The Vertex Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and separate legal entity from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Established in 2017, the Foundation is based in Boston, Massachusetts at 50 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210. It operates as a corporate foundation dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities through strategic philanthropic investments aligned with the parent company's mission in biotechnology and serious disease treatment.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.6M
-19.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.0M
+7.0% YoY
Grant Count
109
+2.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$92K
+4.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Vertex Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $454K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Vertex Foundation seeks to improve the lives of people with serious diseases and contribute to the communities where Vertex is located through education, innovation and health.
Primary Focus Areas:
- STEAM Education — Investing in the next generation of innovators through programs that increase interest in STEAM and strengthen innovation skills
- Social Innovation — Partnering with organizations that utilize innovative approaches to address challenges in communities
- Healthy Families — Supporting organizations that improve the quality of life of families with children living with serious diseases
- Community Support — Giving back to communities through employee engagement programs and disaster relief donations
Grantmaking
The Vertex Foundation is not accepting unsolicited donation requests at this time. The Foundation conducts its own research to identify grantees rather than accepting new proposals or letters of inquiry. Prospective applicants are encouraged to reach out to Foundation staff to learn about situations in which the Foundation does accept proposals and to understand its grantmaking strategies.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds organizations in communities where Vertex is located, with documented activity in:
- Boston, Massachusetts
- San Diego, California
- Oxford, United Kingdom
- Additional locations in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Financial Overview (2024):
- Total Revenue: $9,974,068
- Total Expenses: $10,233,790
- Net Income: -$259,722
- Total Assets: $2,552,320
- Total Liabilities: $1,210,000
Employee Engagement Programs (2025):
- 2,775 employees participated in volunteer activities during Week of Service
- Vertex employee Matching Gift Program supported nonprofits
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,552,320 | $3,179,591 | $8,022,259 |
| Revenue | $9,974,068 | $5,209,056 | $10,577,980 |
| Expenses | $10,233,790 | $9,413,570 | $8,359,984 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,510,303 | $9,986,526 | $7,881,025 |
| Net Investment Income | $468,685 | $209,056 | $77,980 |
| Distributable Amount | $453,781 | $232,262 | $237,365 |
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
233 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The Vertex Foundation Inc
CF Research Innovation Awards: Independent Research Grant
THE VERTEX FOUNDATION INC
Amount
US $750,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
CF Research Innovation Awards: Mentored Research Grant
THE VERTEX FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $125,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Circle of Care Grant
THE VERTEX FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $500,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Charities Aid Foundation of America ($5,664,271), American Online Giving Foundation ($3,099,585), Charitable Giving ($84,193).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Online Giving Foundation Clearwater, FL | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $3,099,585 |
| Charitable Giving | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $84,193 |
| UK Online Giving Foundation | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $77,616 |
| Charities Aid Foundation of America Alexandria, VA | Donor advised fund grants | $5,664,271 |
| AUSTRALIAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $1,564 |
| CANADIAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $28,279 |
| Haus Des Stiftens gGmbH | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $5,868 |
| Abigail Lea - University of Calgary | Scholarship Recipient | $3,645 |
| Abigail Shaffer - Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC | Scholarship Recipient | $5,000 |
| Alaina Sheedy - University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | Scholarship Recipient | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Melodie Knowlton — Executive Director of the Vertex Foundation
The Foundation is governed by a board of directors consisting of Vertex executives and senior leaders.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024 Impact Highlights:**
The Foundation partnered with strong STEAM education organizations including the Boston Private Industry Council, San Diego Squared (SD2), and STEM Learning. These partnerships support initiatives at on-site Learning Labs in Boston, San Diego, and Oxford, UK, providing local students with year-round and summer career exploration, internship programs, mentorship, and professional development.
The Vertex summer internship program for high school students focuses on developing lab skills through hands-on experiences while exposing participants to different aspects of the biotechnology business, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of scientific leaders.
**Scholarship Program:**
The Foundation announced the class of 2024 Vertex Foundation Scholarship recipients, highlighting the program's role in empowering futures for students pursuing education and careers aligned with the Foundation's mission.
2025 Vertex Foundation Scholarship recipients: Real stories and reimagined**Corporate Giving Commitment:**
Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced a 10-year, $500 million corporate giving commitment, demonstrating the organization's long-term dedication to philanthropic impact.
Vertex Announces 10-Year, $500 Million Corporate Giving Commitment | VertexSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Vertex Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** The Vertex Foundation seeks to improve the lives of people with serious diseases and contribute to the communities where Vertex is located through education, innovation and health. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **STEAM Education** — Investing in the next generation of innovators through programs that increase interest in STEAM and strengthen innovation skills • **Social Innovation** — Partnering with organizations that utilize innovative approaches to address challenges in communities…
How do I apply for a grant from The Vertex Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $10,005,261 • 2025 charitable giving: $9.3 million • Total assets (2024): $2,552,320 **Grant Characteristics:** • Makes grants to U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations and equivalent tax-exempt organizations outside the U.S. • All funded programs must align with the Foundation's focus areas • Typical award range: $136–$6,167,224 **Application Process:** The Vertex Foundation is not accepting unsolicited donation requests at this time. The Foundation conducts i…
Where does The Vertex Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation funds organizations in communities where Vertex is located, with documented activity in: • Boston, Massachusetts • San Diego, California • Oxford, United Kingdom • Additional locations in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina
What size grants does The Vertex Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Vertex Foundation Inc awarded 109 grants totaling $10.0M — an average of about $92K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Vertex Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Vertex Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $454K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Vertex Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Vertex Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3101518. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Vertex 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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