Sontag Foundation
The Sontag Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2000 and based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The organization is dedicated to advancing brain cancer research by investing in brilliant scientists who are committed to pursuing bold, innovative, and transformative ideas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$219.6M
+17.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.2M
+26.7% YoY
Grant Count
35
-27.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$204K
+73.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sontag Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Sontag Foundation is dedicated to advancing brain cancer research by investing in brilliant scientists who are committed to the pursuit of bold, innovative, and transformative ideas.
Primary Focus: Brain cancer and brain tumor research. The foundation was started by a family from Northeast Florida who wanted to make a difference in the lives of those affected by brain cancer through the power of medical research.
Grantmaking
The foundation has made substantial investments in brain cancer research:
How to Apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Interested applicants must respond to published Requests for Applications.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
North America
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $187,565,405
- Total Revenue: $6,862,500
- Total Expenses: $9,190,581
- Total Liabilities: $146,000
- Number of Employees: 1
Cumulative Impact: Over $85 million invested to advance scientific discoveries and treatment breakthroughs in brain cancer research
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $219,583,987 | $187,565,405 | $171,598,285 |
| Revenue | $24,608,122 | $6,862,500 | $106,551,695 |
| Expenses | $10,044,071 | $9,190,581 | $8,565,078 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,836,210 | $9,358,430 | $7,524,924 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,271,684 | $4,449,831 | $639,798 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,762,156 | $8,640,591 | $6,643,703 |
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
164 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sontag Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Foundation of Ne Fl ($3,000,000), Brigham & Women's Hospital ($362,500), The Regents of the University of Michigan ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL SOMERVILLE, MA | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $362,500 |
| INTERNATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR ALLIANCE | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
| JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE BALTIMORE, MD | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $100,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MINNEAPOLIS, MN | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $112,500 |
| WEILL CORNELL NEW YORK, NY | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $112,500 |
| YALE UNIVERSITY WEST HAVEN, CT | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $150,000 |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $262,500 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NE FL JACKSONVILLE, FL | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $3,000,000 |
| NATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR SOCIETY NEWTON, MA | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $33,332 |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN HOUSTON, TX | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Frederick B. Sontag
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FREDERICK B SONTAG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRADLEY D MOTTIER | DIRECTOR | 1 | $8,000 |
| GRANT M CONWAY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $8,000 |
| DANIEL M RYAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $8,000 |
| JENNIFER H LEVINSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $8,000 |
| JEFFREY E BERNARDO | DIRECTOR | 1 | $8,000 |
| BEN CHATRAW | DIRECTOR | 1 | $8,000 |
| CAROLYN MATHIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $8,000 |
| KATHERINE VERBLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $8,000 |
| CLAY TOUSEY III | DIRECTOR | 1 | $8,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively engaged in advancing brain tumor research through collaborative efforts and significant grant distributions. Recent initiatives include leading a coalition with The Mark Foundation to propel novel brain tumor therapy research with $4 million in new grants. The foundation continues to award annual Distinguished Scientist Awards recognizing outstanding early-career researchers committed to brain tumor research.
The Mark Foundation and The Sontag Foundation Lead Coalition to Propel NovelContact Information
Address: 816 A1A North, Suite 201, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Phone: 904-273-8755
Email: info@sontagfoundation.org
Website: sontagfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sontag Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Sontag Foundation is dedicated to advancing brain cancer research by investing in brilliant scientists who are committed to the pursuit of bold, innovative, and transformative ideas. **Primary Focus:** Brain cancer and brain tumor research. The foundation was started by a family from Northeast Florida who wanted to make a difference in the lives of those affected by brain cancer through the power of medical research.
How do I apply for a grant from Sontag Foundation?
**Distinguished Scientist Award** • Annual prestigious award of $750,000 presented over a five-year period • Targets extraordinary early-career scientists with potential to make significant impact in brain cancer research • Improves the lives of patients and families impacted by brain cancer diagnosis • Applications accepted in response to published Requests for Applications **Innovation Fund** • Referenced as an available funding opportunity The foundation has made substantial investments in b…
Where does Sontag Foundation make grants?
North America
What size grants does Sontag Foundation award?
In 2024, Sontag Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $7.2M — an average of about $204K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sontag Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sontag Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sontag Foundation's EIN?
Sontag Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3634325. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sontag Foundation'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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