Rita Allen Foundation Inc
The Rita Allen Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1953 and based in Princeton, New Jersey. The foundation invests in transformative ideas in their earliest stages to leverage their growth and promote breakthrough solutions to significant problems. The foundation operates with a focus on early-career biomedical research, civic science, and strengthening the philanthropic sector.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$203.3M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.5M
-18.4% YoY
Grant Count
101
-26.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$55K
+10.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rita Allen Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $9.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To invest in transformative ideas in their earliest stages to leverage their growth and promote breakthrough solutions to significant problems. The foundation enables early-career biomedical scholars to do pioneering research, seeds innovative approaches to fostering informed civic engagement, and develops knowledge and networks to build the effectiveness of the philanthropic sector.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Discovery Science & Pain Research: Support for early-career biomedical scholars conducting pioneering research, with particular emphasis on pain research knowledge and field building through scholars meetings, research funding calls, and publications
- Civic Science: Investment in collaborative efforts to advance inclusive engagement with science, communities, and civic life, including the Civic Science Fellows Program with virtual and in-person labs, convenings, and resources
- Philanthropy Knowledge & Field Building: Development of knowledge and networks to strengthen the philanthropic sector, including initiatives like the Fund for Shared Insight and participation in collaborative networks
Throughout its work, the foundation emphasizes collaboration, creativity, learning, and leadership.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $50,000 to $300,000.
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts grant applications. Information about how to apply is available on their website.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on New York, California, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $203,250,624
- Total Revenue: $18,487,555
- Total Expenses: $10,103,795
- Net Income: $8,383,760
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $189,867,123
- Total Revenue: $8,340,526
- Total Expenses: $10,562,214
Staffing: 9 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $203,250,624 | $189,867,123 | $175,627,317 |
| Revenue | $18,487,555 | $8,340,526 | $7,613,238 |
| Expenses | $10,103,795 | $10,562,214 | $11,248,065 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,702,104 | $9,567,484 | $9,895,993 |
| Net Investment Income | $15,620,229 | $7,724,600 | $6,407,814 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,590,368 | $8,840,212 | $9,309,656 |
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
1 open opportunity from Rita Allen Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Multiplier ($200,000), Brandeis University (wm) ($190,000), Researchamerica ($175,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES CAMBRIDGE, MA | BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND THE PUBLIC | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE WASHINGTON, DC | BRINGING AI EXPERTISE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE WASHINGTON, DC | STEMM OPPORTUNITY ALLIANCE | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY COLLEGE PARK, MD | CIVIC SCIENCE FELLOW | $37,500 |
| ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE-TECHNOLOGY CENTERS (ASTC) WASHINGTON, DC | CIVIC SCIENCE FELLOW | $29,730 |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE HOUSTON, TX | RITA ALLEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TRUSTBOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $13,000 |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | RITA ALLEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Elizabeth Good Christopherson - President and Chief Executive Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM F GADSDEN | CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD | 2 | $7,000 |
| ELIZABETH G CHRISTOPHERSON | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $584,825 |
| KARI A WILLIAMS | FINANCE, TREASURER | 40 | $190,000 |
| KATHERINE BELYI | SECRETARY/KNOWLEDGE (THRU JULY 2024) | 40 | $122,658 |
| ELIZABETH A FISHER | SECRETARY/PROJECT MGMT (FROM DEC 2024) | 40 | $97,010 |
| ANDREW K GOLDEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LANDON Y JONES | DIRECTOR (DECEASED AUGUST 2024) | 1 | — |
| RODNEY PRIESTLEY PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | $4,000 |
| SAMUEL S-H WANG PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | $4,000 |
| SIVAN HONG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THE HONORABLE THOMAS H KEAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CARL NATHAN MD | DIRECTOR | 1 | $4,000 |
| DAVID NIRENBERG PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation actively administers the Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award in Pain, with applications opening in October for the 2026 cohort. The foundation announced a 2024 cohort of scholars and continues to expand its impact beyond its original biomedical research focus to include civic science and philanthropic sector development initiatives.
DEADLINE DEC 10: THE 2026 RITA ALLEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARS AWARD IN PAIN:Contact Information
Address: 92 Nassau Street, 3rd Floor Princeton, New Jersey 08542
Phone: 609-683-8010 Fax: 609-683-8025 Email: info@ritaallen.org Website: www.ritaallen.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rita Allen Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** To invest in transformative ideas in their earliest stages to leverage their growth and promote breakthrough solutions to significant problems. The foundation enables early-career biomedical scholars to do pioneering research, seeds innovative approaches to fostering informed civic engagement, and develops knowledge and networks to build the effectiveness of the philanthropic sector. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Discovery Science & Pain Research:** Support for early-career biomedic…
How do I apply for a grant from Rita Allen Foundation Inc?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $50,000 to $300,000. **Active Programs:** • Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award in Pain • Civic Science Fellows Program • Rita Allen Scholars Program (supporting leading medical research institutions) **Application Process:** The foundation accepts grant applications. Information about how to apply is available on their website.
Where does Rita Allen Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on New York, California, and Massachusetts.
What size grants does Rita Allen Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Rita Allen Foundation Inc awarded 101 grants totaling $5.5M — an average of about $55K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Rita Allen Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Rita Allen Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $9.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Rita Allen Foundation Inc's EIN?
Rita Allen Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6116429. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rita Allen Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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