Happy Lungs Project logo

Happy Lungs Project

Foundation · Grantmaker Austin, TX EIN: 87-0957020 Website

To support researchers and clinicians in their work toward finding a cure for ret positive non-small cell lung cancer, while providing helpful information to empower each patient in their own healing.

Key facts about Happy Lungs Project

In short: Happy Lungs Project gave $468K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $117K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

EIN
87-0957020
Latest 990 filing
Form 990 filing, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$467,607
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$116,902
Median grant
$110,212
Total assets
$389,228
Primary geography
Texas (53% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing

Total Assets

$389K

-16.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$468K

Grant Count

4

Avg Grant Size

$117K

How Happy Lungs Project gives

  • Giving grew 368% from 2021 to 2024. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Happy Lungs Project

Based on IRS filings

Happy Lungs Project is a nonprofit organization focused on Medical Research, based in Austin, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $389K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $468K.

Focus Areas

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of all 4 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

HoustonBostonDallasNew York

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K1 grants20210 grants20220 grants20234 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

MD Anderson Cancer Center: $215KMD Anderson Cancer Center$215KMassachusetts General Hospital: $123KMassachusetts General Hospital$123KMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: $97KMemorial Sloan KetteringCancer Center$97KUT Southwestern Medical Center: $32KUT Southwestern Medical Center$32K

Grant Size Distribution

5 grants across all recorded years

1<$50K1$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER Houston, TXRESEARCH GRANTS FOCUSED ON RET RELATED DISEASE$215,103
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL Boston, MARESEARCH GRANTS FOCUSED ON RET RELATED DISEASE$123,486
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER New York, NYRESEARCH GRANTS FOCUSED ON RET RELATED DISEASE$96,937
UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER Dallas, TXRESEARCH GRANTS FOCUSED ON RET RELATED DISEASE$32,081

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$389,228$466,477$727,948
Revenue$554,878$362,802$922,265
Expenses$632,127$624,272$301,703
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Happy Lungs Project is led by Mark Strama, Chairman since 2024 (on filings since 2022); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Mark Strama

    Chairman

    Member → Chairman, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ilana Stromberg

    Secretary

    Member → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ned Stewart

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (7)
  • Former: Carolyn Farb (2021) — Member
  • Former: Dennis Debakey (2021) — Member
  • Former: Joel Fineberg (2021) — Member
  • Former: John Jamail (2021) — Member
  • Former: Sophia Fineberg (2021) — Member
  • Former: Susan Debakey (2021) — Member
  • Former: Upal Basu Roy (2021) — Member

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Happy Lungs Project

How much does Happy Lungs Project give each year?

Happy Lungs Project gave $468K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

What is Happy Lungs Project's typical grant size?

Happy Lungs Project's median grant in 2024 was $110,212, and its average grant was $116,902, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

Where does Happy Lungs Project give grants?

Happy Lungs Project gives mostly in Texas: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (26%) and New York (21%).

Does Happy Lungs Project give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Happy Lungs Project's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research Grants Focused on Ret Related Disease" (4 grants).

How large is Happy Lungs Project?

Happy Lungs Project reported $389K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $555K.

What is Happy Lungs Project?

Happy Lungs Project is a nonprofit organization focused on Medical Research, based in Austin, TX. It holds $389K in total assets as of 2024.

What is Happy Lungs Project's EIN?

Happy Lungs Project's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0957020. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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