March of Dimes Inc
March of Dimes Inc is a public charity based in Arlington, Virginia. Its work supports the health of moms and babies through research, education, advocacy, and programs, with stated goals that include preventing maternal health risks and deaths, preterm birth and infant death, and closing the health equity gap.
March of Dimes Inc at a glance
In short: March of Dimes Inc gave $4.9M across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $203K), top state California. 58% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,862,445
- +10.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $202,602
- +10.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $78,500
- Total assets
- $68,377,921
- +6.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (14 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (39% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to March of Dimes Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1550 Crystal Drive 1300, Arlington, VA 22202
Phone: (888) 663-4637
Website: https://marchofdimes.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from March of Dimes Inc
Agnes Higgins Award
March of Dimes Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Agnes Higgins Award in Maternal-Fetal Nutrition Grant
March of Dimes Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Research Awards Grant
March of Dimes Inc
Amount
US $150,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who March of Dimes Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Stanford University School of Medicine ($925K). Together the top 10 received $4.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 151 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization describes its work as serving families nationwide. Its 2024 filing reports that grant dollars went primarily to recipients in California (30%), Pennsylvania (27%), and Ohio (14%), followed by Massachusetts (5%) and Illinois (5%). The listed 2024 grants also included recipients in other states, including Tennessee, New York, Oregon, and Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is March of Dimes Inc open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 14 of 24 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $87K; repeat grants $365K. How we count
Medians: $65K first-time, $275K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.4M (2020) to $7.7M (2023). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $4.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford University School of Medicine San Francisco, CA | Research & Medical | $925,000 |
| The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Research & Medical | $814,445 |
| The Regents of the University of California Los Angeles, CA | Research & Medical | $625,000 |
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH | Research & Medical | $500,000 |
| Boston Medical Center Corporation Boston, MA | Research & Medical | $350,000 |
| The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of NY New York, NY | Research & Medical | $200,000 |
| Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA | Research & Medical | $200,000 |
| University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Galveston, TX | Research & Medical | $158,000 |
| Magee-Women's Research Institute & Foundation Pittsburgh, PA | Research & Medical | $155,000 |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (3401) Philadelphia, PA | Research & Medical | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $68,377,921 | $85,191,655 | $84,167,068 | $4,862,445 | 24 | $1,544,347 |
| 2024 | $64,169,362 | $83,573,258 | $86,667,092 | $4,387,325 | 24 | $1,679,522 |
| 2023 | $67,854,062 | $88,512,222 | $94,886,069 | $7,694,161 | 45 | $333,272 |
| 2022 | $72,400,131 | $104,990,667 | $113,589,942 | $3,747,530 | 28 | $-768,905 |
| 2021 | $88,338,195 | $103,313,398 | $102,800,561 | $4,327,920 | 30 | $2,467,684 |
| 2020 | $74,954,887 | $100,854,404 | $99,802,168 | $3,426,718 | 38 | $2,994,987 |
| 2019 | $72,557,610 | $129,607,332 | $125,705,437 | $6,337,105 | 56 | $9,245,569 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
March of Dimes states that its mission is to lead the fight for the health of all moms and babies. Its website describes work across research, programs, education, and advocacy. Research priorities include translational work intended to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes; its Discovery Research Grants specify spontaneous preterm birth and cardiovascular conditions that develop or worsen during pregnancy.
The 2024 filing describes collaboration with local organizations, partners, and funders on issues including infant mortality, preterm birth, maternal mortality, and severe maternal morbidity. Its reported research and medical activities included work at a Prematurity Research Center, investments through the Innovation Fund, mobile health centers, and NICU family support. Its education and advocacy activities included professional training, public information, and legislative advocacy.
