The Vertex Foundation Inc
The Vertex Foundation Inc. is a Boston-based private foundation established in 2017 and separate from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. It seeks to improve the lives of people with serious diseases and contribute to communities where Vertex is located through education, innovation and health.
The Vertex Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Vertex Foundation Inc gave $10.0M across 109 grants in 2024 (avg $92K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,005,261
- +7.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 109
- +2.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $91,791
- +4.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,552,320
- -19.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Virginia (57% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Vertex Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 50 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA 02210
Phone: (617) 961-5104
Website: https://vertexfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Vertex Foundation Inc
CF Research Innovation Awards: Independent Research Grant
The Vertex Foundation Inc
Amount
US $750,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Circle of Care Grant
The Vertex Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $500,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Vertex Innovation Awards Grant
The Vertex Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $750,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Vertex Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Charities Aid Foundation of America ($5.7M). Together the top 10 received $9.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 86 individual scholarships ($425,724), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
468 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 416 grants of 468 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says it supports communities where Vertex is located and works with nonprofit partners in countries where Vertex employees are located. In 2024, the reported distribution of grant dollars by recipient state was Virginia 57%, Florida 31%, an unidentified category 7%, Massachusetts 1%, and California 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 109 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Vertex Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.3M (2022) to $15.0M (2020). In 2024 it made 109 grants totaling $10.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charities Aid Foundation of America Alexandria, VA | Donor advised fund grants | $5,664,271 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Clearwater, FL | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $3,099,585 |
| Enthuse Charitable Trust | General Support | $259,520 |
| Trussell Trust | General Support | $204,500 |
| Charitable Giving | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $84,193 |
| UK Online Giving Foundation | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $77,616 |
| Together We Rise Corp Brea, CA | General Support | $36,338 |
| Canadian Online Giving Foundation | Donor advised fund matching gifts | $28,279 |
| Cradles to Crayons Newton, MA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Hope and Comfort Inc Needham, MA | General Support | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,552,320 | $9,974,068 | $10,233,790 | $10,005,261 | 109 | $10,510,303 | $468,685 | $453,781 |
| 2023 | $3,179,591 | $5,209,056 | $9,413,570 | $9,353,813 | 106 | $9,986,526 | $209,056 | $232,262 |
| 2022 | $8,022,259 | $10,577,980 | $8,359,984 | $7,325,544 | 108 | $7,881,025 | $77,980 | $237,365 |
| 2021 | $5,076,822 | $15,007,934 | $9,693,736 | $10,095,080 | 112 | $10,587,065 | $653 | $351,105 |
| 2020 | $657,234 | $5,018,302 | $17,377,827 | $14,998,926 | 33 | — | $18,302 | $285,838 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the lives of people with serious diseases and contribute to the communities where Vertex is located through education, innovation and health. Its focus areas include STEAM education to support future innovators, social innovation to address community challenges, and support for the quality of life of families with children living with serious diseases. Its community support includes employee giving and volunteering, as well as disaster relief.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work among its grantees. Together We Rise describes its work as improving the lives of children in foster care. Cradles to Crayons says it provides essential items to children in low-income or homeless situations, while Hope and Comfort describes its mission as providing hygiene products to people in need in Massachusetts. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 109 grants totaling $10,005,261. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $5,664,271, with a median of $5,000. The two largest grants were $5,664,271 to Charities Aid Foundation of America for donor advised fund grants and $3,099,585 to American Online Giving Foundation for donor advised fund matching gifts. Other large grants included $259,520 to Enthuse Charitable Trust and $204,500 to Trussell Trust, both for general support. Boston-area grants included $25,000 each to Cradles to Crayons and Hope and Comfort, and $24,100 to City Year.
The Foundation’s website says its funded programs must align with its focus areas. It states that it makes grants to U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations and equivalent tax-exempt organizations outside the U.S. A current program listed by the Foundation is the CF Research Innovation Awards: An individual recipient, described as supporting early-career researchers conducting cystic fibrosis research. The program lists $750,000 in awards over three years, with an award range of $750,000–$750,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Amit Sachdev as Chairman and Director; Nina Devlin as Vice Chair and Director; Melodie Knowlton as Executive Director and Director; Eustacia MacNaught, Katharine Jensen, and Ana Carolina Santos as Directors; Sabine Hadida as Director; Susan Grieco as Treasurer; and Kimberly Roessiger as Secretary.
The Vertex Foundation Inc is led by Melodie Knowlton, Executive Director & Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melodie Knowlton
Executive Director & Director
Director → Executive Director & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amit Sachdev
Chairman & Director
Director → Chairman & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eustacia MacNaught
Director
Director → Interim Executive Director & Director, 2023
Interim Executive Director & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katharine Jensen
Director
Executive Director & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nina Devlin
Vice Chair & Director
Director → Vice Chairman & Director, 2021
Vice Chairman & Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sabine Hadida
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ana Carolina Santos
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Roessiger
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Grieco
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Nigel Moss (2023) — Acting Secretary
- Former: Caroline Wishart (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Sabrina Yohai (2021–2022) — Secretary
- Former: David Altshuler (2020–2021) — Vice Chair & Director
- Former: David Gillen (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Julie Fogarty (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Kristy Grimm (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Michael Parini (2020–2021) — Chairman & Director
- Former: Paul Silva (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Stephanie Franklin (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Dottie Caplan (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Vertex Foundation Inc
How much does The Vertex Foundation Inc give each year?
The Vertex Foundation Inc gave $10.0M across 109 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.4M across 106 grants.
What is The Vertex Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Vertex Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $91,791, across 109 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Vertex Foundation Inc give grants?
The Vertex Foundation Inc gives mostly in Virginia: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (31%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants).
Does The Vertex Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of The Vertex Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 109) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Recipient" (88 grants) and "Donor advised fund matching gifts" (6 grants).
Who are The Vertex Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Vertex Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Charities Aid Foundation of America ($5,664,271), American Online Giving Foundation ($3,099,585) and Enthuse Charitable Trust ($259,520), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 86 individual scholarships ($425,724), which are not listed by name. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Vertex Foundation Inc?
The Vertex Foundation Inc reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $10.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $454K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Vertex Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the lives of people with serious diseases and contribute to the communities where Vertex is located through education, innovation and health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Vertex Foundation Inc?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Vertex Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Vertex Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-vertex-foundation-inc-morg_f1a42af0eba5489c8a99b4d916d77be0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_823101518_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Vertex Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-vertex-foundation-inc-morg_f1a42af0eba5489c8a99b4d916d77be0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Vertex Foundation Inc'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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