Rheumatology Research Foundation

What Rheumatology Research Foundation does

The Rheumatology Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1985 by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the United States, with cumulative commitments exceeding $180M across 3,729 awards since inception. The Foundation's core product is a portfolio of competitive grants and awards — including Innovative Research Awards, Scientist Development Awards, Investigator Awards, Career Development Research Awards, Education and Training Awards, preceptorships, the Norman B. Gaylis Clinical Research Award, and the International Research Collaboration Award — administered through an online application portal and reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Council. It also operates infrastructure programs such as RheumLab (a patient/caregiver platform), the #RheumChampion advocacy program, Foundation Voice newsletter, the Corporate Roundtable (a tiered corporate donor program), the Legacy Society (planned giving), and RheumBuilders (monthly giving).

The Foundation's business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. It acquires capital through four streams: individual donations (one-time, monthly via RheumBuilders, major gifts, legacy/planned gifts, and matching gifts), corporate giving through the Corporate Roundtable (with Pharma/biotech members including AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Amgen, Genentech, AbbVie, UCB, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Gilead, and Takeda), endowed funds from individual donors, and grants from peer foundations (e.g., the Lupus Research Alliance). ACR itself has contributed over $22.5M cumulatively. Funds are then redistributed to early-career investigators, medical students and fellows, practicing community rheumatologists, and ultimately patients across 54 million Americans living with rheumatic disease. The Foundation maintains 15+ consecutive years of Charity Navigator 4-star ratings and a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, and reports a 156% ROI for award recipients who subsequently secure NIH funding.

Name

Rheumatology Research Foundation

Legal name

Rheumatology Research Foundation

Website

https://rheumresearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Rheumatology Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1985 by the American College of Rheumatology, that serves as the largest private U.S. funder of rheumatology research and training, distributing grants to early-career investigators, fellows, and community rheumatologists through individual donations, corporate partners, and endowed funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Medical Research Funding

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

Keywords

• Rheumatology research funding
• Medical research grants
• Workforce training programs
• Nonprofit foundation grants
• Clinical research awards

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through various mechanisms including one-time gifts, monthly giving (RheumBuilders), and major gifts. Donors can give via the website, mail, or phone.
2. Corporate Giving (Corporate Roundtable): Pharmaceutical and biotech companies support the Foundation through merit-level donations designated as Leadership, Pinnacle, Principal, Partner, or Supporter tiers. Companies include AstraZeneca, Amgen, argenx, Genentech, Pfizer, and others.
3. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: Donors make legacy gifts through bequests (by will or trust), beneficiary designations (retirement accounts, life insurance), charitable gift annuities, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). The Foundation maintains a Legacy Society for planned giving donors.
4. Matching Gifts: The Foundation participates in employer matching gift programs to maximize donor impact through corporate workplace giving programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Foundation functions as the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the United States, distributing grants and awards to investigators, fellows, and clinicians. It funds innovative research, career development, education and training, preceptorships, endowed lectureships, and international research collaboration through a competitive application process administered by its Scientific Advisory Council. It is funded entirely by charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and planned gifts, and reinvests those funds as research grants, fellowships, and training awards at U.S. academic medical centers.

Product overview

The Rheumatology Research Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the United States. The Foundation operates as a grants and awards organization rather than a commercial product company, offering a portfolio of research funding programs including the Awards and Grants Program, Innovative Research Awards, Career Development Research Awards, Education and Training Awards, and Preceptorships. Supporting infrastructure includes RheumLab (patient education platform), Foundation Voice (newsletter publication), RheumChampions (patient advocacy program), Corporate Roundtable (corporate donor program), and Legacy Society (planned giving). The Foundation distributes funding through various mechanisms including Scientist Development Awards, Investigator Awards, and named endowments such as the Daniel J. Wallace, MD Graduate Student Preceptorship Endowment and Norman B. Gaylis, MD, Clinical Research Award.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rheum Lab: A platform for patients and caregivers providing resources, research exploration, and the RheumChampion program for patient advocacy.
• RheumBuilders
• Legacy Society
• Corporate Roundtable