The 2024 grants listed in the filing largely supported research and medical work at universities, hospitals, and medical centers. For example, the University of Pennsylvania describes its mission as combining education, research, and patient care; Cincinnati Children’s says it aims to improve child health through research, education, and innovation. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not March of Dimes’ own.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, March of Dimes reported 24 grants totaling $4,387,325. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $1,048,955, with a median of $60,754. The largest listed awards were $1,048,955 to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, $750,000 to Stanford University School of Medicine, $625,000 to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and $544,359 to the Regents of the University of California. Each was designated for research and medical purposes. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 24 grants totaling $4.9 million.
The organization’s website describes several research awards. Discovery Grants support established researchers pursuing translational research in specified maternal and infant health priority areas; the stated award is $200,000 over two years, inclusive of 10% indirect costs. The website also describes the Basil O’Connor Starter Awards for early-career researchers and the Reproductive Scientist Development Program and Pediatric Scientist Development Program for early-career professionals.
The March of Dimes Innovation Fund invests in early-stage companies, preferably those seeking Seed or Series A funding, and provides an initial application for companies seeking investment consideration. This is an investment program, distinct from the grants reported in the filing.
The Graduate Nursing Scholarship is for registered nurses enrolled in graduate-level maternal-child nursing programs in the United States and provides $5,000 awards. Its listed September 30, 2026 deadline has passed. The Richard B. Johnston, Jr., MD Prize and the Agnes Higgins Award in Maternal-Fetal Nutrition are also described as award programs; the available information does not provide application deadlines for them.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ellen Kelsay as chair; Phyllis A. Dennery, William A. Fitzgerald, and Karen W. Johnson as vice chairs; Andrew J. Dahle as treasurer; and Sue Schick as secretary. Trustees listed include Judy L. Aschner, Craig Best, Amy L. Casseri, and Juan Salgado-Morales. The filing notes William A. Fitzgerald’s term ended in June 2024, Craig Best began in December 2024, and Juan Salgado-Morales’s term ended in December 2024.
March of Dimes Inc is led by Cynthia H. Rahman, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 10 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cynthia H. Rahman
President & CEO
Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer → Interim President & CEO, 2024
Interim President & CEO → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$250K (2019) → $474K (2025)
Ellen Kelsay
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy L. Aschner MD
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Mills Higgins
Trustee
Secretary & Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue Schick
Trustee
Vice Chair & Secretary → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tonya Lewis Lee
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Thompson MD
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Stang MD
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay S. Greenspan MD
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judette Louis MD
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phyllis A. Dennery MD
Trustee
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Austin Pittman
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Spilker
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Best MD
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emma Goltz
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Alexander-Scott MD
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deirdre Maloney
Senior Vice President & Human Resources
Vice President & Human Resources → Senior Vice President & Human Resources, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$233K (2019) → $295K (2025)
Kelly Ernst
Senior Vice President & Market Impact
Senior Vice President Market Impact → Senior Vice President & Market Impact, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$216K (2019) → $314K (2025)
Candice Christopher
CFO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$158K (2023) → $323K (2025)
Karen W. Johnson
Secretary
Interim President & CEO → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$174K (2023) → $0 (2025)
Alison A. Ale
Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer
Vice President & Market Impact → Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$254K (2024) → $294K (2025)
L'kel C. Little
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$247K (2024) → $310K (2025)
Stacey Brayboy
Senior Vice President Pub Pol & Government Affairs
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$213K (2024) → $225K (2025)
Chauncey McCall Acting Cmo
Vice President Mktg.
