CACNA1A Foundation
To find specific treatment options and a cure for CACNA1A patients. for full mission)
CACNA1A Foundation at a glance
In short: CACNA1A Foundation gave $117K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), top state Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $117,418
- +63.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $29,355
- +22.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $27,046
- Total assets
- $1,008,357
- +38.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (48% 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 CACNA1A Foundation
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from CACNA1A Foundation
Who CACNA1A Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dexorgen Inc ($56K). Together the top 4 received $117K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 15 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How CACNA1A Foundation gives
- Giving grew 124% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $53K (2022) to $125K (2023). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $117K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dexorgen Inc Rockville, MD | Research | $56,360 |
| RNAspire LLC San Diego, CA | Research | $30,000 |
| CombinedBrain Brentwood, TN | Research | $24,091 |
| ProSci LLC Poway, CA | Research | $6,967 |
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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 | $1,008,357 | $710,127 | $390,485 | $117,418 | 4 | $23,361 |
| 2024 | $726,400 | $465,614 | $540,157 | $71,750 | 3 | $8,897 |
| 2023 | $863,328 | $385,860 | $453,703 | $125,000 | 2 | — |
| 2022 | $876,537 | $343,299 | $403,405 | $52,500 | 2 | — |
| 2021 | $488,082 | $484,663 | $168,599 | $100,000 | 4 | — |
| 2020 | $172,018 | $193,025 | $21,007 | — | — | — |
About CACNA1A Foundation
Based on IRS filings
CACNA1A Foundation is a public charity focused on Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines, based in Norwalk, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $117K. Net investment income was $23K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
CACNA1A Foundation is led by Shira Johnson, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Shira Johnson
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$42K (2025)
Lisa Manaster
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allison Buchner
Director
Interim Treasurer → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hala Mirza
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Ondrasik MD
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Greathouse
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Strupp
Director
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Farley PhD
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Casey Dawley
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sunitha Malepati
Vice President & Treasurer
Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Vice President & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Junge
Secretary
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Carolyn Anderson (2020–2022) — Former Secretary
- Former: Shanna Tolbert (2021) — Former Treasurer
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 $42K, to Shira Johnson (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about CACNA1A Foundation
How much does CACNA1A Foundation give each year?
CACNA1A Foundation gave $117K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $72K across 3 grants.
What is CACNA1A Foundation's typical grant size?
CACNA1A Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $27,046, and its average grant was $29,355, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does CACNA1A Foundation give grants?
CACNA1A Foundation's top state is Maryland, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (31%) and Tennessee (21%).
Does CACNA1A Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on CACNA1A Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research" (4 grants).
How large is CACNA1A Foundation?
CACNA1A Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $710K.
What is CACNA1A Foundation?
CACNA1A Foundation is a public charity focused on Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines, based in Norwalk, CT. It holds $1.0M in total assets as of 2025.
What is CACNA1A Foundation's EIN?
CACNA1A Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4985747. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in CACNA1A Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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CACNA1A Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?