Products and services

• Awards and Grants Program The Foundation's primary funding mechanism providing grants for innovative research, education, workforce development, and training within rheumatology. Encompasses multiple award categories targeting different career stages and research needs and is administered through an online application portal reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Council.
• Innovative Research Award Grant program supporting innovative research projects in rheumatology, including Investigator Awards (up to $500,000 over four years) and Scientist Development Awards (up to $225,000 over three years), targeting early-career and mid-career investigators.
• Career Development Research Awards Awards supporting early and mid-career investigators pursuing research careers in rheumatology, providing funding stability to establish independent investigative careers amid volatile federal funding conditions.
• Education and Training Awards Awards supporting education and training initiatives to develop the rheumatology workforce, including fellowship training and medical student preceptorship programs. Has supported 497 fellows with $16.2M in fellowship funding.
• Preceptorships Education program matching students and residents with rheumatology mentors to conduct meaningful research projects. Includes the Daniel J. Wallace, MD Graduate Student Preceptorship Endowment (established March 1, 2021) and the Marc R. Chevrier, MD, PhD, FACR Lupus Research Memorial Fund.
• Endowments and Lectureships Endowed funds established by donors to provide permanent funding for research, training, and lectureships in rheumatology. Examples include the Dr. Stanford and Andrea Peng $2.5 Million Endowment for Junior Investigators and the James T. Rosenbaum, MD and Family $1 Million Endowed Research Fund.
• International Research Collaboration Award Award supporting international collaborative research in rheumatology, including support for Announcements of the Foundation's Recipients of the International Research Collaboration Award.
• Norman B. Gaylis, MD, Clinical Research Award Distinguished award funding practicing rheumatologists in community-based settings to test their own observations through clinical research. Exemplified by a $400,000 two-year grant to Dr. Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR of Attune Health for the THRIVE project studying telehealth-delivered healthcare in community rheumatology practice. Also honored Dr. Sou-Pan Wu, MD as a recipient researching gout prevalence among the Hmong population in Minnesota.
• Corporate Roundtable Corporate donor recognition program providing partnership opportunities for companies supporting rheumatology research and workforce development, with tiered membership levels including Leadership, Pinnacle, Principal, Partner, and Supporter tiers.
• Legacy Society Planned giving program for donors who include the Foundation in their estate plans, offering estate planning tools, gift calculators, and bequest language resources. Accepts bequests, beneficiary designations (retirement accounts, life insurance), charitable gift annuities, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 156% ROI for research award recipients receiving subsequent NIH funding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lupus Research AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2026The Lupus Research Alliance and Rheumatology Research Foundation committed $1.9 million through the Empowering Lupus Research Partnership to fund five early-career scientists in 2026. Funding is administered through Scientist Development Awards (up to $225,000 over three years) and Investigator Awards (up to $500,000 over four years) for research exploring lupus connections to menopause, cardiovascular disease, immunometabolism, and aging.
• AbbViecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021AbbVie partnered with the Foundation to issue a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) addressing research for telehealth in rheumatology, providing funds for projects exploring digital health platforms to improve patient care outcomes.
• UCBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021UCB partnered with the Foundation as head of Immunology Medical Affairs to explore the future of telemedicine, demonstrating current value and establishing impact on outcomes for patients with inflammatory diseases.
• Bristol Myers SquibbminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Bristol Myers Squibb provided additional support for the Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) on telehealth research in rheumatology, complementing the partnership between the Foundation, AbbVie, and UCB.
• Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Established the Marc R. Chevrier, MD, PhD, FACR, Lupus Research Memorial Fund at the Foundation to support novel lupus research through preceptorships matching students and residents with rheumatology mentors.
• AstraZenecacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPinnacle-level member of the Corporate Roundtable donor recognition program, providing essential support for the Foundation's mission priorities of innovative research and workforce development.
• AmgencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner-level member of the Corporate Roundtable supporting the Foundation's research and training mission.
• argenxcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner-level member of the Corporate Roundtable supporting the Foundation's research and training mission.
• GenentechcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner-level member of the Corporate Roundtable supporting the Foundation's research and training mission.
• PfizercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner-level member of the Corporate Roundtable supporting the Foundation's research and training mission.
• Avalyn PharmaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter-level member of the Corporate Roundtable.
• ExagenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter-level member of the Corporate Roundtable.
• GileadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter-level member of the Corporate Roundtable.
• MerckminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter-level member of the Corporate Roundtable.
• SetPoint MedicalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter-level member of the Corporate Roundtable.
• TakedaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter-level member of the Corporate Roundtable.
• Tonix MedicinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter-level member of the Corporate Roundtable.
• ViatrisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter-level member of the Corporate Roundtable.
• American College of RheumatologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation was established by the American College of Rheumatology in 1985. ACR serves as the first stakeholder in all fundraising campaigns and has contributed more than $22.5 million in combined support.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arthritis Foundation: The largest U.S. patient-focused nonprofit for arthritis and related rheumatic diseases, funding research, advocacy, and patient programs. Direct peer in mission scope, donor base overlap, and disease focus, with a comparable multi-channel revenue model (individual giving, corporate partners, events).
• Lupus Research Alliance: The world's leading private funder of lupus research, with active co-funding partnership with the Rheumatology Research Foundation via the Empowering Lupus Research Partnership ($1.9M in 2026). Direct peer in disease-specific research grantmaking and donor-base overlap.
• Lupus Foundation of America: National nonprofit dedicated to lupus research, education, and advocacy. Peer in patient/research funding model and in addressing rheumatic disease patient populations that overlap with RRF's mission.

Broad incumbents

• American Heart Association: A large disease-focused nonprofit combining research funding, advocacy, and patient education with a multi-channel revenue model (individual giving, corporate partnerships, events). Comparable as a much larger-scale health research grantmaking organization, though broader in disease focus.
• Susan G. Komen: One of the largest disease-specific U.S. research and patient-advocacy nonprofits. Comparable operating model with major-gift fundraising, corporate partnerships, and grantmaking at scale, even though focused on a different disease.
• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. nonprofit funder of cancer research, with a national peer-review grant system analogous to RRF's Scientific Advisory Council process. Comparable as a scaled, multi-channel health research funder supporting scientists and training across a single disease area.
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: A disease-specific private research foundation that pioneered venture philanthropy models in drug development. Useful as a model peer for how a single-disease private foundation can drive research outcomes through sustained, structured funding programs.
• American Diabetes Association: Major U.S. health nonprofit funding diabetes research, workforce development, and patient resources. Comparable in grantmaking structure, mission breadth within a single disease area, and reliance on individual/corporate donor mix.

Emerging players

• Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation: Smaller-scale, disease-specific research foundation that has built deep pharma partnerships and a translational research model. Comparable as a focused peer demonstrating how specialty research foundations can scale research funding through industry partnerships.

Others

• NIAMS (NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases): The federal institute responsible for funding rheumatology research through NIH grants. Not a competitor but the adjacent/ecosystem counterpart: RRF's positioning addresses the gaps in NIAMS funding and serves as a complementary private funding source for the same investigator base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rheumresearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/Rheumatology.Research.Foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rheumatology-research-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/rheumatologyresearchfoundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rheumatology Research Foundation