Parkinson's Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $69,000,000 (total expenses including grants)
Total Revenue: $84,182,191 (FY 2025)
Decision Time: 6-7 months (Community Grants); 3-5 months (Research Grants)
Grant Range: $10,000 - $75,000+ (varies by program)
Geographic Focus: National (United States) and International (Research Programs)

Contact Details

Community Grants: Programs@Parkinson.org | https://www.parkinson.org/resources-support/community-grants

Research Grants: Grants@Parkinson.org | https://www.parkinson.org/advancing-research/for-researchers

General Contact: Parkinson.org/CommunityGrants

Overview

The Parkinson's Foundation (EIN 13-1866796), headquartered in New York, NY, is the leading organization making life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. Formed in 2017 through the merger of two legacy Parkinson's organizations, the Foundation has invested more than $474 million in Parkinson's research and clinical care since 1957. With annual revenue of $84.2 million (FY 2025), the organization directs 83% of spending to mission-related activities. The Foundation operates two primary grant programs: Community Grants (supporting local health, wellness, and educational programs with grants of $10,000-$25,000) and Research Grants (supporting scientific investigation with awards ranging from $40,000 to $75,000 annually plus benefits). In 2025, the Foundation invested over $4.3 million in 44 research grants and more than $1 million in 90 community-based programs across 38 states.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants: $10,000 - $25,000

Annual funding cycle with applications due in January and decisions announced in August
Supports local health, wellness, and educational programs for people with Parkinson's and their care partners
Programs must be free to participants
Rolling portal: ProposalCentral
Since 2011: $12.7 million invested in 969 community-based programs

Research Grants (Multiple Categories):

Postdoctoral Fellowships: $75,000 annual salary + $5,000 educational expenses (3 years) - for early career scientists
Visiting Scholar Awards: Up to $40,000 per year - for clinicians fresh from residency
Summer Student Fellowships: For undergraduate and medical students
Impact Awards: For innovative research with high potential
Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Award: For junior faculty researchers
Conference Awards: Supporting scientific conferences
Application method: Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by full proposal if invited
LOI deadline typically in December; decisions in March

Priority Areas

Community Grants Focus Areas:

Exercise and physical activity programs for people with Parkinson's (e.g., rock climbing, boxing, dance, evidence-based group exercise)
Educational support and resources for patients and care partners
Mental health and emotional well-being programs addressing anxiety, depression, and social isolation
Caregiver support, training, and resources to reduce caregiver stress
Programs demonstrating commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Impactful, sustainable, scalable, and measurable programs

Research Grants Focus Areas:

Innovative research with high potential to advance Parkinson's knowledge
Basic science and clinical research
Genetics and AI applications in understanding Parkinson's
Treatment development and therapeutic breakthroughs
Quality of life improvements for people with Parkinson's

What They Don't Fund

Community Grants - Ineligible Programs:

Programs solely focused on instructor/facilitator/professional training or certification
Programs solely focused on outreach or marketing campaigns
Programs built to reach communities outside their local community/state
Chapters of national organizations (only independent community/local organizations eligible)
Individual applicants (unless partnering with an organization with mutual agreement letter)
Programs that charge fees to participants

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: John L. Lehr has led the Parkinson's Foundation since 2017, bringing nearly three decades of nonprofit fundraising and management experience in the voluntary healthcare and medical research sectors. Lehr played a key role in the 2017 merger that created the current Foundation. He states: "I believe we can help people with Parkinson's disease live better today by improving health and quality of life through patient education, resources and expert care while investing in research that leads to medical breakthroughs as quickly as possible." Lehr emphasizes: "Getting new and better therapies for people with Parkinson's is really the priority."

Board Chair: Paul H. Nathan has served as a board member since 2017 and currently serves as chair. He is the founder and president of Ledex Consulting Corporation with over 40 years of experience in trading, product development, risk management, asset allocation, and operations.

Immediate Past Chair: Gordon Beckham is President and CEO of The McCamish Group, LLC, and President of The McCamish Foundation.

