Brightfocus Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Clarksburg, Maryland, dedicated to funding scientific research and providing public education on diseases of the mind and sight. Established in 1973 (originally as the American Health Assistance Foundation, rebranded in February 2013), the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization entirely funded by private donor contributions and corporate/foundation grants, with no government funding.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$65.1M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.3M
+77.4% YoY
Grant Count
57
+62.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$233K
+8.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: BrightFocus funds exceptional scientific research worldwide to defeat Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma and provides expert information on these heartbreaking diseases.
The foundation operates three primary research programs:
- Alzheimer's Disease Research
- Macular Degeneration Research
- National Glaucoma Research
BrightFocus is committed to a world where every person can age free of diseases of mind and sight. The foundation emphasizes funding innovative, early-stage research to ensure fresh perspectives are brought to the forefront and to maximize return on research investment through novel discoveries that fuel the field.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $200,000 - $300,000
How to Apply
** Submissions are made through ProposalCentral
Ready to take the next step with Brightfocus Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
BrightFocus supports innovative research internationally across 28 countries, with active research grants in 17 countries at 154 institutions worldwide.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2025 (as of March 2025):
- Total Revenue: $63.4 million
- Total Expenses: $53.3 million
- Total Assets: $65.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $28.2 million
Staffing: 59 employees (2025)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $65,129,292 | $63,464,652 | $58,626,477 |
| Revenue | $63,423,924 | $48,662,870 | $43,893,797 |
| Expenses | $53,295,009 | $46,217,406 | $48,508,214 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $9,840,578 | $4,702,264 | $-268,284 |
| 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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
235 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Brightfocus Foundation
Alzheimer's Disease Research Grants
BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION
Amount
US $200,000 - US $300,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Macular Degeneration Research Program: Innovative Research Grants
BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $600,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Macular Degeneration Research Program: New Investigator Grant Program
BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $450,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include William Marsh Rice University ($409,500), University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center ($409,500), Leland Stanford Junior University ($409,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY HOUSTON, TX | MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY JERZY SZABLOWSKI, PHD ENTITLED: M2025001N | $409,500 |
| UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY ANA J CHUCAIR-ELLIOTT, PHD ENTITLED: M2025002N | $409,500 |
| LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY PALO ALTO, CA | MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY CHARLES DEBOER, MD, PHD ENTITLED: M2025004N | $409,500 |
| LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY STANFORD, CA | MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MOHAJEET BALVEER BHUCKORY, PHD ENTITLED: M2025007N | $409,500 |
| NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE NIH BETHESDA, MD | MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY RUCHI SHARMA, PHD ENTITLED: M2025003N | $408,701 |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER BOSTON, MA | ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY PETER FRIED, PHD ENTITLED: A2024034S | $300,000 |
| LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY PALO ALTO, CA | ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY AMIRA LATIF HERNANDEZ, PHD ENTITLED: A2024035S | $300,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO LA JOLLA, CA | ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JEROME MERTENS, PHD ENTITLED: A2024036S | $300,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE SEATTLE, WA | ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JUSTIN MILLER, PHD ENTITLED: A2024037S | $300,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO LA JOLLA, CA | ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JOHANNES SCHLACHETZKI, MD ENTITLED: A2024038S | $300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President and Chief Executive Officer: Stacy Pagos Haller (serving since 2010)
