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Sontag Foundation

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL EIN: 59-3634325 Website

The Sontag Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2000 and based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The organization is dedicated to advancing brain cancer research by investing in brilliant scientists who are committed to pursuing bold, innovative, and transformative ideas.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$219.6M

+17.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$7.2M

+26.7% YoY

Grant Count

35

-27.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$204K

+73.7% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: The Sontag Foundation is dedicated to advancing brain cancer research by investing in brilliant scientists who are committed to the pursuit of bold, innovative, and transformative ideas.

Primary Focus: Brain cancer and brain tumor research. The foundation was started by a family from Northeast Florida who wanted to make a difference in the lives of those affected by brain cancer through the power of medical research.

Grantmaking

The foundation has made substantial investments in brain cancer research:

How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Interested applicants must respond to published Requests for Applications.

Ready to take the next step with Sontag Foundation?

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

North America

Grant Distribution by State

18states
+10 more states

Cities

AlexandriaAmherstAtlantaBaltimoreBostonCambridgeCharlestownCharlottesvilleChicagoClevelandDurhamGainesvilleGreen Cove SpringsHamptonHinsdaleHoustonIthacaJacksonvilleJacksonville BeachLa Jolla

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

  • Total Assets: $187,565,405
  • Total Revenue: $6,862,500
  • Total Expenses: $9,190,581
  • Total Liabilities: $146,000
  • Number of Employees: 1

Cumulative Impact: Over $85 million invested to advance scientific discoveries and treatment breakthroughs in brain cancer research

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$29M$59M$88M$117M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$219,583,987$187,565,405$171,598,285
Revenue$24,608,122$6,862,500$106,551,695
Expenses$10,044,071$9,190,581$8,565,078
Qualifying Distributions$9,836,210$9,358,430$7,524,924
Net Investment Income$11,271,684$4,449,831$639,798
Distributable Amount$9,762,156$8,640,591$6,643,703

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$5M$7M26 grants202027 grants202128 grants202248 grants202335 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF …$3.0MBRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL$363KTHE REGENTS OF THE UNIVE…$350KMARK FOUNDATION FOR CANC…$300KBOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL$263KCALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF …$250KREGENTS OF UNIV OF CA-SA…$188KYALE UNIVERSITY$150KUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUT…$150KUNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSE…$150K

Grant Size Distribution

164 grants across all recorded years

60<$50K8$50–100K79$100–250K13$250–500K1$500K–1M3$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Sontag Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Principal Officer: Frederick B. Sontag

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

BRADLEY D MOTTIERDIRECTOR$8KGRANT M CONWAYDIRECTOR$8KDANIEL M RYANDIRECTOR$8KJENNIFER H LEVINSONDIRECTOR$8KJEFFREY E BERNARDODIRECTOR$8KBEN CHATRAWDIRECTOR$8KCAROLYN MATHISDIRECTOR$8KKATHERINE VERBLEDIRECTOR$8KCLAY TOUSEY IIIDIRECTOR$8K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
FREDERICK B SONTAGDIRECTOR1
BRADLEY D MOTTIERDIRECTOR1$8,000
GRANT M CONWAYDIRECTOR1$8,000
DANIEL M RYANDIRECTOR1$8,000
JENNIFER H LEVINSONDIRECTOR1$8,000
JEFFREY E BERNARDODIRECTOR1$8,000
BEN CHATRAWDIRECTOR1$8,000
CAROLYN MATHISDIRECTOR1$8,000
KATHERINE VERBLEDIRECTOR1$8,000
CLAY TOUSEY IIIDIRECTOR1$8,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has been actively engaged in advancing brain tumor research through collaborative efforts and significant grant distributions. Recent initiatives include leading a coalition with The Mark Foundation to propel novel brain tumor therapy research with $4 million in new grants. The foundation continues to award annual Distinguished Scientist Awards recognizing outstanding early-career researchers committed to brain tumor research.

The Mark Foundation and The Sontag Foundation Lead Coalition to Propel Novel

Contact Information

Address: 816 A1A North, Suite 201, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

Phone: 904-273-8755

Email: info@sontagfoundation.org

Website: sontagfoundation.org

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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