The Grass Foundation
The Grass Foundation is a private foundation established in 1955 to advance knowledge principally in the field of neurophysiology and allied fields of medicine and science. The Foundation emerged from the partnership of Albert M. Grass and Ellen H. Robinson, who met at Harvard Medical School's Department of Physiology in 1935. Their collaboration led to the Grass Instrument Company—which provided scientific equipment to neuroscientists and physiologists for over half a century—and subsequently to the establishment of this Foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.8M
-0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$487K
-44.8% YoY
Grant Count
10
-28.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
-22.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Grass Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Grass Foundation is chartered to assist in advancing knowledge principally in neurophysiology and allied fields of medicine and science. In pursuit of this goal, the Foundation acts to encourage and advance education, research, and clinical investigation in these fields. All grants and expenditures must be for charitable purposes as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of the United States.
Primary focus areas include:
- Neuroscience research and education
- Support for early-career neuroscientists
- Neurophysiology
- Allied fields of medicine and science
Grantmaking
The Grass Foundation directly administers two primary programs:
How to Apply
- **Application Cycle**: October-January
Ready to take the next step with The Grass Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation has international focus with some US-only programs. Primary support is directed toward the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and partnerships with organizations supporting neuroscience research globally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $25,802,196
- Total Revenues: $1,124,594
- Total Expenses: $803,217
- Total Giving: $486,963
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $25,992,549
- Total Revenues: $140,455
- Total Expenses: $1,215,050
- Investment Income and Dividends: $295,580
The Foundation maintains approximately $26 million in assets with annual charitable disbursements exceeding $1 million.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,802,196 | $25,992,549 | $26,946,631 |
| Revenue | $1,124,594 | $140,455 | $1,864,666 |
| Expenses | $803,217 | $1,215,050 | $1,344,829 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $691,008 | $1,090,158 | $1,059,438 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,012,620 | — | $1,602,536 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,404,678 | $1,261,287 | $1,248,619 |
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
88 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Grass Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Marine Biological Laboratory ($194,863), Marine Biological Laboratory ($183,600), Society for Neuroscience ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FOUNDATION FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH INC NORTH BETHESDA, MA | PARTICIPATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS IN THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS) SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (SIP). | $30,000 |
| GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCES EAST GREENWICH, RI | 2025 GORDON RESEARCH SEMINAR ON CNS INJURY AND REPAIR. | $1,000 |
| GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCES EAST GREENWICH, RI | 2025 CEREBELLUM GORDON RESEARCH SEMINAR. | $1,000 |
| GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCES EAST GREENWICH, RI | 2025 NEUROETHOLOGY GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCE. | $2,500 |
| MARIA MOYA BROOKLINE, MA | HENRY GRASS M.D. RISING STARS IN NEUROSCIENCE AWARD 2024. | $10,000 |
| MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY WOODS HOLE, MA | GRASS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND THE FORBES LECTURE. | $194,863 |
| MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY WOODS HOLE, MA | NEUROBIOLOGY AND NEURAL SYSTEMS AND BEHAVIOR COURSES. | $183,600 |
| SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE WASHINGTON, DC | YEAR-LONG, MULTI-MODULE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES FOR EARLY-CAREER NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCHERS ON NON-LABORATORY SKILLS. | $50,000 |
| TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE MEDFORD, MA | BIRDSONG SATELLITE MEETING. | $4,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS FOUNDATION INC NEWTON, MA | CEPHALOPOD NEUROSCIENCE CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOPS. | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Matt McFarlane - President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATTHEW B MCFARLANE PHD | DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| BERNICE GRAFSTEIN PHD | LIFE DIRECTOR, VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JOSHUA GRASS PHD | DIRECTOR, TREASURER (BEGAN 12/19/2024) | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE E CARR PHD | LIFE DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HENRY J GRASS MD | LIFE DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RONALD R HOY PHD | LIFE DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KAMRAN KHODAKHAH PHD | LIFE DIRECTOR (BEGAN 07/11/2024) | 1 | — |
| FELIX E SCHWEIZER PHD | LIFE DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GWYNETH CARD PHD | DIRECTOR (BEGAN 01/11/2024) | 1 | — |
| KAFUI DZIRASA MD PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GUOPING FENG PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL A LONG PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVEN J ZOTTOLI PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Grass Foundation is accepting applications for the 2026 Grass Fellowship at the Marine Biological Laboratory
News - The Grass FoundationThe 2026 Henry Grass Rising Stars in Neuroscience Award applications are now open
2025 Henry Grass Rising Stars in Neuroscience Awardees ...The Foundation released a Community Guide for the Society for Neuroscience 2025 conference
2025 Henry Grass Rising Stars in Neuroscience Awardees have been announced
2025 Henry Grass Rising Stars in Neuroscience Awardees ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Grass Foundation fund?
The Grass Foundation is chartered to assist in advancing knowledge principally in neurophysiology and allied fields of medicine and science. In pursuit of this goal, the Foundation acts to encourage and advance education, research, and clinical investigation in these fields. All grants and expenditures must be for charitable purposes as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of the United States. Primary focus areas include: • Neuroscience research and education • Support for early-career neurosc…
How do I apply for a grant from The Grass Foundation?
The Grass Foundation directly administers two primary programs: 1. **Grass Fellowship Program** - The flagship program at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, supporting independent research by early-career investigators. The Foundation typically awards between six and nine fellowships annually during their January Midwinter meeting. 2. **Henry Grass Rising Stars in Neuroscience Award** - A newer award program for early-career neuroscience researchers. The Foundation s…
Where does The Grass Foundation make grants?
The Foundation has international focus with some US-only programs. Primary support is directed toward the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and partnerships with organizations supporting neuroscience research globally.
What size grants does The Grass Foundation award?
In 2024, The Grass Foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $487K — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Grass Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Grass Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Grass Foundation's EIN?
The Grass Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6049529. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Grass Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Reich Family Charitable Trust
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$689K
Grants
1
Total Given
$453K
Launa Beuhler Foundation for
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$2K
Grants
4
Total Given
$20K
The Hilary Grace Foundation Inc
EAST AMHERST, NY
Assets
$126K
Grants
2
Total Given
$36K
Uw E J Madden Mem Open Hearts Club 10-214880
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$307K
Hindy's Foundation
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$142K
Grants
8
Total Given
$225K
Jeanne & Thomas Hardy Family Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3K
Grants
3
Total Given
$3K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Grass Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Grass Foundation to a real strategy.