Additional Ventures Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $16,550,146 (2023)
Total Assets: $206,084,034
Grant Range: $50,000 - $2,250,000
Geographic Focus: United States (with preference for US institutions)
Application Method: Rolling and fixed deadlines (program dependent)
Total Committed Since 2020: Over $43M in direct research support

Contact Details

Address: 50 Beale St Ste 2300, San Francisco, CA 94105

Website: https://www.additionalventures.org

Email: grants@additionalventures.org

Pre-application Consultation: Strongly encouraged - applicants can contact program staff for guidance on program scope and proposal fit before submitting

Overview

Additional Ventures Foundation was established in 2017 by Mike Schroepfer (former CTO of Facebook) and Erin Hoffmann with the singular mission to "cure single ventricle heart disease through transformative research and strategic investments that revolutionize treatment and care." The foundation operates through multiple legal entities including a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, an LLC, and a donor-advised fund through Silicon Valley Community Foundation. With assets exceeding $206 million and annual giving of over $16.5 million (2023), Additional Ventures has committed more than $43 million in direct research support since 2020. The foundation recently narrowed its focus: while past work addressed climate and democracy, giving since 2023 has concentrated primarily on biomedical research related to single ventricle heart disease. The organization emphasizes a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach and encourages researchers who "prioritize innovation over safe bets, and who are willing to risk testing unconventional ideas."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Single Ventricle Research Fund (SVRF) - Annual research award program

Independent Investigator Track: Up to $600,000 in direct costs over 3 years
Career Development Track: Up to $300,000 in direct costs over 3 years
Indirect costs up to 10% provided additionally
Application method: Annual cycle with LOI submission
14-17 proposals selected annually; nearly $48M awarded since inception

Catalyst to Independence Award - Career development support

Up to $1,000,000 over 5 years
Supports late-stage postdoctoral researchers transitioning to independent tenure-track positions
Application method: Rolling LOI submission, then multi-stage invitation process
6 awards made since 2021, with expanding cohort

Expansion Award - Quick-turn exploratory funding

$50,000 for one year
Open to both new and established investigators
Efficient submission and award process
Application method: Annual cycle
Funds approximately 10 projects annually since 2021

AHA/AV Collaborative Sciences Awards - Multi-institutional team science

Up to $2,250,000 in direct costs over 3 years
Partnership with American Heart Association
Supports multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research teams
Total investment: $13.2M across approximately 5 teams
Application method: Pre-proposal consultation strongly encouraged

AV-CTIP Device Innovation Award - Medical device development

Up to $1,000,000 in milestone-driven funding over approximately 3 years
Includes access to technical and business support through CTIP
Focuses on devices specifically designed for single ventricle patients
Application method: Contact for program details

LSRF Fellowship - Partnership program

Three-year postdoctoral fellowship through Life Sciences Research Foundation
$255,000 total ($85,000/year) for 3 years
Application through LSRF (receives 1000+ applications annually, awards 15-25 fellowships)

Priority Areas

Additional Ventures' Research Roadmap guides all funding decisions. Priority research areas include:

Foundational Science:

Genetics and genomics of single ventricle heart disease
Cardiovascular development and regeneration
Tissue engineering and bioengineering platforms
Computational modeling and systems biology

Clinical Sequelae and Complications:

Lymphatic dysfunction
Liver disease and fibrosis
Kidney and gut perfusion issues
Heart failure and valve dysfunction
Arrhythmias
Neurodevelopmental challenges
Multi-organ complications of post-Fontan condition

Translational Research:

Novel therapeutic approaches
Medical device innovation for single ventricle patients
Clinical tools and diagnostics
Treatment paradigm improvements

Research Approach: The foundation seeks "bold, new single ventricle-focused research directions" that apply innovations from other fields, encourage forward-thinking not constrained by long-held hypotheses and dogma, and establish multidisciplinary networks working transparently in collaborative teams.

