What Barrow Neurological Foundation does

Barrow Neurological Foundation is a 509(a)(1) nonprofit philanthropic organization founded in 1962 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, that raises and deploys charitable funds to support Barrow Neurological Institute within the CommonSpirit Health system. The foundation solicits contributions through signature events (the annual Barrow Grand Ball, which has raised over $135 million since 1965, and the inaugural 2025 Barrow Open golf tournament), individual giving (one-time and recurring donations, planned/legacy giving), corporate matching programs across 100+ employers, and the Barrow Blue Crew employee giving initiative. In FY2025 the foundation raised $28.17 million from more than 3,000 donors and transferred approximately $23 million to Barrow Neurological Institute.

The foundation underwrites research, treatment, and education programs across more than 20 neuroscience specialties — including Alzheimer's, brain tumors, stroke, Parkinson's, ALS, epilepsy, headache, and spine disorders — and supports a clinical enterprise that treats 75,218 patients annually, performs 6,614 brain and spine surgeries, runs 225 open clinical trials, publishes 473 peer-reviewed articles, and trains 67–71 neurology and neurosurgery residents and fellows each year. Notable funded technology initiatives include Project Pegasus (AI-powered cognitive testing for early Alzheimer's detection piloted in primary care), a Virtual Reality Spine Lab for surgical training, the Golf Neuroscience Research Laboratory's biomechanics analytics, and CARF-accredited neuro-rehabilitation programs.

Its revenue model is a diversified nonprofit fundraising stack: annual gala (largest single event revenue driver), recurring individual donations, corporate matching and sponsorships, planned giving vehicles (wills, trusts, charitable gift annuities, stock, real estate), and foundation grants. The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees (chaired by Markos Tambakeras) led by President and Chief Philanthropy Officer Michele S. Gregory, MS, with an operational staff of 20–30 and an 80-member Women's Board serving as its signature fundraising subsidiary. It holds no patents and is not a product- or service-selling enterprise; 100% of donations are directed to research, education, and patient care at the Institute.

Name

Barrow Neurological Foundation

Legal name

Barrow Neurological Foundation

Website

https://supportbarrow.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Barrow Neurological Foundation is a Phoenix-based 509(a)(1) nonprofit that raises philanthropic funds to support Barrow Neurological Institute's neuroscience research, treatment, education, and 225 active clinical trials within the CommonSpirit Health system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Neuroscience philanthropy
• Medical research fundraising
• Healthcare nonprofit donations
• Neurological research support
• Planned giving programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, with option to designate gifts to specific programs or areas of greatest need.
2. Signature Events: Annual Barrow Grand Ball raising $10-14M per year, Barrow Open golf tournament raising $1M, and other community fundraising events.
3. Corporate Giving: Corporate matching gifts, sponsorships, event sponsorships, and workplace giving programs through partner companies.
4. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts including wills, trusts, stock donations, retirement accountbeneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, and real estate donations.
5. Foundation Grants: Grants from other foundations and organizations supporting specific research programs and initiatives at Barrow.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Barrow Neurological Foundation is a 509(a)(1) nonprofit organization that raises philanthropic funds to support neuroscience research, treatment, and education at Barrow Neurological Institute. The foundation operates signature fundraising events including the Barrow Grand Ball and Barrow Open golf tournament, alongside donation programs such as memorial gifts, corporate matching, employee giving, and planned/legacy giving. Donor contributions directly fund more than 20 specialized neuroscience programs and centers covering brain tumors, Alzheimer's, ALS, stroke, Parkinson's, headache disorders, and spinal conditions.

Product overview

Barrow Neurological Foundation is a philanthropy organization that raises funds to support Barrow Neurological Institute. The foundation operates various fundraising programs including the annual Barrow Grand Ball, memorial and tribute gifts, employee giving, corporate matching, legacy giving, and the Barrow Open golf tournament. Donor contributions support 20+ specialized neuroscience programs and centers at Barrow, including research on Alzheimer's, brain tumors, ALS, stroke, Parkinson's, headache disorders, and spinal conditions. The organization also runs educational internship programs to train future neuroscience professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women's Board of Barrow Neurological Foundation: Women's philanthropy and fundraising arm established in 1964 that supports Barrow Neurological Institute through events, grants, and community engagement. Has raised over $135 million since 1965.

