Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: Over $500 million total research investment (cumulative)
Active Projects (2024): 299 research projects
Success Rate: Approximately 5% for IBD Ventures program; ~300 applications annually for research awards
Decision Time: 1 month following deadline (varies by program)
Grant Range: $2,500 - $500,000 per year
Geographic Focus: International (with emphasis on United States)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org

Headquarters: New York, NY

Application System: proposalCENTRAL (https://proposalcentral.com)

Overview

Founded in 1967, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is the leading organization dedicated to finding cures for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life of children and adults affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). With a cumulative research investment exceeding $500 million supporting more than 2,500 projects since inception, the Foundation has established itself as a premier funder of IBD research. In 2024 alone, the Foundation funded 299 active research projects. The Foundation's strategic approach emphasizes peer-reviewed, innovative research aligned with its "Challenges in IBD" initiative, which identifies critical unmet needs in IBD research. Under the leadership of President and CEO Michael Osso (appointed 2015), the Foundation invests in basic science, translational research, clinical trials, and product development through multiple funding mechanisms designed to support researchers at all career stages.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. IBD Ventures ($500,000/year)

Product-oriented research and development
Supports both companies and academic investigators
Includes accelerator resources and advising
Rolling application process with biannual review
Only 5% of applicants selected
30 companies and institutions funded since 2017

2. Senior Research Awards ($130,000/year maximum)

For established researchers
Generates preliminary data for NIH competitiveness
Includes 10% indirect costs
1-3 years of funding (one year at a time)
Deadlines: May and October

3. Career Development Awards ($102,500/year maximum)

Three-year awards for early career investigators
Up to $60,000/year salary support
Up to $15,000/year fringe benefits (25% max)
$27,500/year non-salary support (including MPH tuition, statistical support, travel)
Requires 65% time commitment
Deadlines: January and July

4. Research Fellowship Awards ($70,000/year maximum)

For postdoctoral fellows
Up to $50,000/year salary support
$7,500/year for non-salary expenses (travel, memberships)
1-3 years of funding
Requires 80% time commitment
Deadlines: January and July

5. Clinical Research Investigator-Initiated Awards ($250,000/year maximum)

Three-year awards for patient-focused clinical research
Maximum $750,000 total over three years
10% indirect costs maximum
Addresses clinical questions impacting practice

6. Litwin IBD Pioneers ($130,000 maximum for clinical trials; $110,000 for lab studies)

Innovative, out-of-the-box ideas with clinical relevance
Includes 10% indirect costs
Up to two years funding (one year at a time)
Open to investigators new to IBD field and international researchers
Two-step process with pre-application
Decision within 4-6 weeks on pre-application

7. Student Research Fellowship Awards ($2,500 lump sum)

For undergraduate, medical, or graduate students (pre-thesis)
Minimum 10-week research commitment
Up to 16 awards annually
Deadline: March 15 (mid-March)
No letter of intent required

Priority Areas

Research must align with the Foundation's "Challenges in IBD" initiative, focusing on:

Understanding disease mechanisms
Improving diagnostic tools
Developing personalized treatment approaches
Enhancing quality of life for patients
Innovative therapies to improve remission rates
Translational and clinical research with clear patient impact

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation focuses exclusively on IBD-related research (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). Research unrelated to inflammatory bowel disease or lacking clear relevance to IBD patients would not be eligible.

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Michael Osso (appointed August 1, 2015)

Elected Chair of National Health Council Board of Directors for 2026
Quote: "The progress we have made over the past ten years under Rick's leadership has been tremendous, and I look forward to being able to build upon that success. I believe the Foundation is on the brink of game-changing breakthroughs for our patients."
Quote: "It's a privilege to chair the National Health Council as we focus on strengthening the impact and influence of the patient community nationwide."

Board Chair: Amber Backhaus (current) Previous Board Chair: John Crosson

Executive Vice President, Business Development: Chris Fidyk

The Foundation operates with a National Board of Trustees and a National Scientific Advisory Committee that oversees the research portfolio and peer-review process.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Step Process (for most programs except Student Awards):

Letter of Intent (LOI): Submit declaration of interest in specific funding program via proposalCENTRAL
Full Application: Invited applicants submit detailed grant request via proposalCENTRAL

Application System: All submissions MUST be made through proposalCENTRAL (https://proposalcentral.com). Applications submitted through other means will not be considered.

