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National Kidney Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$0.7M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

National Kidney Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Research Grants: Approximately $700,000 (FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 8-12 weeks (notification in Spring)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000 (depending on program)
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States)
  • Fiscal Year: Ends March 31

Contact Details

Main Office (Greater New York)

Research Grants Information

Overview

The National Kidney Foundation Inc (EIN: 13-1673104) is the nation's leading organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease. Founded decades ago and headquartered in New York City, NKF has awarded more than $80 million in grants to kidney disease research projects over the past 40 years. The Foundation expensed approximately $700,197 in research grants during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. NKF has been recognized by Charity Navigator with a Four-Star rating (96% score), demonstrating strong financial health and accountability. The organization's strategic approach centers on funding clinical and basic research, providing patient services, advancing professional education, and advocating for policy changes. NKF and its affiliates are responsible for funding over one third of all medical research for kidney disease in the United States.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Young Investigator Research Grant

  • Amount: $35,000 (standard); $25,000 (Gonzalez Memorial Research Fund)
  • Duration: One year, with possibility of competitive renewal
  • Focus: Clinical research studies addressing important issues for patients with kidney disease
  • Application Method: Online application, annual deadline (typically early February)
  • Funding Start: July 1st annually

Council Research Grant

  • Amount: $10,000
  • Duration: One year
  • Focus: Annual rotating research grant shared among the four NKF professional councils
  • Application Period: September 3 - November 3 (for 2026 grant)

Kidney Health Equity Community Engagement Award

  • Amount: $10,000 - $100,000 (recent awards at $75,000 for one year)
  • Focus: Proposals to influence health equity related to kidney health at a community level
  • Application Method: Online application, annual deadline (typically February)
  • Eligibility: Healthcare professionals, researchers, and multidisciplinary teams affiliated with any health system, academic medical center, FQHC, or health care organization in the U.S. serving people with kidney disease
  • Funding Start: July 1st annually

NKF Innovation Fund

  • Amount: Investment amounts vary (venture-style funding)
  • Focus: Early to mid-stage companies developing innovative, patient-centric kidney therapies
  • Application Method: Online intake form (rolling basis)
  • Goals: Prevent kidney disease, eliminate the transplant waitlist, provide better/safer dialysis treatments

Priority Areas

Research Focus:

  • Clinical and basic research in kidney disease
  • Patient-oriented research projects
  • Training and career development for young investigators in nephrology
  • Health equity and elimination of kidney health disparities

Community Health Equity:

  • Access to kidney care and transplantation
  • Home dialysis utilization improvement
  • Gaps in education about kidney disease
  • Screening and identification of kidney disease
  • Quality of life for people living with kidney disease
  • Social determinants of health affecting kidney disease populations
  • Reducing or eliminating kidney health disparities

Innovation and Commercialization:

  • Next-generation therapies and technologies
  • Kidney preservation technology
  • Transplant-related innovations
  • Better dialysis treatments

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not detailed in public materials, but research grants focus specifically on:

  • Patient-oriented research (required for Young Investigator Grants)
  • Projects relevant to kidney disease
  • U.S.-based investigators and institutions
  • Projects that will not merely supplement funding from other agencies

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer

  • Kevin Longino - CEO and kidney transplant recipient himself

Board Leadership

  • Anne Davidson Barr (Board Chair, beginning October 2024) - Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Counterpoint Advisors, LLC (San Francisco Bay Area). Served on Northern California NKF Board since 2014, including three years as Board Chair; joined National NKF Board in 2019.
  • Tracy McKibben (Former Board Chair) - Founder and CEO, MAC Energy Advisors LLC

Executive Team

  • Joanne (Jo) Rencher - Chief People Officer (appointed March 2024), leading DEI efforts

Board Composition The NKF Board of Directors consists of leaders affected by kidney disease, including nephrologists, kidney healthcare professionals, living donors, transplant recipients, care partners, top executives with diverse business experience, and civic leaders.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Research Grants (Young Investigator and Council Grants)

  • Applications submitted through online portal at kidney.org/professionals/grants
  • Detailed research proposal required
  • Letters of commitment and references required
  • Career development plan required (for Young Investigator grants)
  • Application deadline typically early February
  • Applications received after the deadline will not be considered

Kidney Health Equity Community Engagement Award

  • Online application form available at kidney.org
  • Must demonstrate measurable impact in preventing, reducing, or eliminating kidney health disparities
  • Projects should advance health equity in local communities or populations at risk

