc
- How to Apply
-
Applicants should review the guidelines for the relevant program, confirm eligibility, and follow its instructions. AFAR says its grants are open to candidates conducting research at a U.S.-based not-for-profit institution by the award start date; its FAQ states that biology-of-aging programs have no citizenship requirements. Eligibility and application requirements vary by program.
- Review Cycle
- Deadlines vary by program. The listed 2026 letter-of-intent deadlines for several research awards have passed. The conference fund lists quarterly deadlines, including October 31.
- Deadline
- Deadlines vary by program.
- Contact
Mailing address: 55 West 39Th Street 16Th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 703-9977
Website: https://afar.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from American Federation for Aging Research Inc
AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Grants for Junior Faculty
American Federation for Aging Research Inc
Amount
Up to US $160,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Diana Jacobs Kalman/AFAR Graduate Student Awards in Geroscience Grant
American Federation for Aging Research Inc
Amount
US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Diana Jacobs Kalman/AFAR Scholarships for Research in the Biology of Aging
American Federation for Aging Research Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who American Federation for Aging Research Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rockefeller University ($905K). Together the top 10 received $6.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
218 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 218 (27%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AFAR is based in New York, New York, and its 2024 grants went to recipients across the United States. The largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were New York (17%), Massachusetts (16%), California (10%), Pennsylvania (8%), and Texas (7%). The Hevolution Foundation Scientific Conferences Fund lists eligible organizations in North America, the United Kingdom, and European Union countries.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is American Federation for Aging Research Inc open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 57 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $188K; repeat grants $242K. How we count
Medians: $112K first-time, $150K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2020) to $13.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 57 grants totaling $12.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
AFAR’s 2024 filing also says it has approximately ten donor-established funds that provide annual support for specific activities and general supporting services, and that its endowment includes board-designated net assets without donor restrictions.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $48,385,387 | $15,855,058 | $17,690,407 | $12,808,497 | 57 | $1,454,319 |
| 2023 | $46,621,992 | $22,829,335 | $17,507,802 | $13,021,352 | 50 | $697,124 |
| 2022 | $33,818,934 | $15,127,134 | $16,259,535 | $9,886,050 | 34 | $412,743 |
| 2021 | $30,014,800 | $13,781,782 | $7,677,106 | $5,000,213 | 48 | $1,304,602 |
| 2020 | $21,962,273 | $5,955,304 | $5,104,050 | $2,717,803 | 29 | $352,605 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
AFAR’s stated mission is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research. Its programs support research into the aging process and associated diseases and disorders, help build a pipeline of early-career scientists, provide opportunities for scientists and physicians to exchange ideas, and promote awareness of aging research. AFAR says its biology-of-aging programs generally seek to understand basic aging mechanisms; research on age-related diseases may be of interest when it investigates how those mechanisms affect disease outcomes.
AFAR supports research at universities and other institutions. Among its 2024 grantees, Rockefeller University describes itself as a biomedical research and graduate-education institution, and Baylor College of Medicine describes its mission as advancing human health through patient care, research, education, and community services. AFAR also funds scientific conferences and meetings.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, AFAR reported 57 itemized grants totaling $12,808,497. The median grant was $150,000, with awards ranging from $7,500 to $905,000. The filing separately reports 52 research grants totaling $12,362,162; the two figures are reported as distinct filing measures.
The largest listed awards included $905,000 to Rockefeller University for scientific research, $776,450 to the University of California San Diego for scientific research, $757,500 to Boston University for scientific research and a conference, and $750,000 each to Pennsylvania State University and the University of Minnesota for scientific research. Other listed recipients included MIT ($525,000), UT Southwestern Medical Center ($450,000), and Yale University ($414,453).
AFAR’s website lists programs for junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and other researchers, as well as scientific-conference support. Listed award amounts include $160,000 for junior-faculty awards, $80,000 for postdoctoral fellowships, and $555,000 for the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Discovery Award. The website says the 2026 letter-of-intent deadlines have passed for these listed programs. The Hevolution Foundation Scientific Conferences Fund is listed as currently open, with up to $10,000 available per meeting and quarterly deadlines of January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31. A separate Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Alzheimer’s Disease is listed as active, with awards up to $200,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas A. Rando, MD, PhD, as president; Laura M. Barzilai, JD, LLM, as board chair; Charles Beever, MBA, as secretary and treasurer; and Steven N. Austad, PhD, as scientific director. Directors listed include Nir Barzilai, MD; Andre Bertram; Richard Besdine, MD; Harvey J. Cohen, MD; Alex Colville; and Ana Maria Cuervo, MD, PhD.
