Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $243 million (2023 research funding)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 4-8 months
Grant Range: $10,000 - $3,000,000 (depending on program)
Geographic Focus: United States (national)
EIN: 13-1930701

Contact Details

National Office

Address: 4550 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1100 N, Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-951-4422 or 800-FIGHT-CF (800-344-4823)
Email: info@cff.org
Website: https://www.cff.org

Grant-Specific Contacts

Research grants: grants@cff.org
Impact Grants: impact@cff.org
Grants portal: awards.cff.org

Overview

Founded as a patient advocacy organization, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world's leading nonprofit focused on curing cystic fibrosis and providing all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives. In 2023, the Foundation funded approximately $243 million in laboratory research, preclinical drug development, and clinical and real-world research—the largest amount to date. Under the leadership of Michael Boyle, MD (President and CEO since January 2020), the Foundation has expanded its strategic approach to include not only scientific research but also health equity initiatives, community support programs, and a network of more than 130 accredited CF care centers across the U.S. Dr. Boyle, internationally known for his clinical research and his work to improve care for adults with CF, founded the Johns Hopkins University Adult CF Program in 1999. The Foundation's Board of Trustees is chaired by KC White, the first person with CF to lead the Board in the organization's history.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Grants

Funding: $150,000 per year (plus 12% indirect costs) for up to two years, with competitive renewal possible
Purpose: Support excellent CF-related research projects that contribute to understanding disease pathogenesis and developing treatment strategies
Application: Online at awards.cff.org, two cycles annually (spring and fall)

Clinical Research Awards

Funding: Up to $150,000 per year (plus 12% indirect costs) for maximum of three years for single-center projects
Purpose: Support investigator-initiated clinical research projects directly related to CF treatment and care
Application: Rolling deadlines, submit online at awards.cff.org

Path to a Cure — Collaborative Research Grant

Funding: Up to $1,000,000 per year in direct costs for up to three years (total up to $3,000,000 plus 12% indirect costs)
Purpose: Facilitate research contributing to development of new therapies, with emphasis on CFTR gene repair and replacement approaches
Application: Annual deadline (November 20, 2025)

Clinical Research Fellowships

Funding: Up to $100,000 per year plus $30,000 for supplies for three years
Purpose: Provide opportunity for clinically-trained physicians to develop into independent biomedical research investigators in CF-related areas

NIH Unfunded Grants Program

Funding: $100,000 per year (plus 8% indirect costs) for two years
Purpose: Support excellent CF-related research projects approved by NIH but unfunded, falling within upper 40th percentile
Priority: Projects proposing to better understand disease pathophysiology mechanisms and develop prevention or treatment strategies

Impact Grants

Funding: Up to $10,000 per year for up to two years
Purpose: Support individuals or nonprofit organizations for programs that empower people with CF or their families
Application: Competitive review process
Track Record: More than $1.3 million awarded to 50+ community-driven projects since 2016

Care Center Network Funding

Purpose: Support for more than 130 accredited CF care centers across the United States
Focus: Multidisciplinary care teams providing specialized CF treatment

Health Equity Awards

Purpose: Advance research toward optimal health outcomes and address disparities in CF care
Examples: HEAL-CF project (characterizing social and environmental exposures), PRIDE CF project (evaluating experiences of LGBTQIA+ adults with CF)

Priority Areas

Scientific Research: Disease pathophysiology, CFTR gene repair and replacement, novel therapeutic approaches
Drug Development: Preclinical and clinical development of CF therapies, including gene editing technologies
Clinical Care: Improving care for adults and children with CF, real-world research, health outcomes
Health Equity: Addressing disparities in CF care and outcomes across diverse populations
Community Support: Programs that empower people with CF and their families in daily living
Infection Management: Treatments for chronic CF infections (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, phage therapy)
Care Center Support: Sustaining and enhancing the national network of specialized CF care centers

What They Don't Fund

CF Foundation chapter groups or accredited CF care centers (e.g., parent or patient advisory councils, care centers, chapter-based support groups) are not eligible for Impact Grants
Projects not aligned with the CF Foundation's mission to cure cystic fibrosis
Programs that do not include opportunities for active engagement by people with CF and/or their families (for Impact Grants)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO

Michael Boyle, MD: Appointed January 1, 2020, succeeding Dr. Preston Campbell. Dr. Boyle is internationally known for his clinical research and his work to improve care for adults with CF. He founded the Johns Hopkins University Adult CF Program—one of the largest in the United States—in 1999 and served as its director for close to two decades.