NKF Innovation Fund

  • Complete intake form at kidney.org/professionals/innovation-fund/innovation-fund-application
  • Rolling submission process
  • Internal Innovation Fund Team conducts due diligence
  • Evaluation based on product, potential impact, leadership, finances, and risk level

Decision Timeline

Research Grants

  • Application Deadline: Early February (typically February 9-13)
  • Review Process: Applications reviewed by NKF study section, using outside reviewers as necessary
  • Notification: Spring of the same year (approximately 8-12 weeks after deadline)
  • Funding Begins: July 1st
  • Review Method: Peer review by independent review committee with emphasis on high-quality clinical investigation

Innovation Fund

  • Rolling review process
  • Timeline varies based on due diligence requirements

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. NKF notes "because of limited resources, NKF is not able to provide written critiques" of unsuccessful applications.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not detailed in publicly available materials. Applicants should contact NKF directly for clarification on reapplication eligibility and any required waiting periods.

Application Success Factors

For Young Investigator Research Grants:

  • Career Development Focus: Applicants should "describe plans for career development and explain how a National Kidney Foundation Young Investigator Grant will help take steps towards an independent research career, rather than merely supplement funding from other agencies"
  • Skill Development: Highlight opportunities to acquire new skills and learn new techniques
  • Patient-Oriented Research: Projects must be patient-oriented (required)
  • Clinical Significance: Address important issues for patients with kidney disease
  • Institutional Support: Must hold full-time appointment to faculty position at U.S. university or equivalent position as scientist on staff of research-oriented institution
  • Timing: Applicants must be within first four years of initial appointment to faculty or staff scientist position
  • Nephrology Training: Must have completed training in nephrology prior to grant start

For Health Equity Community Engagement Awards:

  • Measurable Impact: Projects must demonstrate potential for measurable impact in preventing, reducing, or eliminating kidney health disparities
  • Community Focus: Address health equity at a community level
  • Practical Solutions: Focus on access to care, education gaps, transplantation access, home dialysis utilization, quality of life, screening, or social determinants of health
  • Health Disparities: Address populations overburdened with kidney diseases

For Innovation Fund:

  • Patient-Centric: Innovations must be patient-centric
  • Commercialization Potential: Early to mid-stage companies with clear path to market
  • Alignment with NKF Goals: Prevent kidney disease, eliminate transplant waitlist, or provide better/safer dialysis treatments
  • Strong Leadership and Finances: Evaluation includes leadership team quality and financial viability

General Success Factors:

  • Professional NKF membership required for grant candidates and sponsors (research grants)
  • Meritorious research based on careful, peer-reviewed analysis
  • Clear contribution to understanding and cure of kidney diseases
  • Alignment with NKF's mission to eliminate or reduce occurrence of kidney disease

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Emphasize Career Development: For Young Investigator grants, clearly articulate how the grant will advance your independent research career and provide opportunities for new skills/techniques
  • Patient-Oriented Focus: All research must be patient-oriented and address important clinical issues for people with kidney disease
  • Timing is Critical: Applications received after early February deadline will not be considered; plan submissions well in advance
  • No Critiques Provided: Due to limited resources, NKF does not provide written feedback on unsuccessful applications, so ensure application is thoroughly reviewed before submission
  • Membership Matters: Professional NKF membership is required for research grant applicants and sponsors
  • Health Equity Emphasis: For community engagement awards, demonstrate measurable impact and practical solutions to health disparities
  • Multiple Pathways: Consider different grant programs - research grants for investigators, community engagement awards for healthcare teams, and Innovation Fund for companies developing therapies
  • July 1st Start Date: Plan research timelines around the July 1st funding start date for annual grants

References

  1. National Kidney Foundation Research Grants - Official grants page with program details
  2. NKF Research Overview - Research program information
  3. GuideStar Profile for National Kidney Foundation - Organizational information and EIN verification
  4. Charity Navigator Rating - Four-Star rating (96% score)
  5. NKF Innovation Fund - Innovation Fund details
  6. Young Investigator Research Grant Instructions - Application instructions
  7. Kidney Health Equity Community Engagement Award - Award details
  8. NKF Leadership - Leadership team information
  9. NKF Board Chair Announcement - Anne Davidson Barr appointment
  10. NKF Contact Information - Official contact details
  11. NKF Annual Reports & Financial Statements - Financial information and Form 990s
  12. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - National Kidney Foundation - Form 990 filings
  13. National Kidney Foundation Innovation Fund Toolkit - Innovation Fund resources

Date Accessed: December 25, 2025

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