Centurion Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $5,633,334 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only funder)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $100,000 - $2,500,000
Median Grant: $842,000
Geographic Focus: National (primarily MA, MN, ND, NY, PA)
Assets: $158 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 3155 Bluestem Drive Suite 174, West Fargo, ND 58078-8002

Note: No public phone number, email, or website available. This foundation operates through private channels.

Overview

The Centurion Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2022 by Michael and Victoria Chambers, co-founders of Aldevron, a Fargo-based biotechnology company that was sold to Danaher Corporation for $9.6 billion in 2021. With assets of $158 million and annual giving of approximately $5.6 million, the foundation focuses on advancing medical and scientific research. The foundation made 6 grants in 2023, with awards ranging from $100,000 to $2.5 million. The Chambers founded Aldevron in 1998 while students at North Dakota State University, where they studied chemistry, microbiology, and biotechnology. Their foundation reflects their deep commitment to advancing biomedical research and supporting institutions that drive scientific innovation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Centurion Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, funding is awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their strategic interests and relationships with research institutions.

Application Method: Invitation only / trustee discretion

Priority Areas

Based on 2023 grantmaking patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

Medical Research: Significant focus on brain tumor research, aging research, and other biomedical sciences
Scientific Research: Microbiology and biotechnology research at universities
Higher Education: Support for research institutions, particularly those with connections to the founders (NDSU, Harvard)
Donor-Advised Fund Intermediaries: Large grants to vehicles like Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund suggest strategic giving through intermediaries

Geographic Focus

While based in North Dakota, the foundation supports institutions across multiple states including Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York, and Pennsylvania, with a particular emphasis on elite research universities.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly disclosed, though the foundation's exclusive focus on medical and scientific research suggests limited interest in:

Arts and culture
Social services
Environmental causes
Community development
Direct service organizations

Governance and Leadership

Michael Chambers (Founder and Trustee): Co-founder of Aldevron and NDSU alumnus with degrees in chemistry, microbiology, and biotechnology. After serving as President and CEO of Aldevron until 2020 and Executive Chairman until the 2021 acquisition, Chambers now serves on the Board of Directors for Sarepta Therapeutics. His background in biotechnology and genomic medicine shapes the foundation's research focus.

Victoria (Knudson) Chambers (Founder and Trustee): Co-founder of Aldevron and NDSU alumna who played a key role in building the company from a university lab to a global leader in the genomic medicine sector.

Marc Wolff (Trustee): Joined the board in December 2023.

All trustees serve without compensation, dedicating approximately two hours each to their duties.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Centurion Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, based on the founders' relationships with research institutions and strategic interests in advancing medical and scientific research.

Given the founders' background at Aldevron—which supplied materials for COVID-19 vaccines and serves biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers globally—the foundation appears to identify grantees through their deep networks in the biomedical research community.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Funding decisions are made at trustee discretion on a timeline determined by the board.

Success Rates

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for unsolicited applications.

2023 Grant Recipients

The foundation awarded 6 grants totaling $5,633,334 in 2023:

Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund - $2,500,000 (General Charitable Purpose)
North Dakota State University - $1,000,000 (Scientific Research - Microbiology)
Whitehead Institute - $1,000,000 (Medical Research)
University of Pennsylvania - $683,000 (Medical Research)
Harvard College - $350,000 (Medical Research)
National Brain Tumor Society - $100,000 (Medical Research)

The largest grant to Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund suggests the foundation may also channel significant giving through donor-advised fund vehicles for strategic purposes.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, the following factors appear to characterize successful grantees:

Institutional Excellence

All medical research grants went to elite institutions (Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Whitehead Institute) or the founders' alma mater (North Dakota State University), suggesting a preference for established research excellence.

Connection to Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine

The founders built Aldevron into the leading supplier to the global genomic medicine sector. Grantees working in areas related to biotechnology, microbiology, and genomic medicine align with their expertise and interests.

Brain Tumor Research

The $100,000 grant to National Brain Tumor Society and other medical research grants suggest this may be a specific area of personal interest to the trustees.

NDSU Connection

The $1 million grant to North Dakota State University for microbiology research reflects the founders' loyalty to their alma mater, where they launched Aldevron from a university lab.

COVID-19 Relevance

Given Aldevron's role in supplying materials for at least 43 COVID-19 projects including vaccines, the foundation may have interest in pandemic preparedness and vaccine-related research.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists - This foundation awards grants through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships
Focus is highly specialized - Medical and scientific research, particularly in biotechnology, microbiology, and genomic medicine
Institutional prestige matters - All 2023 recipients were either elite research universities or specialized research institutes
Large grant sizes - With a median grant of $842,000 and only 6 awards annually, this is a high-capacity, low-volume funder
North Dakota connection - NDSU received the joint-largest research grant, suggesting geographic loyalty
Biotechnology sector network - The founders' deep connections in pharma/biotech through Aldevron may inform grantmaking
Use of intermediaries - The largest 2023 grant went to Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, suggesting strategic use of donor-advised funds

References

Information accessed December 2025