The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is a non-profit biomedical research organization headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with additional facilities in Ashburn, Virginia. Founded in 1953 by Howard Hughes, HHMI is one of the largest private funding organizations for biological and medical research in the United States. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity and has been tax-exempt since March 1957.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.3B
+5.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$51.6M
-50.3% YoY
Grant Count
62
-65.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$832K
+44.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
HHMI advances the discovery and sharing of scientific knowledge to benefit society. The organization invests in scientists at all career stages who make discoveries that advance human health and fundamental understanding of biology. HHMI also supports innovative approaches to science education and public engagement to energize the next generation of scientists and foster public appreciation for science.
Primary program areas include:
HHMI Investigator Program: The Institute's core approach centers on funding people rather than projects. HHMI employs scientists as HHMI Investigators and provides long-term, flexible funding that enables researchers to pursue their scientific interests. Investigators receive seven-year appointments, which are renewable pending favorable scientific review. The Institute spends approximately $1 million per HHMI Investigator per year, amounting to annual investment in biomedical research of about $825 million.
Janelia Research Campus: Located in Ashburn, Virginia, and founded in 2006, Janelia researchers have made discoveries and developed cutting-edge tools that have reimagined what's possible in science.
Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program: A program supporting scholars in their scientific development.
Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program: Offers support for both postdoctoral training and faculty phases.
Grantmaking
HHMI's approach to research funding emphasizes long-term, flexible support rather than traditional project-based grants. The organization's philosophy is that scientists of exceptional talent and imagination will make fundamental discoveries of lasting scientific value if given the resources, time, and freedom to pursue challenging questions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
HHMI advances pathbreaking science at more than 60 host institutions across the United States. Grant-making focuses primarily on North Carolina, Massachusetts, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2025):
- Total Assets: $29.5 billion
- Total Revenue: $2 billion
- Total Expenses: $1.18 billion
- Total Liabilities: $1.88 billion
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $27.3 billion
- Total Revenue: $1.76 billion
- Total Expenses: $1.15 billion
Endowment:
- The institute has an endowment of $22.6 billion, making it the second-wealthiest philanthropic organization in the United States and the second-best-endowed medical research foundation in the world.
Total Giving (2025): $63.3 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,296,895,597 | $25,892,499,538 | $25,877,392,654 |
| Revenue | $1,760,221,928 | $749,022,788 | $2,117,477,557 |
| Expenses | $1,152,447,870 | $1,147,090,579 | $986,289,955 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,737,313,649 | $718,984,759 | $2,087,454,899 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Gilliam Fellows Program
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program: Faculty Phase Grant
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Amount
Up to US $1,080,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALISON F RICHARD PHD | TRUSTEE, CHAIR EDUCATION COMM | 4 | $70,000 |
| CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY ESQ | TRUSTEE, CHAIR NOM & GOV COMM | 4 | $70,000 |
| CLAYTON S ROSE PHD | TRUSTEE, CHAIR | 6 | $100,000 |
| DAVID JULIUS PHD | TRUSTEE | 2 | $60,000 |
| DEBORA L SPAR PHD | TRUSTEE, CHAIR AUDIT & COMP | 4 | $70,000 |
| FRED R LUMMIS | TRUSTEE, CHAIR FINANCE COMM | 4 | $70,000 |
| JOSEPH L GOLDSTEIN MD | TRUSTEE, CHAIR RESEARCH COMM | 4 | $70,000 |
| KURT L SCHMOKE ESQ | TRUSTEE | 2 | $60,000 |
| MARGARET D TUTWILER | TRUSTEE | 2 | $60,000 |
| PAUL M NURSE PHD | TRUSTEE | 2 | $60,000 |
| RISA LAVIZZO-MOUREY MD MBA | TRUSTEE | 2 | $60,000 |
| BLANTON TOLBERT PHD | VP SCIENCE LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE | 40 | $1,060,174 |
| BODO STERN PHD | CHIEF OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES | 40 | $431,266 |
| DONALD KOCH | VP & CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 40 | $3,592,895 |
| ERIN K O'SHEA PHD | PRESIDENT | 40 | $1,596,598 |
| HEIDI E HENNING ESQ | VP & GENERAL COUNSEL & SECRETARY | 40 | $889,582 |
| JEREMY COMPTON | ASSOCIATE CONTROLLER (THRU 7/24)/CONTROLLER & ASSISTANT TREASURER (AS OF 08/24) | 40 | $242,127 |
| KRISTINA HEIBERGER ESQ | DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL & ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 40 | $397,542 |
| LESLIE B VOSSHALL PHD | VP & CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER | 40 | $811,829 |
| LYNNE LOCHTE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & TREASURER | 40 | $406,686 |
| NATASHA NEISES | SENIOR DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS | 40 | $282,740 |
| NELSON SPRUSTON PHD | VP & EXEC DIR, JANELIA RESEARCH CAMPUS (AS OF 08/24) | 40 | $667,816 |
| RONALD VALE PHD | VP & EXEC DIR, JANELIA RESEARCH CAMPUS (THRU 07/24) | 40 | $749,798 |
| SEAN B CARROLL PHD | INVESTIGATOR/ FORMER VP SCI. & ED.MEDIA GROUP (THRU 11/23) | 40 | $848,487 |
| SETH GROSSMAN ESQ | VP, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT (AS OF 5/24) | 40 | — |
| GLEN ZWICKER | MANAGING DIRECTOR & HEAD OF INVESTMENT OPERATIONS | 40 | $1,454,312 |
| JUSTIN GALEN | MANAGING DIRECTOR, PRIVATE MARKETS (THRU 4/24) | 40 | $827,774 |
| KAREN EIFLER | MANAGING DIRECTOR, PUBLIC MARKETS | 40 | $989,382 |
| MARK SPROLES | MANAGING DIRECTOR, PRIVATE MARKETS | 40 | $1,625,452 |
| RICHARD A PENDER | MANAGING DIRECTOR, PUBLIC MARKETS (THRU 4/23) | 40 | $1,107,827 |
| DANIEL A CRONIN PHD | VP & CHIEF FINANCIAL & OPERATING OFFICER (THRU 01/23) | 40 | $684,626 |
| DAVID E CLAPHAM PHD | SENIOR GROUP LEADER/FORMER VP & CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER | 40 | $566,820 |
| DENNIS MCKEARIN PHD | SENIOR SCIENTIFIC OFFICER/FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $459,095 |
| GERALD M RUBIN PHD | SENIOR GROUP LEADER/FORMER VP&EXEC DIR, JRC | 40 | $588,673 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
HHMI invested over $300 million in 26-33 new investigators
HHMI invests over $300 million in 26 new investigatorsThe organization announced $245 million to support AI-driven projects in life sciences, demonstrating expansion into emerging research areas
Howard Hughes Medical Institute announces $500 million to support AI-drivenSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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