Application Components:

Project relevance to "Challenges in IBD" research priorities
Detailed methodology and research design
For clinical studies: patient availability, recruitment strategies, compliance procedures, bias mitigation
Career objectives and mentor track record (for training awards)
Budget justification
Single-spaced text acceptable; space between paragraphs recommended
No abbreviations in project titles

Administrative Requirements: Assign "Editor" or "Administrator" roles to appropriate institutional personnel responsible for uploading financial reports, award letters, and institutional documents to avoid administrative delays.

Decision Timeline

Review Process:

Approximately 1 month following deadline for most programs
Litwin IBD Pioneers pre-applications: 4-6 weeks
IBD Ventures: Reviewed twice per year; response at least 4 weeks before next full proposal deadline

Notification: Via proposalCENTRAL system

Success Rates

IBD Ventures: Only 5% of applicants selected (highly competitive)
Research Awards Overall: Approximately 300 applications received annually for Senior Research, Training, and Student support awards
Peer-review process: Foundation emphasizes funding only the "most promising and relevant" applications through rigorous evaluation

Reapplication Policy

For multi-year awards, continuation funding requires submission of satisfactory progress reports that undergo peer review by the review committee. Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly detailed, but the Foundation encourages alignment with research priorities for competitive applications.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities:

Alignment with "Challenges in IBD": The Foundation explicitly states that proposals should "describe how their project is related to the Foundation's research priorities, outlined in Challenges in IBD, and how it will further both research and the Foundation's mission."
Clinical Relevance: The Foundation prioritizes research with clear patient impact. For IBD Ventures specifically, only 5% are selected based on "the most promising and innovative product modalities that clearly meet critical unmet patient needs."
Peer Review Excellence: The Foundation "oversees peer-review committees to evaluate each proposal to ensure we are funding the most innovative and meritorious projects." Applications are judged on:
- Intellectual background and research experience
- Mentor's track record (for training awards)
- Number of important techniques to be learned
- Importance of the research area
- Relevance to IBD
- Career objectives
NIH Competitiveness: For Senior Research Awards, the Foundation explicitly supports projects that will "generate sufficient preliminary data to become competitive for funds from other sources such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH)."
Technical Quality for Clinical Studies:
- Present detailed intervention rationale and design
- Address potential biases and compliance procedures
- Demonstrate patient availability with specific characteristics
- Outline recruitment, retention, and follow-up approaches
Innovation and Risk-Taking: Particularly for Litwin IBD Pioneers, the Foundation seeks "novel, out-of-the-box ideas" with clinical focus, and is open to investigators from other disciplines new to IBD research.
Examples of Funded Research: Researchers at Cedars-Sinai (Robert Barrett, PhD, and Stephan Targan, MD) used Foundation funding to develop personalized "mini guts" matching individual IBD patient genetics—demonstrating the Foundation's support for innovative methodological approaches.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Mandatory proposalCENTRAL submission: No exceptions—ensure institutional administrators have proper system access to avoid delays
Strategic alignment is critical: Explicitly connect your proposal to "Challenges in IBD" research priorities throughout the application
Know your program tier: Match career stage and project type to appropriate funding mechanism (Student → Fellowship → Career Development → Senior Research)
Clinical relevance wins: Even basic science proposals should articulate clear pathway to patient benefit
IBD Ventures is ultra-competitive: Only 5% success rate; requires compelling product-development focus with accelerator-ready team
Leverage for NIH: Senior Research Awards specifically designed to generate preliminary data for larger federal grants—make this explicit
International and interdisciplinary welcome: Particularly for Litwin IBD Pioneers—don't self-select out if you're new to IBD field or outside the U.S.

References

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Research Funding Opportunities. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Career Development Awards. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/career-development-awards (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Research Fellowship Awards. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/research-fellowship-awards (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Senior Research Awards. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/senior-research-awards (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - IBD Ventures. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/entrepreneurial-investing (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Student Research Fellowship Awards. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/student-research-awards (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Litwin IBD Pioneers. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/litwin-ibd-pioneers (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Clinical Research Investigator-Initiated Awards. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/clinical-research-investigator-initiated-awards (Accessed December 23, 2025)
GuideStar Profile - Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Inc. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-6193105 (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Leadership Team. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/about/staff (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Michael Osso Appointed President & CEO. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/news/ossoappointed (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Application Guidelines (Career Development Award). https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/CDA%20revised%20RFP%20April%202023.pdf (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Application Guidelines (Research Fellowship Award). https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2019-06/RFAGuidelines2019.pdf (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Application Guidelines (Senior Research Award). https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2019-06/SRAGuidelines2019_0.pdf (Accessed December 23, 2025)
EurekAlert - Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's IBD Ventures Funding Announcement. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1036791 (Accessed December 23, 2025)