American Brain Foundation
Donations deductibleAmerican Brain Foundation's network
17 peoplei17 people on this map.The large node is the subject of this page. Solid lines are what the register itself records (17). Form 990 filings give names without a person identifier; SEC insider filings carry a CIK.The board
17 listediTime on the board is observed from the annual filings: the IRS files no appointment date, so the bar counts years from the first filing the person appears on - a lower bound, not a filed start date. Names are exactly as filed. The IRS publishes no person identifier, so this edition does not yet link a person across organisations.Time served and departures are observed across annual filings. Observed time served is a lower bound - a member may have joined before the first year on record. The organisation reported 17 voting members of its governing body on its latest Form 990 Part VI, which matches the board listed here.| Name | Role as filed | Since | On the board |
|---|---|---|---|
| David D Dodick Chair | Chair | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa | Director | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Alyx B Porter | Director | 2020 | 6 yrs |
| Ben Lenail | Vice Chair | 2020 | 6 yrs |
| Carlayne E Jackson | Ex Officio Voting Director | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| David Eagleman | Director | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Frances Jensen | Director | 2019 | 7 yrs |
| Jacqueline French | Company secretary | 2019 | 7 yrs |
| James C Grotta | Director | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| James Essey | Treasurer | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Merit Cudkowicz | Director | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Ralph R Lesile (also filed as Ralph Lesile) | Director | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Robert C Griggs | Ex Officio Voting Director | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Ronald Petersen | Director | 2019 | 7 yrs |
| Sean Sansiveri | Director | 2019 | 7 yrs |
| Stephen L Hauser | Director | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Thabele Lesile-Mazwi | Director | 2023 | 3 yrs |
Officers and senior leadership
4 listediNamed in Part VII as officers, key employees or highest-compensated staff - not board members, shown for completeness.| Name | Title as filed | On the filings |
|---|---|---|
| Emily Christian | Director, Advancement and External Relations | since 2021 |
| Jane Ransom | Executive Director | since 2018 |
| Mary E Post | Ex Officio Non-Voting Director | since 2021 |
| Timothy J Engel | Chief Financial Officer | since 2018 |
Pay and hours
year to 31 December 2025iFrom Part VII of the Form 990: compensation reported for each officer, director, trustee, key employee and highest-paid staff member, and the average hours a week they report. Most board members are unpaid; a blank means nothing was reported. Pay from related organisations is shown separately.| Name | Title as filed | Hours a week | Pay from the organisation | Related organisations | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Heritage | Executive Director | 40 | $366k | $34k | |
| Heather Heart | Deputy Director | 40 | $170k | ||
| Julia Miglets-Nelson | Director, Research Programs & Partnerships | 40 | $131k | $12k | |
| Kimberly Howard | Director of Operations | 40 | $128k | $462 | |
| Sean Sansiveri | Chair | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Ben Lenail | Vice Chair | 1 | $0 | ||
| Alyx B Porter Umphrey | Secretary | 1 | $0 | ||
| Ralph R Leslie | Treasurer | 1 | $0 | ||
| Phyllis C Zee | Ex Officio Voting Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Paul J Cairns | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Merit Cudkowicz | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| David W Dodick | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Christina M Francis | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Jacqueline French | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Frances Jensen | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Bruce Kahne | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Thabele Leslie-Mazwi | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Matthew S Picard | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Alfredo Quiones-Hinojosa | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Richard Ransohoff | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Joanne L Smikle | Director | 0.5 | $0 |
Colorado roster
17 listediOfficers, directors and trustees from the latest filing with the Colorado Secretary of State (document 20253035540). Titles are as filed; some entries are registered agents or custodians of records rather than board members. Source: data.colorado.gov, public domain.| Name | Title as filed |
|---|---|
| Michelle Heritage | Executive Director |
| Merit Cudkowicz | Director |
| Joanne Smikle | Director |
| Jacqueline French | Secretary |
| Frances Jensen | Director |
| Alyx Porter | Secretary |
| Ralph Leslie | Treasurer |
| Sean Sansiveri | Chair |
| Ben Lenail | Vice Chair |
| Christina Francis | Director |
| Phyllis Zee | Ex Officio Non-Voting Director |
| Michelle Heritage | |
| Thabele Leslie-Mazwi | Director |
| David Dodick | Immediate Past Chair |
| Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa | Director |
| Paul Cairns | Director |
| Matthew Picard | Director |
About
- Legal name
- American Brain Foundation
- EIN
- 411717098
- Address
- 201 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55415-1126
- State
- Minnesota
- Mission
- The american brain foundation accelerates breakthrough research across brain diseases and disorders by investing in innovative science, early-career investigators, and cross-disease discoveries that advance treatments, cures, and brain health for all. (as filed on the Form 990)
- Activity (NTEE)
- H96Z Medical research
- IRS classification
- 501(c)03 (tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) where shown)
- Classified purpose
- Medical Research
- Size band
- 8 (IRS master file code)
- Formed
- 1992
- Principal officer
- Michelle Heritage (as named on the Form 990)
- IRS ruling date
- 1 May 1993
- Status
- Code 01 (unconditional exemption)
- Form 990 filings on record
- 6, latest 2023
- IRS Publication 78
- PC (contributions deductible)
Most connected
Longest observed on the filings
≥8years on the filingsDavid D Dodick
≥8years on the filingsDavid Eagleman
≥8years on the filingsJames C Grotta
≥8years on the filingsJames Essey
Latest return
year to 31 December 2025iFigures from the newest Form 990 or 990-EZ in the IRS e-file releases of 2025 and 2026, for the year ending 31 December 2025. US dollars, as filed.- Total assets
- $22.1m
- Total liabilities
- $3.8m
- Net assets or fund balances
- $18.3m
- Contributions and grants received
- $7.6m
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Grants and similar paid out
- $8.1m
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 48
Grants paid
3 listediFrom Schedule I of the Form 990: grants and assistance to organisations in the United States, largest first (up to 25). Schedule I is filed only by organisations that gave more than $5,000 to any one recipient.| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Academy of Neurology Insitute | Clinical research training scholarships, scientific awards, and non scientific awards for work on diseases of the brain and nervous system. | $8.1m |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society | Program support | $25k |
| Society for Neuroscience | Program support | $25k |