American Federation for Aging Research Inc
The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is a public charity based in New York, New York. Founded in 1980, it supports biomedical research focused on healthy aging, including research grants, fellowships, scientific conferences, and efforts to develop early-career researchers in aging research and geroscience.
Key facts about American Federation for Aging Research Inc
In short: American Federation for Aging Research Inc gave $12.8M across 57 grants in 2024 (avg $225K), top state New York. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 13-3045282
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,808,497
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- Average grant
- $224,710
- Median grant
- $150,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (20 of 57, 2024)
- Total assets
- $48,385,387
- Primary geography
- New York (17% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Follow the instructions and eligibility requirements in the guidelines for the specific program. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The Hevolution Foundation Scientific Conferences Fund has quarterly deadlines of January 31, April 30, July 31, and…
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · 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
Is American Federation for Aging Research Inc open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 57 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $192K; 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
AFAR’s stated mission is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research. Its work includes supporting research on the aging process and associated diseases and disorders, building a pipeline of early-career scientists, enabling scientific exchange, and raising awareness about aging research. Its website describes a particular emphasis in many biology-of-aging programs on basic mechanisms of aging, including how those mechanisms relate to age-related disease.
AFAR supports research at universities, medical centers, and other research institutions. Among its 2024 recipients, MIT received $525,000; MIT describes its mission as advancing knowledge and educating students in science and other fields. Baylor College of Medicine received $380,000 and describes its mission as advancing human health through patient care, research, education, and community services. The University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation received $428,978; it says it solicits and administers contributions for the benefit of the University of Maryland in Baltimore.
Grantmaking
AFAR’s itemized 2024 grant data lists 57 grants totaling $12,808,497. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $905,000, with a median of $150,000. Separately, AFAR’s 2024 filing reports 52 research grants totaling $12,362,162; the filing also says it held five scientific conferences.
Review Cycle
The Hevolution Foundation Scientific Conferences Fund has quarterly deadlines of January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31. The listed 2026 letter-of-intent deadlines for several other programs have passed.
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
Rolling / Open
Diana Jacobs Kalman/AFAR Graduate Student Awards in Geroscience Grant
American Federation for Aging Research Inc
Amount
US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Diana Jacobs Kalman/AFAR Scholarships for Research in the Biology of Aging
American Federation for Aging Research Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with American Federation for Aging Research Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AFAR describes its research network as national, with most research institutions in the United States, and says its networks are expanding worldwide. Its 2024 grant dollars were distributed most heavily among recipients in New York (17%), Massachusetts (16%), California (10%), Pennsylvania (8%), and Texas (7%). The conference fund has eligible applicants 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
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.
Grant Insights
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%).
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $48,385,387 | $15,855,058 | $17,690,407 | $12,808,497 | 57 |
| 2023 | $46,621,992 | $22,829,335 | $17,507,802 | $13,021,352 | 50 |
| 2022 | $33,818,934 | $15,127,134 | $16,259,535 | $9,886,050 | 34 |
| 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 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,454,319 | $697,124 | $412,743 |
Data update history
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
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. Listed directors 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.
Contact
Mailing address: 55 West 39Th Street 16Th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 703-9977
Website: https://afar.org
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 $192K 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?
Follow the instructions and eligibility requirements in the guidelines for the specific program. 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching American Federation for Aging Research Inc by hand.
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American Federation for Aging Research Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?