Products and services

• Barrow Grand Ball
• Memorial & Tribute Gifts
• Employee Giving Program (Barrow Blue Crew)
• Corporate Matching Gifts
• Legacy Giving
• Barrow Open Golf Tournament
• Personal Fundraising Campaigns
• High School & Undergraduate Internship Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of donations go directly to research, education, and patient care
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cold Beers And CheeseburgersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Brain Tumor Awareness Month partner that helped raise nearly $20,000 at 16 statewide locations for brain cancer research at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center.
• Hensley BeverageminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Brain Tumor Awareness Month partner supporting brain cancer research fundraising efforts for the Ivy Brain Tumor Center.
• Arizona Diamondbacks (DBacks)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in Brain Tumor Awareness Month fundraising campaign that helped reach $438,000 for the Ivy Brain Tumor Center.
• PINGminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Hosted Barrow employee wellness event featuring presentation by Lewis Headache Center director Kerry Knievel, DO, on headache health and migraine treatment options.
• Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 February 2025Presenting sponsor of the inaugural Barrow Open golf tournament. PXG provided golf and wellness clinic during the event and supported fundraising for the Barrow Sports Biomechanics Spine Laboratory.
• Arizona CardinalscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Barrow Neurological Foundation was selected as one of four cornerstone philanthropic partners by the Arizona Cardinals to tackle special needs care gap. Partnership focuses on community outreach and healthcare access initiatives.
• Corporate Matching Gift CompaniesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 100 companies participate in matching gift programs including Apple, Microsoft, Google, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan, PepsiCo, Pfizer, and more, allowing employees' donations to be matched.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Alzheimer's Association: Disease-focused nonprofit that runs walks, galas, corporate partnerships, and planned giving to fund Alzheimer's research and care. Directly comparable to one of Barrow's core research priorities and shares the community-led fundraising approach.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation: Hospital-affiliated foundation raising funds for pediatric research and care. Comparable combination of signature galas, corporate matching, planned giving, and named program/chair fundraising anchored to a single specialty institution.
• ALSAC / St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Hospital-affiliated fundraising foundation that supports pediatric cancer research and care. Directly comparable to Barrow Neurological Foundation in operating model: signature events (gala, golf), individual/major gift programs, planned giving, and corporate partnerships supporting a single anchor hospital.
• Cleveland Clinic Philanthropy Institute: Hospital-based fundraising foundation raising hundreds of millions annually for clinical care, research, and education at Cleveland Clinic. Comparable in combining signature galas, corporate matching, planned giving, and named program/chair fundraising for a major medical institution.
• Susan G. Komen: Disease-focused nonprofit that combines signature fundraising events (Race for the Cure), corporate partnerships, and major gifts to fund research and patient services. Comparable in its reliance on event-driven GTM and community-led fundraising campaigns.
• City of Hope (National Philanthropy): Nonprofit fundraising arm supporting cancer and diabetes research and treatment. Comparable signature event (gala), major gifts, planned giving, and corporate partnership-driven model targeting high-net-worth donors.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Development): Hospital-affiliated development office that runs galas, planned giving, and corporate partnerships to fund oncology research. Comparable in leveraging institutional brand recognition to drive large-scale philanthropic revenue.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Large national health-focused nonprofit with events, major gifts, planned giving, and corporate partnerships. Comparable broad-based donor acquisition strategy though supports external research rather than a single hospital.
• Mayo Clinic Development: Philanthropy program for one of the largest US multispecialty hospital systems. Operates a similar gala-plus-major-gift-plus-planned-giving model but at materially larger scale and broader disease scope than Barrow's neurology focus.
• Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Development: Fundraising arm for one of the largest US academic medical centers. Comparable operating model (events, corporate matching, planned giving, named chairs) but with a far broader research portfolio than Barrow's neuroscience specialty.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/supportbarrow
• Facebookfacebook.com/foundationsofstjosephs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barrow-neurological-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/supportbarrow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Barrow Neurological Foundation