Diabetes Research Connection
Diabetes Research Connection is a public charity based in Del Mar, California. It connects donors with early-career scientists and makes grants for peer-reviewed Type 1 diabetes research intended to prevent and cure the disease, minimize complications, and improve quality of life.
Diabetes Research Connection at a glance
In short: Diabetes Research Connection gave $450K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $38K), top state California. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $450,000
- +7.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -29.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $37,500
- +51.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $2,633,043
- +13.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (22% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Diabetes Research Connection
- How to Apply
-
Submit a one-page Letter of Intent for review; applicants whose scientific concept is approved are asked to submit a detailed three-page grant application. The stated eligibility and research requirements apply.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1400 Maiden Lane, Del Mar, CA 92014
Phone: (844) 484-3372
Website: https://diabetesresearchconnection.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Diabetes Research Connection funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Washington ($70K). Together the top 10 received $430K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 44 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s website says applicants must conduct research at U.S. institutions. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in California, Washington, Indiana, Massachusetts, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida, Utah, and Illinois. The largest shares of 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in California (22%), Washington (16%), Indiana (14%), Massachusetts (12%), and Alabama (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Diabetes Research Connection open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2019) to $551K (2020). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $450K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Washington Seattle, WA | Research Grants | $70,000 |
| Indiana University Bloomington, IN | Research Grants | $65,000 |
| Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA | Research Grants | $55,000 |
| City of Hope Irvine, CA | Research Grants | $50,000 |
| University of Al Birmingham Birmingham, AL | Research Grants | $40,000 |
| University of CA SF San Francisco, CA | Research Grants | $40,000 |
| Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | Research Grants | $35,000 |
| Medical University of South C Charleston, SC | Research Grants | $25,000 |
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Research Grants | $25,000 |
| University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT | Research Grants | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,633,043 | $1,176,901 | $931,014 | $450,000 | 12 | $102,903 |
| 2023 | $2,324,528 | $737,712 | $936,811 | $420,000 | 17 | $55,773 |
| 2022 | $2,488,166 | $1,568,972 | $1,035,543 | $475,000 | 15 | $-68,889 |
| 2021 | $1,933,836 | $804,111 | $1,008,224 | $481,500 | Total only | $17,059 |
| 2020 | $2,099,220 | $1,091,587 | $985,060 | $550,500 | Total only | $11,966 |
| 2019 | $1,665,625 | $528,156 | $455,752 | $100,000 | 5 | $6,470 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to connect donors with early-career scientists conducting peer-reviewed research to prevent and cure Type 1 diabetes, minimize its complications, and improve quality of life for people living with the disease. It supports research projects led by early-career scientists; its website says grants can be up to $75,000 per project.
Its 2024 grantees included universities and research institutions. Indiana University describes its mission as providing physician services to hospital patients and state institutions and performing related research. City of Hope says its mission is to make hope a reality for people touched by cancer and diabetes. The J. Craig Venter Institute describes its work as advancing genomics and foundational research in human health and other areas. The University of Chicago describes its mission as communicating and creating knowledge and fostering a community of scholars and students.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the organization reported 12 grants totaling $450,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $70,000, with a median of $37,500. The listed grant purposes were research grants. Notable awards included $70,000 to the University of Washington, $65,000 to Indiana University, $55,000 to Boston College, $50,000 to City of Hope, and $40,000 each to the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of California, San Francisco.
The website describes a review process beginning with a one-page Letter of Intent reviewed by the Scientific Review Committee. If the concept is approved, the applicant is asked to submit a detailed three-page grant application, which is reviewed by a Specialty Advisory Panel. The organization says review can take as few as 12 weeks. Eligible applicants are early-career scientists at U.S. institutions, including Ph.D., MD, or MD/Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty. Research must focus on Type 1 diabetes. The website lists exclusions including applicants who are NIH-funded as a principal investigator, have received an R01, are staff scientists, senior researchers, or at associate level, or plan to conduct the research at a foreign institution. It also states that a graduate student must be enrolled in a Ph.D., MD, or MD/Ph.D. program, and that a prior DRC grant as a postdoctoral fellow makes an applicant ineligible. Funded work must be completed within one year. Researchers must provide semiannual and final reports in scientific and lay terms; the organization says these may be shared on its website with donors. The filing states that researchers must sign a research gift agreement and agree to provide progress and final reports before receiving an initial grant disbursement. The organization says 100% of funds designated for a research project go directly to the scientist’s lab.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christine Rhoads as Executive Director; Amy Adams, Nigel Calcutt, Alberto Hayek, and CC King as co-founders; Vincenzo Cirulli and Steve Korniczky as vice-chairs; Ron Leibow as secretary; and Ethan Harkleroad and Allison Oretchwa as directors.
Diabetes Research Connection is led by Christine Rhoads, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christine Rhoads
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$143K (2023) → $140K (2024)
Eric Zwisler
President
Member → President & Chair, 2023
President & Chair → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allison Orechwa
Director
Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ethan Harkleroad
Director
Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Prado
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthias Von Herrath
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alberto Hayek
Co-Founder
President → Member, 2021
Member → Co-Founder, 2024
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Winkler
CFO
Chairman → CFO, 2021
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nigel Calcutt
Co-Founder
Vice President → Member, 2023
Member → Co-Founder, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vincenzo Cirulli
Vice Chair
Member → Director, 2021
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Adams
Co-Founder
Member → Co-Founder, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cc King
Co-Founder
President & Chair → Member, 2023
Member → Co-Founder, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Korniczky
Vice Chair
Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ron Leibow
Secretary
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Matthias Vonherrath (2023) — Member
- Former: Felisa Levine (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Paige McCready (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Bobby Buchanan (2021–2022) — Member
- Former: Casey Davis (2020–2021) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Charles King (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Anne lacey (2019) — Director
- Former: Charles King Ph D (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Christina Kalberg (2019) — Executive Director
- Former: Nigel Calcutt Ph D (2019) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $140K, to Christine Rhoads (Executive Dir.).
Frequently asked questions about Diabetes Research Connection
How much does Diabetes Research Connection give each year?
Diabetes Research Connection gave $450K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $420K across 17 grants.
What is Diabetes Research Connection's typical grant size?
Diabetes Research Connection's median grant in 2024 was $37,500, and its average grant was $37,500, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Diabetes Research Connection that year got $40K on average.
Where does Diabetes Research Connection give grants?
Diabetes Research Connection's top state is California, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Washington (16%) and Indiana (14%).
Does Diabetes Research Connection give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Diabetes Research Connection's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research Grants" (12 grants).
Who are Diabetes Research Connection's largest grantees?
Diabetes Research Connection's largest 2024 grantees include University of Washington ($70,000), Indiana University ($65,000) and Boston College ($55,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Diabetes Research Connection?
Diabetes Research Connection reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.
What does Diabetes Research Connection fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to connect donors with early-career scientists conducting peer-reviewed research to prevent and cure Type 1 diabetes, minimize its complications, and improve quality of life for people living with the disease. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Diabetes Research Connection?
Submit a one-page Letter of Intent for review; applicants whose scientific concept is approved are asked to submit a detailed three-page grant application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Diabetes Research Connection's EIN?
Diabetes Research Connection's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0815395. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Diabetes Research Connection funds
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Diabetes Research Connection's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Diabetes Research Connection funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/diabetes-research-connection-morg_f8d224cf4dfe479b84ee7cae8695b02f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_900815395_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Diabetes Research Connection funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/diabetes-research-connection-morg_f8d224cf4dfe479b84ee7cae8695b02f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Diabetes Research Connection'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.
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