Parkinson's Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $51,977,272 (based on 2024 990 filing, total expenses)
Total Revenue: Approximately $84 million (based on recent reports)
Decision Time: 6-7 months (Community Grants); 3-5 months (Research Grants)
Grant Range: $10,000 - $75,000+ (varies by programme)
Geographic Focus: United States (Community Grants); International (Research Grants)

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 organisation making life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research towards a cure. Formed in 2017 through the merger of two legacy Parkinson's organisations, the Foundation has invested more than $513 million in Parkinson's research and clinical care since 1957. With approximately $84 million in annual revenue, the organisation directs 83% of spending to mission-related activities. The Foundation operates two primary grant programmes: Community Grants (supporting local health, wellness, and educational programmes with grants of $10,000-$25,000) and Research Grants (supporting scientific investigation with awards ranging from $40,000 to $160,000 over two years). The Foundation invests over $4.3 million annually in research grants and more than $1 million in community-based programmes across the United States.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

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

Annual funding cycle with applications typically due in late January and decisions announced in August
Supports local health, wellness, and educational programmes for people with Parkinson's and their care partners
Programmes must be free to participants
Rolling portal: ProposalCentral
Since 2011: $12.7 million invested in 969 community-based programmes
Eligibility: US-based organisations only, operating at the local level

Research Grants (Multiple Categories):

Postdoctoral Fellowships: Two-year awards providing $140,000 for basic scientists ($65,000 annual salary stipend + $5,000 annual research allowance) or $160,000 for clinical neurologists ($75,000 annual salary + $5,000 annual research allowance)
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
Eligibility: International applicants welcome

Priority Areas

Community Grants Focus Areas:

Exercise and physical activity programmes 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 programmes addressing anxiety, depression, and social isolation
Caregiver support, training, and resources to reduce caregiver stress
Programmes demonstrating commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Impactful, sustainable, scalable, and measurable programmes

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 Programmes:

Programmes solely focused on instructor/facilitator/professional training or certification
Programmes solely focused on outreach or marketing campaigns
Programmes built to reach communities outside their local community/state
Chapters of national organisations (only independent community/local organisations eligible)
Individual applicants (unless partnering with an organisation with mutual agreement letter)
Programmes 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 whilst investing in research that leads to medical breakthroughs as quickly as possible." Lehr emphasises: "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 was appointed board chair in July 2025. 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
Applicants must create account at ProposalCentral
Organisations 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 programme, measurable outcomes, sustainability plan, and technical tools to track programme 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 programme per funding cycle
Cannot submit multiple LOIs to same programme 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/autumn of award year

Success Rates

The Foundation awards more than $1 million across approximately 90 community grants annually and $4.3 million across approximately 44 research grants. Specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed. However, since 2011, the Foundation has funded 969 community-based programmes, 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 programmes that are "impactful, sustainable, scalable and measurable." Applications should clearly demonstrate:

Measurable Outcomes: Outline specific, quantifiable outcomes and include technical tools to track programme success
Sustainability Plan: Show how the programme will continue beyond the grant period
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: All funded organisations 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: Programmes 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 Programme Examples:

Up ENDing Parkinson's (Marshall, VA): Rock climbing programme 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 rigour and clear methodology

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Two Distinct Pathways: The Foundation operates separate Community Grants (service delivery, US-only) and Research Grants (scientific investigation, international) programmes - ensure you're applying to the right one
Free Programming is Mandatory: Community grant programmes MUST be free to participants - this is non-negotiable
Measurability Matters: Both programme 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: Familiarise 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 programmes are not eligible
Leverage Foundation Resources: The Foundation offers application assistance webinars - attend these to understand what reviewers are seeking
Contact Programme Officers: For questions, reach out to Programs@Parkinson.org or Grants@Parkinson.org - they want to help you submit strong applications

References

Content verified: May 2026

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