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Craig H. Neilsen Foundation

Annual Giving
$34.8M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.2M
Decision Time
8mo

Craig H. Neilsen Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $34,800,000
  • Total Assets: $388,000,000
  • Decision Time: 7-8 months (LOI to final decision)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $200,000 (Community Support Grants); $30,000 (Allied Health Research Awards); up to $1,000,000 (Visionary Prize)
  • Geographic Focus: United States and Canada
  • Application Method: Two-stage process via ProposalCentral (LOI then invited FGA)

Contact Details

Address: 18653 Ventura Blvd. #753, Tarzana, CA 91356

Phone: 818-925-1245

Website: https://chnfoundation.org/

Program Officer Contacts:

Overview

The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation is the largest private funder of spinal cord injury research, rehabilitation, clinical training, and programmatic support in the United States and Canada. With approximately $388 million in total assets and $34.8 million in annual giving, the Foundation supports every avenue for advancement in the field of SCI through scientific, charitable, and educational organizations. The Foundation's mission is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those affected by and living with spinal cord injury, with funding decisions driven by five core values: Excellence, Leadership, Accountability, Innovation, and Collaboration. The Foundation encourages transformative ideas supported by a clear vision and approach to achieving improvement in the lives of individuals with spinal cord injuries, seeking visionary ideas that break down barriers, expand opportunities, and promote equity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Creating Opportunity & Independence (CO&I) - Community Support Grants

  • Award Range: $25,000 - $200,000
  • Duration: One or two years
  • Purpose: Underwrites specific projects, ongoing programs, and/or capacity building for organizations serving the spinal cord injury community
  • Focus Areas: Arts, sports and recreation, assistive technology, education, employment, independent living, and rehabilitation
  • Application Method: Rolling basis with fixed deadlines; two-stage process (LOI then invited FGA)

Spinal Cord Injury Research on the Translational Spectrum (SCIRTS)

  • Purpose: Supports research to develop new approaches that improve function and address complications in traumatic spinal cord injury
  • Categories: Postdoctoral Fellowships, Pilot Grants, and Senior Research Grants
  • Application Method: Two-stage process via ProposalCentral

Allied Health Professional Research Award

  • Award Amount: $30,000 (one-year award)
  • Purpose: Supports research by allied health professionals in spinal cord injury

Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowships

  • Purpose: Supports specialty clinical training to ensure sufficient physicians in the field
  • Eligibility: Programs accredited by the ACGME
  • Application Method: By invitation only

Neilsen Scholarship Program

  • Purpose: Supports scholarships at select colleges, universities, and community colleges for students with spinal cord injury
  • Application Method: Administered through select institutions

Visionary Prize

  • Award Amount: $1,000,000 (unrestricted)
  • Purpose: Recognizes individuals who exemplify the values of the Foundation and dedication to enriching lives of people living with SCI

Priority Areas

  • Spinal cord injury research advancing treatment and understanding
  • Programs creating opportunity and independence for people with SCI
  • Community-driven, empowering, and inclusive services for all ages and backgrounds
  • Clinical training in spinal cord injury medicine
  • Educational opportunities for students with SCI
  • Arts, sports and recreation, assistive technology, education, employment, independent living, and rehabilitation programs

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals: Grants are not awarded to individuals, only to qualifying non-profit organizations
  • Private Foundations: Not eligible for funding
  • Non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organizations: Excluded from funding
  • Geographic Restrictions: Only funds organizations in the United States and Canada
  • Conditions Other Than SCI: For scholarship programs, individuals with spinal dysfunction, paralysis, or pain syndromes caused by other conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis, ALS, Chiari malformation, peripheral nerve injury, spina bifida) are not eligible
  • Organizations Outside SCI Focus: The Foundation is laser-focused on spinal cord injury; programs not directly related to SCI are not eligible

Governance and Leadership

Co-Trustees:

  • Ray H. Neilsen - Co-Trustee and Chairman of the Board; actively oversees investment of Foundation assets and determines strategic direction, budget, and allocation of grantmaking activities
  • Gordon R. Kanofsky - Co-Trustee; advisory board member since Foundation's inception in 2002; former CEO of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (the company founded by Craig H. Neilsen)

Executive Director:

  • Kym Eisner - Responsible for implementing the organization's strategic plan, vision setting, and ensuring the Foundation's values drive day-to-day decision making

Key Staff:

  • Constanza Svidler, PhD - Program Officer (since 2020); oversees the psychosocial research portfolio
  • Kim Cerise - Director of Grants Management; manages the Foundation's grants processes

Board of Directors: Comprised of respected leaders in business, academia, science, and medicine who help govern the Foundation in its work to impact the spinal cord injury field

Leadership Quotes: Executive Director Kym Eisner states: "Inclusion is one of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation's five values and encouraging greater diversity in the scientific workforce allows us to put this value into action."

