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S & R Foundation (S&R Evermay)

Annual Giving
$5.2M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
4mo

S & R Foundation (S&R Evermay)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5.2 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $120.3 million (2024)
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months (historical Washington Award timeline)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on Washington, DC area
  • Current Status: Programming paused for strategic planning

Contact Details

Address: 1623 28th St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Phone: 202-298-6007 or 301-704-9529

Website: www.sandrevermay.org (formerly sandrfoundation.org)

Note: The foundation is currently pausing programming to embark on a strategic planning process. Contact directly for current status and future programming information.

Overview

Founded in 2000 by Dr. Sachiko Kuno and Dr. Ryuji Ueno, the S & R Foundation (now operating as S&R Evermay) is a private grantmaking foundation that has supported talented individuals in the arts, sciences, and social entrepreneurship for over two decades, with particular emphasis on fostering international cultural collaboration, especially U.S.-Japanese understanding. The foundation has grown substantially from $7.6 million in net assets in 2011 to over $120 million by 2024. Over its history, the foundation has recognized 54 individual artists through its Washington Award program and supported numerous scientists and social entrepreneurs through its other award programs. As of 2024-2025, the foundation is undertaking a strategic planning process to optimize its assets, refine its focus, and position itself for greater impact in the future.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs (Historical - Currently Paused)

Washington Award (2001-2024, now concluded after 24 years)

  • Amount: $10,000 per recipient, with an additional $5,000 for Grand Prize winner
  • Focus: Emerging artists working across all disciplines including painting, photography, sculpture, music, dance, dramatic arts, film, digital, and interdisciplinary arts
  • Selection: Typically 4-5 artists selected annually
  • Additional Benefits: Access to S&R Foundation network, eligibility for performances/exhibitions, potential studio space

Kuno Award for Applied Science for the Social Good (Biennial)

  • Amount: $100,000 (including up to 10% indirect costs)
  • Focus: Women social innovators at early or mid-career using scientific research to address 21st century problems
  • Eligibility: Post-Doc, Assistant Professor, or Associate Professor with PhD/MD; project must be in planning phase or in progress for no more than two years
  • Requirements: Applicant must be affiliated with a 501(c)(3) educational institution

Ueno Award (2002-2020, discontinued)

  • Focus: Young scientists in healthcare-related sciences demonstrating outstanding promise in ion channels or epithelial barrier function research (later focused on wound healing, tissue remodeling, and organ regeneration)
  • Partnership: Administered with American Physiological Society through 2020

Evermay Visionaries

  • Amount: $50,000 in research funding
  • Focus: Early-stage professional women in think tanks and academic institutions pursuing research in public policy, natural sciences, technology, philosophy, ethics, or interdisciplinary efforts
  • Additional Benefits: Professional development opportunities and meeting space at Evermay

Priority Areas

  • Artistic innovation and social impact through the arts
  • Scientific research with applications for social good
  • Social entrepreneurship and innovative business development
  • International cultural collaboration, particularly U.S.-Japanese relations
  • Support for women in science and research
  • Early-career talent development in arts and sciences

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available, but the foundation's focus has been exclusively on individual awards rather than organizational grants or general operating support.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Dr. Sachiko Kuno - Co-Founder & Board President Dr. Kuno holds a Ph.D. in biochemical engineering from Kyoto University, Japan, with post-doctoral research at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. Beyond S&R Foundation, she launched Halcyon Incubator in 2014 and co-founded WE Capital, a female-led investment fund. She serves on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards including the Board of Trustees at Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, DeNA, and Monex Group, Inc., and is an Adjunct Professor at Kyoto University.

Dr. Ryuji Ueno - Co-Founder Dr. Ueno, M.D., Ph.D., is an internationally recognized scientist, innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He trained and was certified as a Medical Doctor at Keio University School of Medicine in Japan and conducted academic research in pharmacology, physiology, and biochemistry at Columbia University, Kyoto University, Osaka University, and Stanford University.

Douglas W. Charnas - Secretary/Treasurer A Washington, D.C. lawyer who has represented non-profit organizations since 1984, Charnas has worked with S&R Foundation since its formation in 2000. He is a partner at McGlinchey Stafford LLP focusing on Tax and Corporate law and serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law School.