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$226K (2025)
Christina S. Cavucci
Senior Vice President Market Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$232K (2025)
Michael D. Warren Md Chief
Med. & Health Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$192K (2025)
Amy L. Casseri
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew J. Dahle
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dana Martin
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (48)
- Former: Adrian P. Mollo (2019–2024) — Senior Vice President General Counsel & Assistant
- Former: Douglas D. Hawthorne (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Frederick A. Brogdon (2019–2024) — Senior Vice President & COO
- Former: Juan Salgado-Morales MD (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Muhammad Shahzad (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: William A. Fitzgerald (2019–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Elizabeth K. Cherot (2023–2024) — President & CEO
- Former: Aaron C. Mushro (2024) — Assistant Vice President & Digital
- Former: Chauncey McCall (2024) — Acting Chief Mktg Officer
- Former: Alison A. Spera (2019–2023) — Vice President & Market Impact
- Former: David L. Lakey MD (2019–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Lorna Street (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Stacey D. Stewart (2019–2023) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Everett B. Ward (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Juan Salgado - Morales Facog MD (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Rochelle S. Siegel (2021–2023) — Senior Executive Director Mkt Impact
- Former: Heather J. Martin (2023) — Vice President Operations
- Former: Karyn L. Demartini (2023) — Vice President, Major, Principal & Planned Giving
- Former: Sandy Torchia (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Darlene R. Slaughter (2019–2022) — Vice President, Chief Div., Incl. & Engage. Ofc
- Former: David C. Damond (2019–2022) — Senior Vice President, CFO & Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Gretchen Carlson (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Monica Luechtefeld (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Nicholas M. Difranza (2019–2022) — Senior Vice President & Chief Tech Officer
- Former: Andrew S. Coccari Jr. (2020–2022) — Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer
- Former: Zsakeba T. Henderson MD (2021–2022) — Senior Vice President McH Imp Dep Md of
- Former: Paul Ziv (2022) — Vice President & Associate Chief Operating Officer
- Former: F. Sessions Cole III MD (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Rahul Gupta (2019–2021) — Senior Vice President & Chief Med Hlth Officer
- Former: Charles J. Lockwood Md Mhcm (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Matan Parnes (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Anne G. Gallivan (2021) — Vice President Event Fundraising
- Former: Donald K. Warne Md Mp (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Dana W. Points (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: David J. Hampton II (2019–2020) — Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer
- Former: Florenda H. Newton (2019–2020) — Vice President & Corporate Engagement
- Former: Frank Wall (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Harry E. Johnson Esq. (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Laverne H. Council (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Donald K. Warne MD MPH (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Alfredo Gangotena (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Charles J Lockwood M (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Donald K Warne MD M (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Gary Dixon (2019) — Chair
- Former: James Colbert (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Kelle H. Moley (2019) — Senior Vice President Chief Scientific Officer
- Former: Lisa F. Waddell MD (2019) — Senior Vice President McH Imp & Dep Med Officer
- Former: Regina Benjamin MD (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $474K, to Cynthia H Rahman (President/CEO). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about March of Dimes Inc
How much does March of Dimes Inc give each year?
March of Dimes Inc gave $4.9M across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.4M across 24 grants.
What is March of Dimes Inc's typical grant size?
March of Dimes Inc's median grant in 2025 was $78,500, and its average grant was $202,602, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from March of Dimes Inc that year got $87K on average.
Where does March of Dimes Inc give grants?
March of Dimes Inc's top state is California, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (27%) and Ohio (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (3 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does March of Dimes Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on March of Dimes Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research & Medical" (24 grants).
Who are March of Dimes Inc's largest grantees?
March of Dimes Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Stanford University School of Medicine ($925,000), The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania ($814,445) and The Regents of the University of California ($625,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is March of Dimes Inc?
March of Dimes Inc reported $68.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $85.2M.
What does March of Dimes Inc fund?
March of Dimes states that its mission is to lead the fight for the health of all moms and babies. Its website describes work across research, programs, education, and advocacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from March of Dimes Inc?
March of Dimes Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check marchofdimes.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is March of Dimes Inc's EIN?
March of Dimes Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1846366. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 24, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 19, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work March of Dimes Inc funds
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in March of Dimes Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). March of Dimes Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/march-of-dimes-inc-morg_9305ebba12304b6e85658feb1f626d8f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131846366_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{March of Dimes Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/march-of-dimes-inc-morg_9305ebba12304b6e85658feb1f626d8f},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-15. 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 March of Dimes Inc'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.
March of Dimes Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?