The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is an independent charitable organization established by the McKnight Foundation to support innovative neuroscience research through two competitive annual awards, with the goal of bringing science closer to accurately diagnosing, preventing, and treating diseases of the brain and behavior.
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience at a glance
In short: The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience gave $3.4M across 45 grants in 2024 (avg $75K), top state California. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,359,310
- +4.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- +7.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $74,651
- -2.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $20,286
- -20.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (11 of 29, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience
- How to Apply
-
The fund’s award pages describe online applications for the named award programs. The 2024 filing lists the MEFN Selection Committee as the contact for applications and directs applicants to supplemental information for forms, materials, deadlines, and restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Mefn Selection Committee
Mailing address: 921 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1257
Phone: (612) 333-4220
Email: neuro@mcknight.org
Website: https://mcknight.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Regents of the University of California ($500K across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($16,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
195 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 105 grants of 195 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing’s grant dollars were distributed across recipient states, led by California (28%), an individual recipient (17%), Massachusetts (10%), Illinois (6%), and Utah (5%). The listed grants also include recipients in states such as Pennsylvania, Washington, Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 29 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $119K; repeat grants $114K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2022) to $3.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 45 grants totaling $3.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University Chicago, IL | Funds Transferred from Van Andel. Regulation mechanism of thermosensitive receptors in nervous system. Principal Investigator: Juan Du, Ph.D. | $110,310 |
| Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | Investigating Circuits and Mechanisms that Support Long-Lasting Recovery of Movement in Dopamine Depleted Mice. Principal Investigator: Aryn Gittis, Ph.D. | $100,000 |
| Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seattle, WA | Adipocyte-brain mitochondrial signaling and its impacts on brain function. Principal Investigator: Akhila Rajan,Ph.D. | $100,000 |
| Mass General Brigham Incorporated Boston, MA | The Neurobiology of Glioma: Understanding Malignant Neural Circuits Instructing Tumor Growth. Principal Investigator: Humsa Venkatesh,Ph.D. | $100,000 |
| Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL | Dissecting the Gut-brain Dynamics Underlying Anorexia. Principal Investigator: Lisa Beutler | $100,000 |
| Regents of the University of California Berkeley, CA | Neurotensin mediated regulation of hedonic feeding behavior and obesity. Principal Investigator: Stephan Lammel Ph.D. | $100,000 |
| Regents of the University of California Los Angeles, CA | Characterizing the Context: The Role of the Microenvironment in Shaping Human Glioblastoma. Principal Investigators: Aparna Bhaduri, Ph.D. and Kunal Patel, M.D. | $100,000 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | In vivo Reprogramming of Astrocytes into Neurons for Treating Parkinson's Disease. Principal Investigator: Thanh Hoang, Ph.D. | $100,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | Identifying Brain Circuits that Connect Respiration and Cognitive State. Principal Investigator: Lindsey Schwarz | $100,000 |
| Stanford University School of Medicine Palo Alto, CA | Neuron-to-OPC synapses in adaptive and maladaptive myelination. Principal Investigator: Juliet K. Knowles, MD, PhD | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $20,286 | $3,845,550 | $3,850,852 | $3,359,310 | 45 | $3,962,273 |
| 2023 | $25,588 | $3,800,550 | $3,799,393 | $3,207,413 | 42 | $3,799,393 |
| 2022 | $24,431 | $3,766,000 | $3,772,957 | $3,120,612 | 36 | $3,772,957 |
| 2021 | $31,388 | $3,600,000 | $3,593,792 | $3,125,000 | 36 | $3,593,792 |
| 2020 | $25,180 | $3,464,000 | $3,456,850 | $3,150,000 | 36 | — |
| 2019 | $18,030 | $3,700,000 | $3,691,942 | $3,150,000 | 36 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated program goal is to bring science closer to the day when diseases of the brain and behavior can be accurately diagnosed, prevented, and treated. Its Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award supports research into biological mechanisms of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including work on neurological function at the synaptic, cellular, molecular, genetic, or behavioral level. The program also identifies environmental contributions to brain disorders as an area of interest and encourages collaborative and cross-disciplinary proposals. The Scholar Awards support neuroscientists establishing independent laboratories and research careers, with an emphasis on disorders of learning and memory.