Development:
- R. Brian Elderton, Senior Vice President of Development
- Meredith Fox, Manager, Family Foundations and Special Gifts
- Jocelyn Hering, Manager, Major Gifts
Communications:
- Julia S. Roth, Media/Press Contact
- Sean Decena, Web and Multimedia Specialist
Information & Donor Services:
- Julie Ray, Information and Donor Services Coordinator
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICIA M STEWART | CHAIR | 10 | — |
| SCOTT KAISER MD | SECRETARY UNTIL 06/24, VICE CHAIR | 6 | — |
| THOMAS F FREDDO OD PHD | DIRECTOR UNTIL 06/24, SECRETARY | 6 | — |
| SHAWNA GOTTLIEB | TREASURER | 6 | — |
| CECILIA ARRADAZA | VICE CHAIR UNTIL 06/24, DIRECTOR | 6 | — |
| PAUL CAMPBELL | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| HERBERT L DRAYTON III | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| DANA GRIFFIN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| TONYA MATTHEWS PHD | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| ANN SECLOW | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| JAN M STOUFFER PHD | DIRECTOR | 6 | — |
| ADAM MYERS | DIRECTOR AS OF 04/24 | 5 | — |
| JOHN PENN | DIRECTOR AS OF 03/25 | 5 | — |
| DALE YOUNG | DIRECTOR AS OF 03/25 | 5 | — |
| STACY PAGOS HALLER | PRESIDENT/CEO | 45 | $424,828 |
| NANCY KEACH | SR. VP, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS | 45 | $270,157 |
| R BRIAN ELDERTON | SR. VP, DEVELOPMENT | 45 | $261,323 |
| JONATHAN WALSH | SVP, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION | 45 | $226,786 |
| DIANE BOVENKAMP PHD | VP, SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS | 45 | $196,242 |
| KACI BAEZ - VP INTEGRATED | MKTING & COMM. UNTIL 06/24 | 45 | $110,647 |
| PREETI SUBRAMANIAN - PHD DIR | OF SCIENT. PROGRAMS, VISION SCIENCE | 40 | $139,931 |
| LISA MORGAN | SENIOR DIRECTOR, ANNUAL GIVING | 40 | $135,115 |
| SHARYN ROSSI - PHD DIR OF | SCIENT. PROGRAMS, NEUROSCIENCE | 40 | $125,732 |
| JEFFREY HONAKER | SR. MGR. OPS AND BUILDING | 40 | $115,469 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In May 2025, BrightFocus Foundation awarded nearly $13 million in research funding to 50 scientists conducting research on Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
BrightFocus Foundation Awards Nearly $13M to 50 Scientists for ...Contact Information
Main Office:
- Address: 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, Maryland 20871 USA
- Phone: 1-800-437-2423 (toll-free, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Eastern)
- Fax: (301) 258-9454
- Email: info@brightfocus.org
Program-Specific Contacts:
- Alzheimer's Disease Research: 855-345-6237
- Macular Degeneration Research: 855-345-6637
- National Glaucoma Research: 855-345-6647
Research Grants: researchgrants@brightfocus.org
Planned Giving: 301-556-9362 or plannedgiving@brightfocus.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Brightfocus Foundation fund?
**Mission:** BrightFocus funds exceptional scientific research worldwide to defeat Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma and provides expert information on these heartbreaking diseases. The foundation operates three primary research programs: • **Alzheimer's Disease Research** • **Macular Degeneration Research** • **National Glaucoma Research** BrightFocus is committed to a world where every person can age free of diseases of mind and sight. The foundation emphasizes funding i…
How do I apply for a grant from Brightfocus Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $200,000 - $300,000 **Annual Giving:** $10-13 million **Success Rate:** Approximately 32% (invitation rate from letter of intent to full proposal) **Decision Timeline:** Approximately 6-8 months from submission to notification (mid-April) **Total Research Funding Since Inception:** Over $310 million awarded to support scientific breakthroughs **Number of Active Grants:** More than 200 research grants currently supported **Application Process:** Submissions are made through Prop…
Where does Brightfocus Foundation make grants?
BrightFocus supports innovative research internationally across 28 countries, with active research grants in 17 countries at 154 institutions worldwide.
What size grants does Brightfocus Foundation award?
In 2025, Brightfocus Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $13.3M — an average of about $233K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Brightfocus Foundation's EIN?
Brightfocus Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7337229. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Brightfocus Foundation'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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