Other Notable Board Members:

Andrew Albert - Managing Director and Operating Partner of Svoboda Capital Partners, LLC (Board member since 2010)
Sarah Brown - Former Coca-Cola Company executive and Emory University Trustee (Board member since 2022)
Dr. Constance Atwell - Former Director of the Division of Extramural Research at NIH/NINDS (Board member since 2003)
Dan Campbell - Partner at MSouth Equity Partners (Board member since 2024)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Grants:

Applications submitted online via ProposalCentral
Application deadline: Typically late January (January 30, 2026 for next cycle)
Applicants must create account at ProposalCentral
Organizations may submit maximum of two applications per cycle with no budget overlap
The Foundation offers application assistance webinars to help applicants understand the process
Applications should outline program, measurable outcomes, sustainability plan, and technical tools to track program success

Research Grants:

Two-step process: Letter of Intent (LOI) first, then full proposal if invited
Applications submitted online via ProposalCentral
LOI deadline: Typically early December
Only complete LOIs submitted by deadline will be considered
After internal administrative review and external peer review of LOIs, selected applicants invited to submit full proposals
Applicants may apply to only one program per funding cycle
Cannot submit multiple LOIs to same program during same cycle
Must name research mentor and supervisor with clear indication of mentor involvement

Decision Timeline

Community Grants:

Application deadline: Late January
Review process: Led by committee of peer reviewers from Parkinson's community
Decision notification: August (approximately 6-7 months after deadline)
Funding period: July 1 - June 30 of following year

Research Grants:

LOI deadline: Early December
Decision notification: Mid-March (approximately 3-4 months after LOI deadline)
Funding typically begins summer/fall of award year

Success Rates

The Foundation awarded more than $1 million across 90 community grants in 2025 and $4.3 million across 44 research grants. Specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed. However, since 2011, the Foundation has funded 969 community-based programs, suggesting steady and consistent funding availability.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation's public materials do not specify a waiting period for unsuccessful applicants to reapply. Applicants seeking clarification on reapplication policies should contact Programs@Parkinson.org (Community Grants) or Grants@Parkinson.org (Research Grants).

Application Success Factors

Community Grants - Foundation's Stated Priorities:

The Foundation funds programs that are "impactful, sustainable, scalable and measurable." Applications should clearly demonstrate:

Measurable Outcomes: Outline specific, quantifiable outcomes and include technical tools to track program success
Sustainability Plan: Show how the program will continue beyond the grant period
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: All funded organizations must demonstrate commitment to DEI
Focus on Priority Areas: Competitive applications address mental health and emotional well-being (anxiety, depression, social isolation) OR caregiver support, training, and resources
Free Access: Programs must be free to participants with Parkinson's and/or their care partners
Local Operation: Must operate at the local level serving your specific community

Recent Funded Program Examples:

Up ENDing Parkinson's (Marshall, VA): Rock climbing program expansion offering free, accessible sessions
Parkinson's Pointe: $16,000 for exercise class expansion
Huntsville Hospital Foundation (Huntsville, AL): "Raising the Bar: Evidence Based Group Exercise for North Alabama"

Research Grants - Application Guidance:

Innovation Focus: Proposals should promote "innovative research that has a high potential to significantly advance the knowledge of Parkinson's disease but little likelihood of securing funding through more traditional sources"
Mentor Involvement: Must include clear indication of research mentor's involvement in the proposed project
Strong LOI: The Letter of Intent is the critical first screen - invest time in crafting a compelling, focused LOI
Peer Review Process: Applications undergo both internal administrative review and external peer review - ensure scientific rigor and clear methodology

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Two Distinct Pathways: The Foundation operates separate Community Grants (service delivery) and Research Grants (scientific investigation) programs - ensure you're applying to the right one
Free Programming is Mandatory: Community grant programs MUST be free to participants - this is non-negotiable
Measurability Matters: Both program types require clear, measurable outcomes and tracking mechanisms - vague goals will not compete successfully
Timeline Planning: Community grants have a 6-7 month decision cycle; research grants 3-4 months - plan your cash flow accordingly
Application Limits: Community applicants can submit only two applications per cycle; research applicants only one - choose wisely
ProposalCentral Platform: Familiarize yourself with this portal before the deadline - create your account early
DEI is Essential: Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is required for all community grants - address this explicitly in your application
Local Focus Required: Community grants must serve your local area - regional or national programs are not eligible
Leverage Foundation Resources: The Foundation offers application assistance webinars - attend these to understand what reviewers are seeking
Contact Program Officers: For questions, reach out to Programs@Parkinson.org or Grants@Parkinson.org - they want to help you submit strong applications

References

Accessed: December 2025