Executive Leadership Team

Irena Barisic: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer
Kathryn Brown: Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
Michael Cavadel, JD: Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
JP Clancy, MD: Senior Vice President of Clinical Research
Adela Skenderasi: Chief Investment Officer (appointed 2025)

Board of Trustees

KC White: Chair of the Board of Trustees—the first time in the Foundation's history that the Board is led by a person with CF

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Research Grants and Clinical Awards

Some programs require a Letter of Intent (LOI) before full application submission
All applications must be submitted online at awards.cff.org by 5 p.m. ET on the specified deadline
Applications submitted through the Foundation's grants management system
Spring and fall cycles for most research programs
Contact Grants and Contracts Management and Administration (GCMA) at grants@cff.org to discuss potential relevance of proposed research

Impact Grants

Review program policies and guidelines on the Foundation website
Submit application demonstrating alignment with CF Foundation mission
Programs must include open opportunities for active engagement by people with CF and/or their families
Contact impact@cff.org for application support

Decision Timeline

Review Process: 4-8 months from application submission to notification, depending on the specific Request for Applications (RFA)
Peer Review: Subject matter experts review applications and assign priority scores based on various scoring criteria
Funding Decisions: Based on review committee recommendations, current research portfolio, and application's relevance to CF mission
Notification: GCMA department notifies applicants of status and provides anonymized reviewer critiques
LOI Review: Some programs require LOI approval before full application (adds additional time to timeline)

Success Rates

Specific success rates and acceptance percentages are not publicly disclosed by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Foundation uses a rigorous peer-review process similar to NIH standards. For detailed statistics on grant success rates, applicants should contact GCMA at grants@cff.org.

Reapplication Policy

Research Grants: Resubmissions are allowed. However, revisions must be clearly indicated by a change in font, bolded or underlined. The CFF will not review resubmissions that have not been revised.

General Policy: The Foundation will consider exceptions to LOI and application deadlines on a case-by-case basis, particularly in special circumstances.

Application Success Factors

Hypothesis-Driven Research Proposals must be hypothesis-driven and provide sufficient preliminary data to justify CF Foundation support. The hypothesis and specific aims should be stated concisely and realistically, and must be relevant to the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Strategic Alignment Applicants are encouraged to align submissions to the Foundation's stated priorities to maximize their potential for being funded. Priority is placed on projects that propose to better understand the mechanisms behind disease pathophysiology and to develop strategies to prevent or treat CF.

Critical Evaluation and Gap Identification Applications should:

Critically evaluate existing knowledge and specifically identify gaps the project intends to fill
Concisely state the importance and rationale by relating specific aims to longer-term objectives
Show the translational impact of the proposed work to CF
Demonstrate clear alignment to strategic priorities of the Foundation

Resubmission Requirements If the application is a resubmission, revisions must be clearly indicated and substantive. The Foundation will not review resubmissions that have not been revised.

Review Criteria Review committees evaluate proposals on:

Scientific merit
Relevance to the Foundation's mission
Alignment with current research portfolio
Translational potential for CF treatment or cure

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Therapeutic Development (2023):

$15 million investment in ReCode Therapeutics for gene editing collaboration with Intellia Therapeutics
$8.5 million investment in SpliSense for clinical trials of inhaled antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drug

Impact Grants (2023):

Young Adult Group Program: Monthly mindfulness program for young adults with CF
BreatheStrong+: Motivational program encouraging exercise and community connection
CF Community Footprints: Dance program with weekly virtual sessions
CF Senior Saturday Meet and Greets: Virtual meetings for people with CF age 40+

Health Equity Awards (2023):

HEAL-CF project: Characterizing effects of social and environmental exposures on lung disease progression
PRIDE CF project: Evaluating experiences and health outcomes of LGBTQIA+ adults with CF

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Demonstrate translational impact: Show how your research or program will directly contribute to better understanding, treating, or curing CF—the Foundation prioritizes work with clear pathways to patient benefit
Provide robust preliminary data: Hypothesis-driven research proposals must include sufficient preliminary data to justify Foundation support and demonstrate feasibility
Align with strategic priorities: Review the Foundation's current strategic focus areas and explicitly connect your proposal to their priorities, particularly disease pathophysiology mechanisms and therapeutic development
Use the 4-8 month timeline strategically: Plan ahead for the extended review process and consider spring vs. fall cycles based on your project timeline
Contact GCMA before applying: The Foundation encourages potential applicants to discuss their research with grants@cff.org to assess relevance and alignment before investing time in a full application
Mark resubmissions clearly: If reapplying after an unsuccessful attempt, ensure all revisions are visibly indicated (bolded, underlined, or font change)—unmarked resubmissions will not be reviewed
For Impact Grants, emphasize community engagement: Programs must include open opportunities for active engagement by people with CF and/or their families, ideally on a national scale or serving underrepresented groups

References

Information accessed December 2025