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Joint Restoration Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.3M
Grant Range
Up to $0.1M00
00

Joint Restoration Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,347,011 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Awards vary; AOSSM partnership grant up to $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States)
  • Number of Awards: 8 grants in 2023, 7 in 2022

Contact Details

Phone: 1-877-255-6727
Email: jrfinfo@jrfortho.org
Website: https://jrfortho.org
Hours: 8 AM – 8 PM ET (Monday – Friday)
Address: 7245 S Havana St Ste 300, Centennial, Colorado 80112

Overview

Joint Restoration Foundation Inc (operating as JRF Ortho) was formed in 2006 as a joint venture between Solvita and AlloSource to provide viable cartilage, tendons, and meniscus to the orthopedic community. The foundation has grown to become the largest fresh allograft organization in the world. With EIN 20-5839402, JRF is a 501(c)(3) public charity that has earned a Four-Star rating (95% score) from Charity Navigator. The organization's mission is to improve quality of life through innovative solutions for allograft joint repair, serving over 4,000 recipients annually as the leading provider of fresh cartilage allografts for joint repair and one of the nation's largest providers of allograft tissue for sports medicine. In 2023, JRF distributed $2,347,011 in grants across 8 awards. The foundation employs approximately 29 staff members and operates with a strategic focus on maximizing the gift of human donated tissue through research, education, and awareness programs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

University Research Sponsorships
JRF sponsors various university research programs with the expectation that through innovation, ingenuity, and commitment, the best clinical results for patients can be achieved. Grant amounts vary and are awarded at foundation discretion. Research focuses on allograft tissue processing, improving patient outcomes, and advancing clinical applications of allograft tissue.

AOSSM-JRF Ortho Allograft Grant (Partnership Program)
Up to $50,000 for basic science or clinical research projects to advance insight into meniscal or osteochondral allografts. Applications must describe research surrounding viable Osteochondral Allograft (OCA) transplantation or meniscus allograft transplantation of the knee. Requires at least one AOSSM member in good standing on the investigative team. Applications submitted through AOSSM's Proposal Central portal.

Donation Awareness and Education Grants
JRF supports 501(c)(3) organizations by making grants to promote donation awareness and education related to tissue donation and allograft transplantation. Specific grant amounts not publicly disclosed.

Priority Areas

  • Allograft tissue research (osteochondral allografts, meniscus, cartilage, tendons)
  • Clinical outcomes improvement for allograft recipients
  • Innovation in tissue processing and preservation techniques
  • Medical education and surgical training in allograft applications
  • Donation awareness and education programs
  • Sports medicine research and applications
  • Translational research advancing clinical care

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly specified, but given the foundation's specialized focus on allograft tissue and joint restoration, funding outside of orthopedic tissue research, sports medicine, and donation awareness is unlikely.

Governance and Leadership

President and Executive Director: Christian Bezenar

Key Leadership Team:

  • Chief Compliance Officer
  • Vice President of Strategic Growth
  • Vice President of Finance & Operational Strategy

The foundation operates with a focused executive team dedicated to advancing allograft tissue science and distribution. Specific trustee information is not publicly available on their website but may be accessed through their Form 990 filings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: Joint Restoration Foundation Inc does not have a public application process for most of its grant programs. The foundation awards grants through trustee discretion and established partnerships.

For University Research Programs: The foundation identifies and sponsors university research programs directly. There is no open call for proposals or public application portal for JRF's direct university research sponsorships.

For AOSSM-JRF Ortho Allograft Grant: This is the only grant with a structured application process. Researchers must:

  1. Be affiliated with or include at least one AOSSM member in good standing
  2. Access the application through AOSSM's Proposal Central portal
  3. Propose basic science or clinical research on viable OCA or meniscus allograft transplantation in the knee
  4. Design studies using criteria determined by best scientific evidence or demonstrated practices
  5. Note: Proposals with translational or advancement of clinical care components are reviewed favorably

For Donation Awareness and Education Grants: No public application process disclosed. The foundation appears to identify and support 501(c)(3) organizations aligned with their mission through internal processes.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed for JRF's direct grant programs.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The foundation made 8 awards in 2023 and 7 awards in 2022, suggesting selective grant-making through discretionary processes rather than open competition.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Since most JRF grants are awarded without a public application process, organizations seeking funding should focus on alignment factors:

For Research Grants:

  • Focus on allograft tissue research, particularly osteochondral allografts, meniscus transplantation, cartilage restoration
  • Demonstrate potential for improving clinical outcomes for patients
  • Show innovation in tissue processing, preservation, or surgical techniques
  • Include translational components that advance clinical care (favored in AOSSM grant review)
  • Design studies using best scientific evidence and demonstrated best practices
  • For AOSSM grant: ensure AOSSM membership on research team

For Donation Awareness and Education Grants:

  • Align with tissue donation awareness and education mission
  • Demonstrate 501(c)(3) status
  • Focus on programs that promote understanding of allograft tissue donation and its benefits

General Success Factors:

  • Strong alignment with JRF's core mission of improving quality of life through allograft joint repair
  • Evidence of innovation and commitment to advancing clinical results
  • Connection to the orthopedic, sports medicine, or tissue donation communities
  • Potential for measurable impact on patient outcomes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: JRF does not accept unsolicited applications for most grants; awards are made through trustee discretion and partnerships
  • Specialized Focus: All funding centers on allograft tissue research, sports medicine, and donation awareness—extremely narrow focus area
  • AOSSM Partnership: The only accessible grant opportunity is the AOSSM-JRF Ortho Allograft Grant (up to $50,000), requiring AOSSM membership
  • Research-Oriented: JRF prioritizes university research programs that advance clinical outcomes and tissue processing innovation
  • Relationship-Based Funding: With 8 awards annually, JRF operates as a selective, relationship-driven funder rather than an open grant-maker
  • Educational Component: The foundation values education, conducting 6-8 educational symposiums and training courses annually, which may provide networking opportunities
  • Four-Star Rated: Strong Charity Navigator rating (95%) indicates sound financial management and transparency

References

All sources accessed December 23, 2025

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