BGBESPOKE GRANTSFind your funders free →
Grant funders / Maryland / Brightfocus Foundation

Brightfocus Foundation

Clarksburg, Maryland  ·  EIN 237337229  ·  Private foundation

Brightfocus Foundation is a Maryland-based grantmaker. In its latest 990-PF filing it reported $25.3M in annual giving against $66.5M in assets. This page documents the 436 grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for Brightfocus Foundation — who they fund, what they prioritize, and what to know before reaching out.

$25.3M
Annual giving (FY2021)
$66.5M
Total assets
436
Grants tracked
2025
Most recent grant

What Brightfocus Foundation funds

Brightfocus Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture.

Arts & Culture

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Brightfocus Foundation, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Columbia University
NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY SIMON JOHN, PHD, ENTITLED: (CG2020004)
New York, NY$667K2021
University of Southern California
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JINKOOK LEE, PHD, ENTITLED: (CA2023001)
Los Angeles, CA$600K2023
University of California San Francisco
MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY APARNA. LAKKARAJU, PHD, ENTITLED: (M2021020I)
San Francisco, CA$599K2021
National Institutes of Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY AMIR KASHANI, MD, PHD, ENTITLED: (CA2020004)
Bethesda, MD$599K2020
Oregon Health & Science University
MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY YALI JIA, PHD, ENTITLED: (M2023008I)
Portland, OR$599K2023
Massachusetts General Hospital
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JILL GOLDSTEIN, PHD, ENTITLED: (CA2018607)
Boston, MA$556K2018
Massachusetts General Hospital
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JILL GOLDSTEIN, PHD, ENTITLED: (CA2018607)
Boston, MA$556K2019
Human Computation Institute
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY PIETRO MICHELUCCI, PHD, ENTITLED: (CA2017606)
Ithaca, NY$485K2018
University of Wisconsin-madison
MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY FREYA MOWAT, PHD, ENTITLED: (M2023010N)
Madison, WI$450K2023
The University of Iowa
MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY KELLY MULFAUL, PHD, ENTITLED: (M2023011N)
Iowa City, IA$450K2023
Northwestern University
MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY BENJAMIN THOMSON, PHD, ENTITLED: (M2021018N)
Chicago, IL$450K2021
Indiana University
MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MALLIKA VALAPALA, PHD, ENTITLED: (M2021019N)
Bloomington, IN$450K2021
University of California Irvine
MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY ANDREW BROWNE, MD, PHD, ENTITLED: (M2021013N)
Irvine, CA$450K2021
University of California San Francisco
MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY TYSON KIM, PHD, ENTITLED: (M2021015N)
San Francisco, CA$450K2021
Northwestern University
MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY JEREMY LAVINE, MD, PHD, ENTITLED: (M2021016N)
Chicago, IL$450K2021

Brightfocus Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2018$11.7M
2019$13.6M
2020$16.1M
2021$19.1M
2023$11.7M
2024$7.5M
2025$13.3M

How to apply for funding from Brightfocus Foundation

Brightfocus Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at brightfocus.org.

Is Brightfocus Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?

This page shows what Brightfocus Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.

Match my nonprofit to funders →

Frequently asked questions about Brightfocus Foundation

Does Brightfocus Foundation accept grant applications?
Brightfocus Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does Brightfocus Foundation fund?
Brightfocus Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Columbia University, University of Southern California, University of California San Francisco. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Brightfocus Foundation give in grants?
Brightfocus Foundation reported $25.3M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2021). Across all years in our data it has awarded $92.9M over 436 grants.
Where is Brightfocus Foundation located?
Brightfocus Foundation is based in Clarksburg, Maryland. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 237337229.
How can I find foundations similar to Brightfocus Foundation?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Brightfocus Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

Find more funders like Brightfocus Foundation

Foundations similar to Brightfocus Foundation

Other Maryland grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from Brightfocus Foundation's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with Brightfocus Foundation. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.