The Wolverine Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is MAPK8IP3 research or the search for treatments for ultra-rare central nervous system diseases, the foundation's focus fits closely, since it funds academic researchers at universities and is receptive to novel ideas with disease-modifying potential.
- Its stated geographic focus is around the world.
- Its typical grants fall between $2,500 and $270,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 73 grants in that band, but the median grant was $25,000 and half its grants were $25,000 or less, so a request near that figure sits at the centre of its giving; its largest grant was $6,000,000.
- In the filing, 88% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded before, so a first approach should make a clear case for fit rather than expect a quick reply.
- It does not issue requests for research proposals, so send an unsolicited idea, and keep the budget free of overhead or indirect costs, which it does not fund.
Overview
The Wolverine Foundation is a US private foundation based in Greenwich, CT.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Wolverine Foundation funds and works with academic MAPK8IP3 researchers at universities around the world. It supports research to develop effective treatments for MAPK8IP3-related genetic disorders and potentially other ultra-rare central nervous system diseases. Its projects investigate disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic approaches, while bringing academic research, drug discovery and clinical development together through scientific collaboration. It makes resources, including models and clinical samples, available to the MAPK8IP3 research community and seeks to bring partners together to address critical scientific issues. It is receptive to novel ideas in biology relevant to MAPK8IP3, particularly therapeutic approaches with disease-modifying potential, and invites possible partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies to develop potential drugs.
Themes
- MAPK8IP3 research
- Ultra-rare CNS disease treatments
Geographic Focus
Around the world.
What They Don't Fund
- Any overhead costs or indirect costs associated with our Funding
How to apply
The foundation is receptive to novel ideas relevant to MAPK8IP3, particularly where the therapeutic approach has disease-modifying potential, but does not issue requests for research proposals.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 73 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Investigators must conduct the contracted research as specified and deliver progress reports to receive milestone-based payments.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 62% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations The Wolverine Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 28 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- N-Lorem Foundation · Medical research$2,000,1102024 tax year
- University of Alabama at Birmingham · Medical research$293,5002024 tax year
- Yale University · Educational$279,6622024 tax year
- Boston Children's Hospital · Medical research$200,0002024 tax year
- Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach · Charitable$100,0002024 tax year
- Norton Children's Hospital Foundation · Charitable$100,0002024 tax year
- Cold Spring Harbor Labs · Medical research$75,0002024 tax year
- Robin Hood Foundation · Charitable$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Amy Mccooe — Executive Director
- Ellen G Breed — Secretary
- Caroline Breed — Vice President
- Alan W Breed — President / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,146,731 | $7,807,569 | $9,887,677 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,064,521 | $1,687,894 | $14,821,286 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,811,983 | $3,458,332 | $18,665,746 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Wolverine Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- research@wolvfdn.com
- Greenwich, CT
- wolvfdn.com
Applying to The Wolverine Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- research@wolvfdn.com
- Greenwich, CT
- wolvfdn.com