The 2024 grants show support for research on topics including movement, feeding behavior, Alzheimer’s disease, glioma, and brain circuits. The grantees’ own descriptions reflect a range of institutional missions: Northwestern University describes its commitments to teaching, research, and student growth; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center describes research spanning foundational biology to population-level health; and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital describes a mission to advance cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the fund reported 45 grants totaling $3,359,310. Grants ranged from $16,500 to $110,310, with a median of $75,000. Notable awards included $110,310 to Northwestern University for research on thermosensitive receptors in the nervous system, and $100,000 each to Carnegie Mellon University for research on movement recovery in dopamine-depleted mice, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for research on adipocyte-brain mitochondrial signaling, and Mass General Brigham Incorporated for research on neural circuits and glioma growth.
The fund’s website describes two competitive annual awards. The Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award provides up to four awards each year of $100,000 per year for three years. The Scholar Awards support scientists in the early stages of establishing independent laboratories. For the 2027 Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award round, applicants must be independent investigators at U.S. not-for-profit research institutions and meet the stated faculty-position requirements; the online application portal was scheduled to open by early August 2026. The Scholar Awards application page gives November 3, 2026 as the application deadline. The 2024 filing directs applicants to supplemental information for application materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dana Anderson, Catherine Dulac, Michael D. Ehlers, Vanessa Franke-Ruta, Ming Guo, Markus Meister, and J. Anthony Movshon as directors. Stephanie Duffy is listed as secretary/treasurer. Kelsey Martin served as vice president through May 2024 and president beginning in June 2024; Richard Mooney began serving as vice president in June 2024. J. Anthony Movshon served as president through May 2024.
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience is led by J Anthony Movshon PhD, President & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 9 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
J Anthony Movshon PhD
President & Director
Vice President → President, 2020
President → President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1.3 hrs/week
$8K (2019) → $11K (2024)
Kelsey Martin MD PhD
Vice President & President
Director → Vice President, 2020
Vice President → Vice President & President, 2024
On filings since 2019
1.1 hrs/week
$7K (2019) → $6K (2024)
Catherine Dulac
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
$500 (2019) → $1K (2024)
Leslie Vosshall
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $1K (2024)
Markus Meister
Director
On filings since 2019
0.4 hrs/week
$6K (2019) → $3K (2024)
Michael D Ehlers MD PhD
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
$1K (2024)
Ming Guo MD PhD
Director
On filings since 2019
1.1 hrs/week
$7K (2019) → $5K (2024)
Vanessa Franke - Ruta
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2024)
Dana Anderson
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Mooney
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2022
1.1 hrs/week
$6K (2022) → $5K (2024)
Stephanie Duffy
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Erika Binger (2019–2023) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Kara Carlisle (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Huda Zoghbi MD (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Rick Scott (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $11K, to J Anthony Movshon PhD (President (through May 2024), Director). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience
How much does The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience give each year?
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience gave $3.4M across 45 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.2M across 42 grants.
What is The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience's typical grant size?
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $74,651, across 45 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience that year got $119K on average.
Where does The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience give grants?
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience's top state is California, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (17%) and Massachusetts (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Berkeley, CA (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and La Jolla, CA (3 grants).
Does The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 45 grants with a stated purpose on The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience's largest grantees?
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience's largest 2024 grantees include Regents of the University of California ($500,000 across 6 grants), Columbia University in the City of New York ($300,000 across 4 grants) and Mass General Brigham Incorporated ($175,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($16,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience?
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience reported $20K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What does The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience fund?
The fund’s stated program goal is to bring science closer to the day when diseases of the brain and behavior can be accurately diagnosed, prevented, and treated. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience?
The fund’s award pages describe online applications for the named award programs. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience's EIN?
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1563321. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcknight-endowment-fund-for-neuroscience-morg_2157fdeb855a4cb1bf36ff8283396ece
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411563321_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcknight-endowment-fund-for-neuroscience-morg_2157fdeb855a4cb1bf36ff8283396ece},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience'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.
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