On the Foundation's grantee support approach: "While the application process may seem complex, our team is always available to support and help grantees every step of the way."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Most of the Foundation's grant competitions use a two-stage process:

  1. Letter of Intent (LOI): Submit a brief LOI online through ProposalCentral (https://proposalcentral.altum.com). LOIs are reviewed by staff and external experts.

  2. Full Grant Application (FGA): Accepted only from applicants invited to apply after LOI review. FGAs are reviewed by staff and the Foundation's Review Boards, with recommendations made to the Foundation's Board of Directors, who make final funding decisions.

Platform: All applications submitted through ProposalCentral

Documentation Required: All grantees must verify tax-exempt status and eligibility for funding as detailed in program-specific Application Guides

Important Restrictions:

  • An organization may only submit one application in a given program cycle
  • An organization may hold only one Neilsen Foundation award within a given CO&I grant category at one time

Decision Timeline

Complete Process: Approximately 7-8 months from LOI submission to final decision

Example Timeline (based on typical cycle):

  • LOI submission deadline: April
  • LOI results announced: Late April
  • Full applications due: July
  • Grant recipients announced: Mid-November
  • Funds disbursed: Mid-December

Note: According to grantee feedback, the review process can take almost a full year when including all planning and implementation phases.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. In December 2024, the Foundation awarded $7.7 million in new community grants, demonstrating active grantmaking across their portfolios.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. However, the Foundation has been noted as "OUTSTANDING in providing extremely useful, constructive feedback after our LOI was not accepted" with high transparency about what reviewers liked and didn't like about applications. Program officers are available to discuss applications and provide guidance for future submissions.

Application Success Factors

Foundation Values: Applications should demonstrate alignment with the Foundation's five core values: Excellence, Leadership, Accountability, Innovation, and Collaboration.

Transformative Vision: The Foundation seeks visionary ideas that break down barriers, expand opportunities, and promote equity. Applications should present transformative ideas supported by a clear vision and approach to achieving improvement in the lives of individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Community-Driven Approach: For CO&I grants, programs should be community-driven, empowering, and inclusive of all ages and backgrounds to enhance quality of life.

Staff Support Available: The Foundation's team is available to support applicants throughout the process. Program officers are happy to help via webinars or individual appointments. Don't hesitate to reach out with questions before applying.

Detailed Feedback Provided: The Foundation provides extremely useful, constructive feedback to unsuccessful applicants, offering transparency about what reviewers liked and didn't like about applications. Use this feedback to strengthen future applications.

Recent Funding Examples:

  • 2025: Angella Gardener, Physical Therapist Assistant at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, received the $30,000 Allied Health Professional Research Award for a study on respiratory outcomes in spinal cord injury
  • 2024: Jennifer French, Founder and Executive Director of the Neurotech Network, received the $1,000,000 Visionary Prize for dedication to advancing neurotechnology and improving quality of life for people with SCI
  • 2024: Douglas Eck, PT, DPT, MHI received the Creativity Award Honoring David Gater

Grantee Relationship Philosophy: The Foundation is committed to challenging conventions and practices that make things harder for nonprofits. They have allowed grantees who completed projects to keep grant surpluses less than 25%, giving organizations a cushion to apply to other needs. This reflects their commitment to truly supporting grantees, recognizing that without grantees, they wouldn't be able to carry out their mission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Laser Focus Required: The Foundation exclusively funds spinal cord injury-related work; ensure your project directly serves the SCI community
  • Two-Stage Process: Plan ahead for the LOI-to-FGA timeline; successful LOIs lead to invitation for full application
  • Leverage Staff Support: Program officers are available and willing to help; reach out before applying to ensure alignment
  • Values Alignment Critical: Explicitly demonstrate how your project reflects Excellence, Leadership, Accountability, Innovation, and Collaboration
  • Expect Thorough Review: With a 7-8 month timeline and multiple review stages, applications undergo rigorous evaluation; invest time in a comprehensive proposal
  • Constructive Feedback Available: Even if unsuccessful, expect detailed, actionable feedback to strengthen future applications
  • Geographic Eligibility: Only U.S. and Canadian non-profit organizations are eligible; individuals and private foundations cannot apply

References

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