Richard Lounsbery Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3.95M
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2-3 months (quarterly board cycle)
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $300,000 (typical $25,000 - $200,000)
• Geographic Focus: National (emphasis on Washington DC and New York City)

Contact Details

• Website: www.rlounsbery.org
• Email: foundation@rlounsbery.org
• Phone: 202-872-8080
• Address: 601 13th Street NW, Suite 1030N, Washington DC 20005

Overview

Founded in 1959, the Richard Lounsbery Foundation is a Washington DC-based private foundation with approximately $22-25M in assets and annual grant disbursements of $3.95M (2024). The foundation's mission is to enhance national strengths in science and technology in the United States and to foster strong Franco-American cooperation. It pursues this by funding novel, forward-looking projects and leaders in areas including STEM education, international science collaboration, science-policy intersections, and new fields of research. The foundation is notable for providing seed funding and partial support for innovative projects rather than ongoing operational support. With 53-54 grants awarded annually, the foundation maintains a focused portfolio supporting breakthrough initiatives in science and technology.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Grantmaking: $25,000 - $200,000 typical range (Applications via letter of inquiry, quarterly deadlines)
• Richard Lounsbery Award: $75,000 prize for young scientists in biology/medicine (Administered by NAS/Académie des Sciences)
• French-American Fellows Program: Up to $125,000 for 6-9 month sabbaticals fostering US-France cooperation

Priority Areas

• International science bridge-building connecting outstanding groups outside the US with American science
• Joint international research, particularly between nations in conflict
• Science and technology components of US policy issues
• Elementary and secondary STEM education (especially in New York City and Washington DC)
• Historical studies and contemporary assessments of key trends in natural sciences
• Start-up assistance for establishing infrastructure of research projects or new fields
• Franco-American cooperation across all areas

What They Don't Fund

• Capital projects
• Equipment purchases
• Fundraising events
• Political campaigns
• For-profit businesses
• Individuals (except through the Lounsbery Award)
• Endowments
• Continuation of existing activities

Governance and Leadership

Jesse H. Ausubel - Chairman. Director of the Program for the Human Environment at The Rockefeller University. Co-organized the first UN World Climate Conference (1979) and co-authored the landmark NAS report "Changing Climate" (1983). Leads work on technical vision for a prosperous, low-emission society.

David D. Sabatini, MD, PhD - Vice Chairman. Distinguished cell biologist at NYU School of Medicine who co-formulated the landmark "signal hypothesis" in 1971. Member of both US National Academies of Sciences and Medicine.

Elizabeth Holleman Brown - Executive Director. Primary contact for letters of inquiry and proposals submitted to foundation@rlounsbery.org.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The process requires:

1. Letter of Inquiry: One-page maximum introducing your project concept
2. Full Proposal (by invitation only): Maximum 10 pages all-inclusive, submitted as single PDF
3. Quarterly Deadlines: December 15, March 15, June 15, September 15

Getting on Their Radar

Many grants flow through the foundation's leadership networks at The Rockefeller University, National Academy of Sciences, and French scientific institutions. Organizations can build visibility through:

• Engaging with The Rockefeller University's Program for the Human Environment
• Publishing work through the National Academy of Sciences or American Philosophical Society
• Partnering with French scientific institutions (Académie des Sciences)
• Submitting a compelling one-page letter of inquiry that demonstrates clear alignment with foundation priorities

Decision Timeline

Board meets quarterly aligned with proposal deadlines. Decisions typically made within 2-3 months of submission deadline.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation makes approximately 53-54 grants per year.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented. The foundation's preference for funding novel projects rather than renewing activities suggests reapplication for the same project is unlikely to succeed.

Application Success Factors

The foundation explicitly seeks "novel projects and forward-looking leaders" and provides "seed money or partial support." Successful applications demonstrate:

• Genuine novelty: New fields, new collaborations, or new approaches - not continuation of existing work
• Forward-looking leadership: Clear credentials, vision, and track record of key investigators
• Seed/start-up framing: Position as infrastructure-building or proof-of-concept, not sustaining support
• Franco-American dimension: Even for primarily US-focused projects, French partnerships strengthen alignment
• Science-policy connections: Projects bridging scientific knowledge to US policy decision-making
• Conciseness: Strict 10-page limit signals the foundation values clarity and precision

Recent funded examples include BioBus (mobile STEM education in NYC), Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (ocean observation infrastructure), and early support for the Wikimedia Foundation - all exemplifying novel approaches with high potential impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• One-page LOI is critical: This is your only entry point - must immediately demonstrate alignment with priorities
• Frame as seed funding: Position requests as start-up or catalytic investments, not ongoing support
• Add Franco-American elements: French partnerships or exchanges meaningfully increase alignment
• 10-page limit is absolute: Proposals exceeding this are returned unread
• Highlight leadership credentials: The foundation funds people as much as projects
• DC/NYC STEM has advantage: Local education programs in these cities are explicit priorities
• Network connections help: Relationships with Rockefeller University, NAS, or French institutions increase visibility

References

• Richard Lounsbery Foundation official website: https://www.rlounsbery.org (accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (EIN: 13-6081860): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136081860 (accessed February 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/washington-dc-grants/richard-lounsbery-foundation (accessed February 2026)
• National Academy of Sciences - Richard Lounsbery Award: https://www.nasonline.org/award/richard-lounsbery-award/ (accessed February 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/richard-lounsbery-foundation-inc (accessed February 2026)