National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1946 and tax-exempt since October 1947, the organization serves people affected by multiple sclerosis across the United States. The Society operates through a national structure that includes regional chapters, such as the Greater Illinois Chapter founded in 1952.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$201.1M
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.4M
+3.6% YoY
Grant Count
86
-8.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$272K
+13.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: We will cure MS while empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives.
The organization's work encompasses three primary strategic areas:
- Research funding to advance toward curing MS
- Client and community services to empower people affected by MS to solve everyday challenges
- Advocacy and education to drive change and provide reliable information
Programs
The Society operates several key programs:
Career Transition Fellowship — Awards approximately $550,000 over five years to support a two-year period of advanced postdoctoral training in MS research and the first three years of research support in a new faculty appointment. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent) and be in a research-oriented postdoctoral training program at an academic, government, or nonprofit research institution.
National MS Society Scholarship Program — Awards range from $1,000 to $3,000 to U.S. citizens or legal residents planning to enroll in higher education. Recipients are chosen based on financial need and academic record.
MS Navigator Services — In fiscal 2024, MS Navigators assisted 28,129 individuals in connecting to critical resources including MS education and information, healthcare, financial support, emotional support, and personalized case management.
Educational Programs — The Society delivered over 106 virtual and in-person educational programs in fiscal 2024, reaching 5,912 attendees.
Grantmaking
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society actively funds MS research and clinical training. Recent funding announcements indicate the organization invests millions annually in research and training opportunities. The organization awards grants to support advanced postdoctoral training and early-career faculty research in MS-related fields.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization operates nationally through a chapter structure. The Greater Illinois Chapter, headquartered in Chicago, serves the Illinois region and was founded in 1952.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Revenues: $171,750,637
- Total Expenses: $169,076,414
- Total Assets: $201,117,763
- Number of Employees: 1,035
Fiscal Year 2023:
- Revenue: $149,000,000
- Expenses: $173,000,000
- Total Assets: $184,000,000
- Total Liabilities: $74,700,000
The organization maintains a four-star rating based on accountability, finance, impact measurement, leadership, and community culture metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $201,117,763 | $184,229,514 | $185,523,085 |
| Revenue | $171,750,637 | $149,451,246 | $171,945,464 |
| Expenses | $169,076,414 | $172,885,857 | $159,668,291 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $6,657,527 | $3,225,647 | $3,532,512 |
| 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
16 open opportunities from National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Career Transition Fellowships: Non-U.S. Institutions Grant
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship In Rehabilitation Research Grant
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
MS Clinical Mentorship for Psychology Graduate Students Grant
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
Amount
US $3,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Tim Coetzee, Ph.D. — President & CEO
Cyndi Zagieboylo — Principal Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYNTHIA ZAGIEBOYLO | PRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 07/2024) | 40 | $630,435 |
| TIMOTHY COETZEE | PRESIDENT & CEO (AS OF 07/2024) | 40 | $385,380 |
| PETER PORRINO | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| DANA M FOOTE | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| BONNIE HIGGINS | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| CAROLINE WHITACRE | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| DIANA TWADELL | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| HAFIZ CHANDIWALA | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| MICHAEL BOGDONOFF | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| CHRIS CAMPBELL | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| MICHELE DINN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| KASSAUNDRA ESCALERA | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| DON FRACCHIA | DIRECTOR (AS OF 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| PETER GALLIGAN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| SHYAM GIDUMAL | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| ANDY HARRIS | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| IAN HARRIS | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| WILLIAM HOLLEY | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| TIMOTHY HUSKEY | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| RICHARD KNUTSON | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| JAMIE LARSEN | DIRECTOR (AS OF 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| ANDREA LINDSLEY | DIRECTOR (AS OF 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| MARK LIVINGSTON | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| LINDA MCALEER | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| RICK MCDERMOTT | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| WILLIAM T MONAHAN | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| HELEN MYERS | DIRECTOR (AS OF 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| ELIZABETH PAGE | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| RUSSELL PARKER | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| CHET POREMBSKI | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| TOBI ROGOWSKY | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| DAVID M ROTTKAMP | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| ROBERT SHIN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| NANCY SICOTTE | DIRECTOR (AS OF 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| JAMI STEWART | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| WENDI WASIK | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| MALCOLM P WATTMAN ESQ | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023) | 5 | — |
| CYNTHIA BERTRANDO | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $275,591 |
| LISA GOLDFARB THRU 052024 | CHIEF PPL, VOL & COMM ENG OFFICER | 40 | $391,879 |
| TAMI CAESAR THRU 122023 | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $704,634 |
| JENNIFER LEE | EVP, DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $292,165 |
| BRUCE BEBO | EVP, RESEARCH | 40 | $233,185 |
| RONDA KRIER | EVP, TECHNOLOGY | 40 | $217,874 |
| KAREN MARINER | EVP, PROGRAMS & SUPPORT | 40 | $194,331 |
| MISTY FLOWERS AS OF 062024 | EVP, FINANCE & OPERATIONS | 40 | $163,811 |
| PHYLLIS ROBSHAM THRU 072024 | EVP, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP | 40 | $277,045 |
| WHITNIE GLADDEN | GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $270,835 |
| BARI TALENTE | EVP, ADVOCACY & HEALTHCARE ACCESS | 40 | $271,742 |
| RON ZWERIN THRU 062024 | EVP, MKT, BRAND & COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $230,421 |
| REBECCA FEHLIG | EVP, OPERATIONS (THRU 07/2024) | 40 | $222,208 |
| GRAHAM MCREYNOLDS | FORMER AVP, GLOBAL INITIATIVES | — | $122,590 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has announced significant research funding initiatives in recent years, including investments exceeding $25 million in new research and clinical training, and more than $18 million awarded toward research and training opportunities. The organization has also launched new funding for women's MS health research.
New Funding for Womens MS Health Research | National MS SocietySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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