Warren Alpert Foundation
The Warren Alpert Foundation is a private foundation based in Providence, Rhode Island, established in 1986 by businessman and philanthropist Warren Alpert. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting medical science through research and education. It focuses exclusively on improving public health through grants and programmatic activities that advance medical treatments or cures through basic research, translational and outcomes research, and health education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$397.3M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$24.3M
+4.9% YoY
Grant Count
99
+35.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$245K
-22.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Warren Alpert Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation commits resources to medical science initiatives that offer promise of, or have achieved, significant medical breakthroughs in the prevention, treatment, or cure of human conditions and diseases. Primary funding areas include:
- Education (particularly medical and scientific education)
- Medical research and scientific advancement
- Health-related initiatives
The foundation does not solicit funds and is funded solely by The Warren Alpert Estate.
Grantmaking
Applications are submitted through the foundation's online portal at warrenalpertfoundation.org/home/how-to-apply/. The Distinguished Scholars Award program has a November deadline with announcements in March.
Grant Range
$200,000–$9.7 million for institutional grants
Average Grant
varies by program
Review Cycle
with announcements in March.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Warren Alpert Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across the United States, with primary focus on major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Funding reaches numerous sectors across over 25 states. International researchers are eligible for the Warren Alpert Prize.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $406,646,323
- Total annual giving: $22,893,636–$25,637,651
- Total revenues: $17,099,482
- Total expenses: $27,531,963
- Investment income and dividends: $6,524,826
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $11,071,109
Asset Growth: Assets increased 2.6% from the previous year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $397,286,038 | $406,646,323 | $418,983,149 |
| Revenue | $21,372,293 | $17,099,482 | $16,515,643 |
| Expenses | $27,736,923 | $27,531,963 | $26,771,938 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $26,623,856 | $25,637,651 | $25,349,026 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,179,313 | $16,876,507 | $8,035,309 |
| Distributable Amount | $26,778,799 | $26,338,712 | $26,200,061 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Warren Alpert Foundation
Warren Alpert Foundation: Distinguished Scholars Award Grant
WARREN ALPERT FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Warren Alpert Foundation: Grants Program Funding Over $25,000
WARREN ALPERT FOUNDATION
Amount
More than US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Warren Alpert Foundation: Grants Program Funding Under $25,000
WARREN ALPERT FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Brown University ($6,408,253), Intermountain Foundation ($1,611,313), Childrens Hospital Corporation ($775,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A WISH COME TRUE INC COVENTRY, RI | DONATION | $15,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION MANH CHAPTER NEWTON, MA | DONATION | $10,000 |
| AMHERST COLLEGE AMHERST, MA | DONATION - EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB BOSTON, MA | DONATION | $15,000 |
| AVIAN CONSERVATION CENTER MORGANTOWN, WV | DONATION | $10,000 |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE HOUSTON, TX | DONATION - EDUCATION | $200,000 |
| BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM MADISON, WI | DONATION - EDUCATION | $200,000 |
| BOSTON HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM BOSTON, MA | DONATION | $35,000 |
| BRENTJENS CONSULTING LLC SHORT HILLS, NJ | DONATION | $125,000 |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY PROVIDENCE, RI | DONATION - EDUCATION | $6,408,253 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- August R. Schiesser – Executive Director, President, and Treasurer
- David Hirsch – Chairman of the Board
- Jeffrey A. Walker – Secretary/Audit Chair
- Robert H. Brown Jr. – Director/Grant Committee Chair
- Gregory W. Kaneb – Director/Compensation & Governance Chair
- Daniel F. Schmitt – Director/Investment Chair
- Keith E. Blanchette – Director
- Wendy Chung – Director
- Ronald K. Machtley – Director
- Joseph B. Martin – Director
The foundation employs 13 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUGUST R SCHIESSER | EXEC DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT, & TREASURER | 30 | $342,040 |
| DAVID HIRSCH | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 9 | $134,500 |
| JEFFREY A WALKER | SECRETARY/AUDIT CHAIR | 4.5 | $113,500 |
| ROBERT H BROWN JR | DIRECTOR/GRANT COMM CHAIR | 4.5 | $109,000 |
| GREGORY W KANEB | DIRECTOR/COMP & GOV CHAIR | 4.5 | $113,500 |
| DANIEL F SCHMITT | DIRECTOR/INVESTMENT CHAIR | 4.5 | $113,500 |
| KEITH E BLANCHETTE | DIRECTOR | 3 | $104,500 |
| WENDY CHUNG | DIRECTOR | 3 | $103,000 |
| RONALD K MACHTLEY | DIRECTOR | 3 | $101,500 |
| JOSEPH B MARTIN | DIRECTOR | 3 | $104,500 |
| BARBARA J MCNEIL | DIRECTOR | 3 | $104,500 |
| FRED J SCHIFFMAN MD | DIRECTOR | 4.5 | $104,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated significant commitment to emerging fields in medical research:
**2024 Warren Alpert Prize:** Honored four pioneers in CAR T-cell therapy
The Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Awards - Neuroscience**UCLA Partnership:** Awarded $4.6 million grant to launch a Computational Biology/AI Training Program
UCLA Receives $4.6 Million Grant from The Warren Alpert Foundation to Launch**Stanford Partnership:** Provided $5 million to fund 15 Computational Biology/AI Scholars in the Department of Biomedical Data Science
$5 Million Warren Alpert Foundation Grant To Fund 15 Department ...Contact Information
The Warren Alpert Foundation
- Address: 90 Elm Street, Suite 2, Providence, RI 02903
- Phone: (401) 383-1331
- Fax: (401) 270-1358
- Website: warrenalpertfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Warren Alpert Foundation fund?
The foundation commits resources to medical science initiatives that offer promise of, or have achieved, significant medical breakthroughs in the prevention, treatment, or cure of human conditions and diseases. Primary funding areas include: • Education (particularly medical and scientific education) • Medical research and scientific advancement • Health-related initiatives The foundation does not solicit funds and is funded solely by The Warren Alpert Estate.
How do I apply for a grant from Warren Alpert Foundation?
**Grant Statistics:** • Total annual giving: approximately $22.9–$25.6 million • Grant range: $200,000–$9.7 million for institutional grants • Average grant size: varies by program • Median grant amount: $166,667 • Number of grants awarded: 76–131 grants annually (varies by year) • Giving rate: 6.2% **Grant Programs:** • Distinguished Scholars Award • Grants Program Funding Over $25,000 • Grants Program Funding Under $25,000 • Prize awards (Warren Alpert Prize: $500,000) • General purpose donat…
Where does Warren Alpert Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across the United States, with primary focus on major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Funding reaches numerous sectors across over 25 states. International researchers are eligible for the Warren Alpert Prize.
What size grants does Warren Alpert Foundation award?
In 2024, Warren Alpert Foundation awarded 99 grants totaling $24.3M — an average of about $245K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Warren Alpert Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Warren Alpert Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Warren Alpert Foundation's EIN?
Warren Alpert Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-0426623. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Warren Alpert Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Amica Companies Foundation
LINCOLN, RI
Assets
$43.8M
Grants
1,288
Total Given
$4.2M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
The Rhode Island Community Foundation
PROVIDENCE, RI
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
977
Total Given
$72.0M
Verizon Foundation
BASKING RIDGE, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
The Chicago Community Trust
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
Bristol-myers Squibb Foundation Inc
PRINCETON, NJ
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Warren Alpert 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 Warren Alpert Foundation to a real strategy.