Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation supports research on autism as well as educational, enrichment and human services initiatives for autistic people.
IP TAKE: More than half of this funder’s grantmaking supports scientific research on autism, including basic research on the biological basis of the disorder and translation research on therapies and interventions that support autistic children and adults in learning and communication. A smaller portion of its grants support education, enrichment and other human service interventions for autistic populations.
The foundation shows a preference for organizations based in its home state of Massachusetts. Grant application is by invitation only. This is not an accessible funder, but note, too, that if you are seeking a grant for autism research you must have a research background in the target issues in order to qualify. Grants are competitive here and you’ll face competition from several institutes, research centers and universities working in research.
PROFILE: Based in Wellesley, Massachusetts, the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation was established in 1977 to “undertake a long-term commitment to gain knowledge about autism; to help individuals and families with autism; to bring autism openly into the public eye; and to encourage the free exchange of information about autism.” The foundation currently works to support research aimed at broadening the “understanding of autism from a scientific perspective.” It also makes grants aimed at “increasing opportunities and services available to the autism community and educating the public about autism.” This funder does not set geographic limitations to its funding, but a significant portion of its funding stays in Massachusetts, where it is based.
Grants for Brain and Cell Research
The Marks Family Foundation makes grants for scientific research on autism via its Basic Science, Translational Science, Major Projects and Career Development Awards programs. Basic Science grantmaking focuses on research that will “contribute to a deeper understanding of the biological basis of autism.” The foundation’s areas of specific interest include studies of anatomy and physiology, genetics, neuroimaging, cellular and molecular mechanisms and systems biology. The foundation prioritizes collaborative and multi-investigator projects. Recent grants from the Basic Science program have supported research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the New York Stem Cell Institute and a collaborative project between the Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital.
Research grants stemming from the foundation’s Translational Research funding program support collaborative and interdisciplinary projects that utilize “insights from controlled laboratory studies to address the real-life needs of the autism community.” Areas of interest include treatment, assessment, diagnosis and verbal and nonverbal communication. A significant portion of funding from this program supports the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Other recent grantees include a study of sensory functions in autism spectrum disorder at Thomas Jefferson University and a study of novel therapeutic strategies at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
The foundation’s funding for Major Projects is “awarded based on a competitive solicitation of proposals from a smaller, select group of institutions for work that is innovative, has measureable outcomes, and will have significant impact on the autism community.” These grants tend to represent multi-year commitments. Recent projects to receive funding include an inpatient research collaborative at Spring Harbor Hospital in Maine and a study of autism metabolome at Stemina Biomarker Discovery, Inc.
Career Development Awards aim to support “the development of the next generation of leading autism researchers” as they pursue postdoctoral research and tenure-track positions at leading universities and research institutes. Recent awards have gone to researchers working at institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rutgers University and Bradley Hospital/Brown University.
Grants for Education, Work and Opportunity and Mental Health
The Marks Family Foundation makes grants for other issues affecting autistic individuals and their families via its Advocacy, Education and Social Policy and Community grantmaking areas. A significant portion of recent grantmaking from these areas has supported educational and learning initiatives for autistic children and adolescents. Areas of interest include communication, visual learning, self-regulation and motor skills in school aged children. The foundation has also made grants for a broad range of recreational, family support and public education programs related to autism spectrum disorders. Grantees include Massachusetts Advocates for Children, 3LPlace Community and the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center.
Important Grant Details:
The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation makes over $3 million a year in grants, with recent grants ranging from $2,000 to $700,000. This funder tends to work with well-established research institutes, hospitals, medical schools and universities and shows a preference for organizations in Massachusetts. Grants for research make up more than half of this funders grantmaking, with other grants going to education, enrichments and other human services for autistic people. For additional information about its past grantmaking, see the foundation’s searchable grants database.
This funder accepts applications for funding by invitation only and does not appear to post RFPs. General inquiries may be submitted to the staff via the foundation’s contact page.
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