What They Don't Fund

Research unrelated to single ventricle heart disease (since 2023 focus shift)
General cardiovascular research without clear single ventricle relevance
Projects without clear links to patient outcomes
Foreign institutions (for most programs; US institutions required)
Independent investigators for Career Development Track programs
Postdoctoral fellows for Independent Investigator Track programs

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Erin Hoffmann, Executive Chairman & Founder - Co-founded Additional Ventures in 2017 with focus on transformative biomedical research
Mike Schroepfer, Founder - Former CTO of Facebook, co-founded Additional Ventures in 2017
Kirstie Keller, PhD, CEO - Leads operational strategy and program implementation

Senior Staff

The organization employs 8+ additional senior staff members including Directors of Translational Science and Foundational Science, multiple Program Officers, Director of Communications, and administrative support roles.

Scientific Advisory Board

Nine members including cardiologists, bioengineers, and research leaders from institutions such as Stanford University, UCSF, Harvard Medical School, and Indiana University School of Medicine. This board provides expert guidance on research priorities and grant evaluation.

Patient and Family Advisory Board

Seven members including single ventricle patients, family members, and advocates who provide lived experience perspectives to ensure research remains patient-centered.

The organizational structure emphasizes that Additional Ventures' activities do not represent the views of other organizations its founders may be associated with, maintaining independence in its grant-making decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications are submitted through ProposalCentral:

Create or log into your ProposalCentral account as an Applicant or Awardee
Navigate to the Grant Opportunities tab
Select your desired program
Click "Apply Now" to begin the application
Complete and submit your LOI and/or full application according to program requirements

CRITICAL PRE-APPLICATION STEP: Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with Additional Ventures program staff before submitting a letter of intent. Contact grants@additionalventures.org for:

Guidance on program scope
Feedback on proposal fit
Any other inquiries about eligibility or alignment

Program-Specific Timelines

Single Ventricle Research Fund (2026 Cycle):

LOI Deadline: October 8, 2025
Invitation to full proposal: By November 18, 2025
Full proposal deadline: January 14, 2026
Awards announced: By June 20, 2026
Funding begins: July 1, 2026

Catalyst to Independence Award (2025 Cycle):

LOI submission: January 11 – March 14 (rolling acceptance)
Invited scientific proposal: Due April 18
Personal statement: Due June 6
Finalist interviews: August 1-23
Award notification: September 30
Funding begins: January 1, 2025

Expansion Award (2025 Cycle):

Proposals due: November 7, 8 PM EST
Awards announced: By January 31, 2025
Funding begins: February 1, 2025

AHA/AV Collaborative Sciences Awards:

Pre-proposal consultation strongly encouraged before applying
Contact grants@additionalventures.org for current cycle information

Device Innovation Award:

Information sessions held (September 24 and October 24, 10-11am PST)
Contact grants@additionalventures.org for scientific fit questions
Contact info@ctipmedtech.org for other inquiries

Decision Timeline

LOI Review: Approximately 4 days to 6 weeks depending on program

Example from SVRF: LOI decisions within approximately 6 weeks
Catalyst Award: Rolling LOI review with invitations sent on an ongoing basis

Full Proposal to Award Announcement: Approximately 5-6 months

SVRF example: Full proposals due January 14, awards announced by June 20 (approximately 5 months)

Multi-Stage Review for Catalyst Award:

LOI review for eligibility and project alignment
External expert review of invited scientific proposals
Programmatic fit assessment through personal statements
Virtual finalist interviews with applicant and mentor
Final awardee selection and notification

Success Rates

Expansion Award: Funds approximately 10 projects annually (specific application numbers not published)

Catalyst to Independence Award: 6 awards made since 2021, with expanding cohort (highly competitive)

Single Ventricle Research Fund: Selects 14-17 proposals annually from the applicant pool (specific application numbers not published)

LSRF Fellowship: LSRF receives more than 1,000 applications annually and awards 15-25 fellowships (highly competitive; approximately 1.5-2.5% success rate)

AHA/AV Collaborative Sciences Awards: Approximately 5 teams funded from inaugural cycle (total $13.2M investment)

