Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson
The Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) is a private foundation established in 2006 and headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a staff of three employees. It is structured as a unique collaborative research funding model rather than a traditional grantmaking foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$714K
-47.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$40.8M
+15.5% YoY
Grant Count
38
+2.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.1M
+12.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson reported a distributable amount of $140K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to fostering open and highly integrated collaboration among investigators participating in goal-directed discovery and clinical research to prevent, reduce, or eliminate disabling and life-threatening illnesses.
The foundation's distinctive approach encourages investigators to find common denominators across diseases with regards to genes, cells, molecules, and pathways involved. Scientists from different institutions work together as "Collaborating Scientists" to conduct synergetic groups of research studies (referred to as "Component Projects") within a broader "Collaboration" framework. The foundation provides infrastructure and financial support to foster these collaborations and to protect and commercialize resulting biomedical innovation.
Current funding priorities focus on collaborative translational research programs in:
- Oncology
- Neurology
- Immunology
Grantmaking
The foundation operates an invitation-only model in which it recruits researchers rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Success rates are not publicly available due to this recruitment-based approach.
Grant Range
** $50,000 to $3,500,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports researchers and research teams at top universities and research institutes internationally, with primary focus on the United States and Israel. Recent grants have supported researchers at institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Rockefeller University, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Stanford University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024:
- Total revenues: $42,114,321
- Total expenses: $42,768,420
- Total assets: $714,299
2023:
- Total revenues: $37,618,546
- Total expenses: $37,093,371
- Total assets: $1,368,398
The foundation's program areas utilize interest income in support of charitable activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $714,299 | $1,368,398 | $851,025 |
| Revenue | $42,114,321 | $37,618,546 | $27,248,902 |
| Expenses | $42,768,420 | $37,093,371 | $36,222,827 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $42,444,335 | $36,776,661 | $35,748,513 |
| Net Investment Income | $39,878 | $37,150 | $12,308 |
| Distributable Amount | $140,085 | $132,134 | $171,596 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
187 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of California Los Angeles ($4,982,102), Md Anderson Cancer Center ($3,353,535), Johns Hopkins University ($3,133,485).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE HOUSTON, TX | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $311,889 |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TRUST BOSTON, MA | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $936,387 |
| CEDARS SINAI LOS ANGELES, CA | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $1,200,022 |
| DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE BROOKLINE, MA | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $2,936,328 |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NC | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $377,004 |
| DZNE MUNICH | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $342,666 |
| H LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER TAMPA, FL | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $750,848 |
| HADASSAH HEBREW UNIVERSITY | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $648,625 |
| HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL BOSTON, MA | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $483,587 |
| HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $767,849 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Chief Science Officer: Dr. Kristian Hedstrom
The foundation was founded by Dr. Miriam Adelson and the late Sheldon G. Adelson (who passed away in January 2021). Sheldon G. Adelson served as trustee of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR MIRIAM ADELSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STEVEN GARFINKEL | VP & GENERAL COUNSEL | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: 781-972-5900
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.adelsonfoundation.org
Address: 300 First Avenue, Needham, MA 02494-2736
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson fund?
The foundation is committed to fostering open and highly integrated collaboration among investigators participating in goal-directed discovery and clinical research to prevent, reduce, or eliminate disabling and life-threatening illnesses. The foundation's distinctive approach encourages investigators to find common denominators across diseases with regards to genes, cells, molecules, and pathways involved. Scientists from different institutions work together as "Collaborating Scientists" to co…
How do I apply for a grant from Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson?
**Grant Activity:** • 2024: 23+ grants totaling approximately $42.1 million in expenses • 2023: 38 grants totaling $35.2 million in annual giving **Grant Range:** $50,000 to $3,500,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2024):** • University of California Los Angeles Panhellenic Association: $4,982,102 • MD Anderson Cancer Center: $3,353,535 • Johns Hopkins University: $3,133,485 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • MD Anderson Cancer Center: $2,422,541 • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: $2,277,047 • The…
Where does Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson make grants?
The foundation supports researchers and research teams at top universities and research institutes internationally, with primary focus on the United States and Israel. Recent grants have supported researchers at institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Rockefeller University, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Stanford University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
What size grants does Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson award?
In 2024, Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson awarded 38 grants totaling $40.8M — an average of about $1.1M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson reported a distributable amount of $140K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson's EIN?
Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-7023433. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Conservation Food and Health Foundation
BOSTON, MA
Assets
$14.6M
Grants
49
Total Given
$2.2M
Charles J Tasker Memorial Scholarship Fund
HANOVER, MA
Assets
$98K
Grants
1
Total Given
$8K
The Bulens Family Foundation
WELLESLEY, MA
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
68
Total Given
$956K
Marshall M & Barbara J Sloane Pvt Found
CHESTNUT HILL, MA
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
11
Total Given
$75K
John J Mcardle Iii & Joan C Mcardle
ANDOVER, MA
Assets
$1.8M
Grants
13
Total Given
$205K
Massachusetts Association of Realtors
FOXBOROUGH, MA
Assets
$18.1M
Grants
2
Total Given
$71K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson to a real strategy.