Hope for Depression Research Foundation
Our mission is two-fold: first and foremost hdrf funds the most innovative neuroscience research into the origins, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of depression and its related mood disorders bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder and suicide. Our second goal is to raise awareness of depression as a medical illness and to educate the public about the facts of depression. We educate and inform in order to help remove the stigma of depression. ********************************************************************* *********************************************************************
Hope for Depression Research Foundation at a glance
In short: Hope for Depression Research Foundation gave $3.7M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $732K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,660,611
- -26.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $732,122
- -11.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $885,217
- Total assets
- $39,419,091
- -10.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (65% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Hope for Depression Research Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene Inc ($1.0M). Together the top 5 received $3.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 10 grants of 33 (30%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Hope for Depression Research Foundation gives
- Giving fell 26% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.7M (2025) to $5.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $3.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene Inc Menands, NY | Depression Research | $1,014,832 |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY | Depression Research | $959,012 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Depression Research | $885,217 |
| Joan & Sanford I Weil Medical College of Cornell New York, NY | Depression Research | $413,323 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Depression Research | $388,227 |
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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 | $39,419,091 | $3,352,342 | $7,276,738 | $3,660,611 | 5 | $1,220,938 |
| 2024 | $44,089,416 | $2,671,993 | $8,469,439 | $4,969,248 | 6 | $564,745 |
| 2023 | $47,213,164 | $3,383,561 | $7,749,109 | $4,533,593 | 7 | $1,700,410 |
| 2022 | $50,922,850 | $7,935,757 | $8,320,753 | $4,932,508 | 7 | $5,803,525 |
| 2021 | $59,831,359 | $6,866,948 | $5,907,756 | $3,850,437 | 8 | $2,554,218 |
| 2020 | $33,527,865 | $38,115,467 | $6,958,421 | $4,612,195 | 6 | $762,189 |
About Hope for Depression Research Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Hope for Depression Research Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $39.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $3.7M. Net investment income was $1.2M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Hope for Depression Research Foundation is led by Louisa Benton, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Louisa Benton
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$226K (2020) → $302K (2025)
Audrey B. Gruss
Chairman & Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Kahn
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harold W. Koenigsberg
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Michels
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven P. Roose
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Zislin
Vice President & Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Vice President & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bhash Lalta
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Keemss
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martin D. Gruss
Senior Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: William T. Speck (2020–2023) — Director
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 $302K, to Louisa Benton (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Hope for Depression Research Foundation
How much does Hope for Depression Research Foundation give each year?
Hope for Depression Research Foundation gave $3.7M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.0M across 6 grants.
What is Hope for Depression Research Foundation's typical grant size?
Hope for Depression Research Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $885,217, and its average grant was $732,122, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Hope for Depression Research Foundation give grants?
Hope for Depression Research Foundation gives mostly in New York: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (24%) and North Carolina (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Hope for Depression Research Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Hope for Depression Research Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Depression Research" (5 grants).
Who are Hope for Depression Research Foundation's largest grantees?
Hope for Depression Research Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene Inc ($1,014,832), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($959,012) and University of Michigan ($885,217), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Hope for Depression Research Foundation?
Hope for Depression Research Foundation reported $39.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.4M.
What is Hope for Depression Research Foundation?
Hope for Depression Research Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in New York, NY. It holds $39.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Hope for Depression Research Foundation's EIN?
Hope for Depression Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4559210. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 21, 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 June 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Hope for Depression Research Foundation funds
Medical Research Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Hope for Depression Research Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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