Overall, Additional Ventures describes its process as including "rigorous evaluation at each stage," indicating competitive selection across all programs.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not explicitly stated on the website. However, the annual nature of programs like SVRF and Expansion Award suggests reapplication is possible in subsequent cycles. Applicants are encouraged to contact grants@additionalventures.org to discuss reapplication strategies if initially unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Based on Additional Ventures' stated priorities and program descriptions, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Alignment with Single Ventricle Focus

Research must have "clear links to patient outcomes" for individuals with single ventricle heart disease
Proposals should address specific complications outlined in their Research Roadmap
Generic cardiovascular research without explicit single ventricle relevance will not be funded

2. Innovation and Risk-Taking Additional Ventures explicitly seeks researchers who:

"Prioritize innovation over safe bets"
Are "willing to risk testing unconventional ideas"
Use "forward-thinking approach to research that is not constrained by long-held hypotheses and dogma"
Apply innovations from other fields to single ventricle challenges

3. Collaborative and Multidisciplinary Approaches

SVRF Independent Investigator Track encourages collaborative proposals with up to five co-investigators
The Collaborative Sciences Awards specifically support "multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research teams"
The foundation values researchers "enthusiastic about working transparently in a highly collaborative network"

4. Strong Pre-Application Engagement

The foundation "strongly encourages" consultation with program staff before LOI submission
Applicants should use grants@additionalventures.org to seek feedback on proposal fit
Early engagement demonstrates commitment and allows alignment confirmation

5. Career Stage Alignment

Ensure eligibility criteria are carefully met (e.g., Catalyst Award requires PhD/MD held for more than 1 year)
Match your career stage to the appropriate program track
Career Development Track vs. Independent Investigator Track have different requirements

6. Methodological Rigor

The multi-stage review includes "external expert review of the proposed research project"
Scientific proposals undergo rigorous evaluation by field experts
Strong preliminary data and well-designed methodology are essential

7. Programmatic Fit Beyond Science

For Catalyst Award, programmatic fit is assessed through personal statement prompts
Finalist interviews evaluate applicant and mentor relationship holistically
Demonstrate alignment with Additional Ventures' mission and collaborative culture

8. Focus on Understudied Areas The Device Innovation Award notes that "virtually no medical devices are specifically designed or engineered to meet the needs of single ventricle patients" - identifying such gaps can strengthen applications.

Recent Funded Projects (examples from awards database):

Machine learning algorithms for clinical prediction
Advanced genomic techniques for disease mechanisms
Novel bioengineering platforms
Lymphatic dysfunction research
Multi-organ complication studies

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Pre-apply consultation is critical: Contact grants@additionalventures.org before submitting to confirm fit - this is strongly encouraged across all programs and can prevent wasted effort on misaligned proposals
Focus exclusively on single ventricle heart disease: Since 2023, the foundation has narrowed its focus entirely to this condition; proposals must demonstrate clear relevance to single ventricle patients and outcomes
Emphasize innovation over incrementalism: Additional Ventures explicitly seeks researchers willing to "risk testing unconventional ideas" rather than safe, incremental studies - bold, transformative approaches are favored
Highlight multidisciplinary collaboration: Whether through co-investigators on SVRF proposals or team-based Collaborative Sciences Awards, the foundation values cross-disciplinary approaches and transparent collaboration
Match your career stage carefully: Each program has specific eligibility requirements (postdoc vs. independent investigator, years since degree, etc.) - ensure you apply to the right track
Use ProposalCentral and follow timelines precisely: All applications go through ProposalCentral; note that some programs have rolling LOI review while others have fixed deadlines
Leverage the multi-stage process for Catalyst Award: If pursuing the Catalyst Award, prepare for a lengthy evaluation including LOI, scientific proposal, personal statements, and finalist interviews - each stage builds on the previous
Consider the full portfolio of programs: With funding from $50,000 (Expansion) to $2.25M (Collaborative Sciences), identify the program that best matches your project scope, team composition, and career stage

References

All sources accessed December 23, 2025.