American Federation for Aging Research Inc is led by Stephanie Lederman, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 11 of 42 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stephanie Lederman
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$388K (2020) → $443K (2024)
Thomas A. Rando MD PhD
President
Director → President-Elect, 2023
President-Elect → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura M. Barzilai Jd Llm
Board Chair
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frederica L. Blum
Finance Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $189K (2024)
Harvey J. Cohen MD
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
John A. Chaich
Communications Director
Public Relations Director → Communications Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$135K (2020) → $163K (2024)
Odette S. Van Der Willik
Program Director
Deputy Executive Director → Program Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$218K (2020) → $250K (2024)
Steven N. Austad PhD
Scientific Director
Interim Board Chair → Interim Chair & Consultant, 2023
Interim Chair & Consultant → Scientific Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $42K (2024)
Kelly Whalen
Development Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$144K (2024)
Sara E. Espinoza Md Msc
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$4K (2024)
Alexandra L. Gatje
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David L. Eigen
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James L. Kirkland MD PhD
Director
President-Elect → President, 2021
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin J. Lee PhD
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark S. Lachs MD PhD
Director
President → Immediate Past President, 2021
Immediate Past President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael W. Hodin PhD
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nigel F. Emmett
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nir Barzilai MD
Director
Scientific Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Kimmelman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard G. A. Faragher PhD
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard W. Besdine MD
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sami Sagol
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sergey Young
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terrie Fox Wetle PhD
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas G. Kahn CFA
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ana Maria Cuervo MD PhD
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Lefebvre
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Niedernhoffer
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith E. Whitfield PhD
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andre Bertram
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Fickel
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Mellon
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Colville
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Kaczorowski PhD
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Snclair
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gareth W. Shepherd PhD
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Ringel PhD
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert W. Stearns
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine A. Cullar
Administrative Manager
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$108K (2021) → $122K (2024)
Hattie Herman
Senior Program Officer I
Program Officer → Senior Project Officer, 2023
Senior Project Officer → Senior Program Officer I, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$100K (2021) → $142K (2024)
Lee Nunley
Strat Program Manager & Development Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$136K (2024)
Charles Beever MBA
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: David A. Sinclair Phd Ao (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Joyce M. Yaeger (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mark R. Collins (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Nathaniel E. David PhD (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Normal Volk (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Pol Vandenbroucke MD (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: S. Jay Olshansky PhD (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kenneth A. Buckfire (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Andrea Sherman (2023) — Project Manager
- Former: Ann M. Connolly (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Annarosa Miele (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Caroline S. Blaum MD (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jim Mellon (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Laura Barzilai (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Mehmood Khan (2020–2022) — Outgoing Director
- Former: John B. Rhodes MBA (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Roger J. McCarter PhD (2020) — Director
- Former: Stefania Maggi MD MPH PhD (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $443K, to Stephanie Lederman (Executive Director). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about American Federation for Aging Research Inc
How much does American Federation for Aging Research Inc give each year?
American Federation for Aging Research Inc gave $12.8M across 57 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $13.0M across 50 grants.
What is American Federation for Aging Research Inc's typical grant size?
American Federation for Aging Research Inc's median grant in 2024 was $150,000, and its average grant was $224,710, across 57 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from American Federation for Aging Research Inc that year got $188K on average.
Where does American Federation for Aging Research Inc give grants?
American Federation for Aging Research Inc's top state is New York, with 17% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Massachusetts (16%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Philadelphia, PA (3 grants), La Jolla, CA (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does American Federation for Aging Research Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 57 grants with a stated purpose on American Federation for Aging Research Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scientific Research" (43 grants), "Conference Support" (8 grants) and "Scientific Research/Conference" (6 grants).
Who are American Federation for Aging Research Inc's largest grantees?
American Federation for Aging Research Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Rockefeller University ($905,000), University of California San Diego ($776,450) and Boston University ($757,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is American Federation for Aging Research Inc?
American Federation for Aging Research Inc reported $48.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.9M.
What does American Federation for Aging Research Inc fund?
AFAR’s stated mission is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Federation for Aging Research Inc?
Applicants should review the guidelines for the relevant program, confirm eligibility, and follow its instructions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is American Federation for Aging Research Inc's EIN?
American Federation for Aging Research Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3045282. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 5, 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 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 31, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). American Federation for Aging Research Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/american-federation-for-aging-research-inc-morg_a80f94cf3a454ae5a90d5c1a5df57b1a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133045282_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{American Federation for Aging Research Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/american-federation-for-aging-research-inc-morg_a80f94cf3a454ae5a90d5c1a5df57b1a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 American Federation for Aging Research Inc'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.
American Federation for Aging Research Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?