Former Senior Staff

Kate Goodall - Former Chief Operating Officer Goodall led the foundation's significant growth period, working with Dr. Kuno to triple the foundation's size, programs, budget, and staff over three years. In 2017, she co-founded Halcyon (evolved from S&R Foundation programs) and now serves as its CEO.

Application Process & Timeline

Current Status

IMPORTANT: S&R Evermay is currently pausing all programming to embark on a strategic planning process. The foundation describes this as "a moment of transition, but also one of tremendous possibility." They remain committed to fostering meaningful, innovative, and sustainable programs but have not announced when programming will resume.

The Washington Award concluded in 2024 after 24 years. The Ueno Award was discontinued in 2020. The status of the Kuno Award and Evermay Visionaries programs is unclear pending the strategic planning process.

Historical Application Process (Washington Award)

Application Method: Online application portal on foundation website

Timeline:

  • Application deadline: Mid-October (typically October 15)
  • Winners announced: End of January (approximately 3-4 months after deadline)
  • Awards ceremony: Spring (gala event)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Applicant must be at least 18 years of age
  • Applicant may not be enrolled part-time, full-time, or finishing work in a degree-granting program
  • Focus on emerging artists with great ability and potential
  • Open to artists working in any medium

Historical Application Process (Kuno Award)

Application Method: Specific process not publicly documented

Eligibility:

  • Early or mid-career (Post-Doc, Assistant Professor, or Associate Professor)
  • Possess PhD and/or MD in relevant field
  • Project must be original idea of applicant or team
  • Project must be in planning phase or in progress for no more than two years
  • Must be affiliated with a 501(c)(3) educational institution
  • Co-investigators accepted if both meet all eligibility requirements and devote 10% effort

Award Frequency: Biennial

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's 24-year history with the Washington Award and other programs, successful applicants typically demonstrate:

  1. Emerging Talent with Clear Potential: The foundation consistently emphasizes supporting individuals at the beginning or early stages of their careers who show "great ability and potential." They look for artists and scientists who are ready for the "next stages in their creative or professional development."

  2. Social Impact and Innovation: Particularly for the Washington Award, the foundation favored "artists whose work focuses on making a social impact or inspiring social change in new, innovative ways." The Kuno Award similarly seeks "scientific research and principles to address 21st century problems."

  3. International Collaboration: Given the founders' backgrounds and the foundation's explicit mission, applicants who advance U.S.-Japanese understanding or other forms of international cultural collaboration align strongly with the foundation's values.

  4. Interdisciplinary Approaches: The foundation has shown interest in "interdisciplinary arts" and "interdisciplinary efforts" across fields, suggesting they value candidates who bridge traditional boundaries.

  5. Network Integration: Award winners become "part of the S&R Foundation network of artists, scientists, and social entrepreneurs," suggesting the foundation considers how recipients will engage with and contribute to their broader community.

  6. Clear Project Focus: For the Kuno Award, projects needed to be clearly defined and in early stages (planning or less than two years in progress), indicating the foundation prefers to support work they can help launch rather than fund established projects.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Currently on pause: Do not apply at this time. The foundation is undergoing strategic planning with no announced timeline for resuming programming. Monitor www.sandrevermay.org for updates.

  • Individual focus, not organizational: Historically, this foundation has exclusively supported individuals through awards and prizes, not organizational grants or general operating support.

  • Early-career emphasis: The foundation has consistently targeted emerging talent rather than established professionals, looking for individuals at pivotal career transition points.

  • Mission alignment critical: With founders' strong ties to Japan and focus on international collaboration, demonstrating how your work advances cross-cultural understanding (particularly U.S.-Japanese relations) could be valuable when programs resume.

  • Gender equity priority: Programs like the Kuno Award and Evermay Visionaries specifically target women in science and research, reflecting a clear institutional commitment to supporting women's advancement.

  • Strategic transition presents opportunity: The foundation's pause for strategic planning, combined with its substantial assets ($120+ million), suggests potential for significant new programming directions. Those interested should stay connected to learn about new initiatives when announced.

  • Network effects matter: The foundation emphasizes building communities of artists, scientists, and social entrepreneurs, suggesting they value applicants who will actively engage with and contribute to their network.

References

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