What Foundation for PM&R does

Foundation for PM&R (legally Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) is a 501(c)(3) Illinois-incorporated nonprofit charitable organization established in 2002 as the successor to the mid-1980s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Foundation (PMR-ERF). The Foundation's sole mission is funding physiatric research, and it is the only organization dedicated exclusively to this purpose. It operates from Rosemont, Illinois, with 1-10 employees under Executive Director Phyllis Anderson and a volunteer Board of Directors headed by President Elliot Roth, and is institutionally intertwined with the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R), whose Executive Director serves ex officio on the Foundation's Board and whose Board of Governors elects Foundation directors.

The Foundation administers nine named research grant programs covering new investigator research (Richard Materson ERF Grants, $10,000 each), pediatric PM&R (Gabriella Molnar, $10,000), mid-career investigators (Encompass Health, $25,000), cancer rehabilitation (Tactile Medical, $10,000), musculoskeletal research (Scott Nadler/PASSOR, $30,000), chronic pain (Martin Grabois, $10,000), neurologic rehabilitation (Richard Herman, $10,000), lifestyle and disability (Dorothea Glass, $10,000), and inpatient rehabilitation (Nobis Rehabilitation Partners, $30,000). The platform backbone consists of an online Submittable-based grant submission portal (foundationforpmr.submittable.com), a bi-monthly UPDATE newsletter, annual reports, and physical events—including the Rehab 5k Run/Walk & Roll, Proof of the Pudding Debate, and Donor Appreciation Reception—co-located with the AAPM&R Annual Assembly. To date, over 160 research projects have received more than $2.5 million in support, with 50% of grantees securing an additional $28+ million in downstream funding, 70% presenting at national medical society meetings, and 61% publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

The Foundation's revenue is generated entirely through charitable donations, with tiered donor programs including the Summit Club ($1,000/year for a minimum of five years) and the Ascent Club ($20/month for physiatrists age 45 or under), plus event-based fundraising and corporate named-grant sponsorships. Its go-to-market is fundamentally community- and event-driven, with all grantee marketing distributed through the Foundation's website and AAPM&R partnership channels. Customer concentration is centered on the physiatry researcher community (Young investigators and established PM&R scientists at institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, University of Pittsburgh, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Hospital for Special Surgery) and on a relatively small base of repeat corporate donors (Encompass Health, Tactile Medical, Nobis Rehabilitation Partners, AppliedVR).

Name

Foundation for PM&R

Legal name

Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Website

https://foundationforpmr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Foundation for PM&R is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds physiatric research exclusively, having supported 160+ projects with over $2.5 million in grants across new investigator, pediatric, neurologic, cancer, musculoskeletal, chronic pain, and inpatient rehabilitation tracks, and is governed in partnership with the American Academy of PM&R (AAPM&R).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Research Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Physiatric research funding
• Rehabilitation research grants
• Nonprofit medical research
• Pilot research grants
• Disability research support

Headquarters

HQ city

Rosemont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The Foundation generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, medical professionals, and organizations. Donors include physiatrists, medical institutions, and corporations. The Summit Club program requires pledges of at least $1,000 per year for five years, while the Ascent Club targets physiatrists age 45 or under with monthly donations of $20 or more.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Foundation for PM&R is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds physiatric (physical medicine and rehabilitation) research. It awards seed and pilot research grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 to physiatric investigators across multiple specialty areas including pediatric rehabilitation, musculoskeletal conditions, spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, and cancer rehabilitation. The Foundation operates donor engagement programs (Summit Club, Ascent Club), fundraising events (Rehab 5k Run/Walk & Roll), and educational events to support research funding.

Product overview

The Foundation for PM&R operates as a nonprofit research funding organization offering a portfolio of research grant programs including the Richard Materson ERF New Investigator Research Grants (3x$10,000 for young investigators), Gabriella Molnar Pediatric PM&R Research Grant ($10,000), Encompass Midcareer Investigator Research Grant ($25,000), Tactile Medical Cancer Rehabilitation Research Grant ($10,000), Scott Nadler PASSOR Musculoskeletal Research Grant ($30,000), Martin Grabois Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Research Grant ($10,000), Richard Herman Neurologic Rehabilitation Research Grant ($10,000), Dorothea Glass PM&R Lifestyle Research Grant ($10,000), and Nobis Rehabilitation Partners Inpatient Rehabilitation Grant ($30,000). The Foundation also organizes fundraising and networking events including the Rehab 5k Run/Walk & Roll, Proof of the Pudding Debate series, and Donor Appreciation Reception. Donor engagement programs include the Summit Club (annual philanthropists pledging $1,000/year for five years) and the Ascent Club (for physiatrists 45 or under with monthly $20+ contributions). The organization is the only entity solely dedicated to supporting physiatric research, having funded over 160 research projects with more than $2.5 million in grant support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Richard Materson ERF New Investigator Research Grants Three grants of $10,000 each awarded annually to young physiatric investigators 5 years or less out of training, providing seed money for research in physical medicine and rehabilitation topics.
• Gabriella Molnar Pediatric PM&R Research Grant One grant of $10,000 for research on a topic related to pediatric rehabilitation medicine, focusing on individuals with physical disability under age 21.
• Encompass Midcareer Investigator Research Grant One grant of $25,000 awarded to a proven physiatric investigator to expand research in a new direction, supported by Encompass Health.
• Tactile Medical Cancer Rehabilitation Research Grant One grant of $10,000 for research on physiatric rehabilitation for individuals with cancer-related disability, with special consideration for outcomes and comparative effectiveness research.
• Scott Nadler PASSOR Musculoskeletal Research Grant One grant of $30,000 for research on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, funded by PASSOR endowment and donor gifts.
• Martin Grabois Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Research Grant One grant of $10,000 for physiatric research focused on the physiology of chronic pain and its clinical management.
• Richard Herman Neurologic Rehabilitation Research Grant One grant of $10,000 focused on physiatric research in neuroscience, neurophysiology or rehabilitation neuroengineering.
• Dorothea Glass PM&R Lifestyle Research Grant One grant of $10,000 for physiatric research focused on sexuality, relationship, and lifestyle issues affecting individuals with disability.
• Nobis Rehabilitation Partners Inpatient Rehabilitation Grant One grant of $30,000 for physiatric research focused on best practices, comparative effectiveness, transition of care or other inpatient-specific rehabilitation topics.
• Summit Club Donor membership program for physiatric philanthropists who pledge at least $1,000 per year for five years. Benefits include opportunity to notify grant winners, exclusive lounge access at AAPM&R Annual Assembly, recognition at Donor Appreciation Reception, in Annual Report, and on website.
• Ascent Club Donor membership program for physiatrists age 45 or under making monthly gifts of $20 or more. Benefits include VIP Donor Lounge access, free registration to annual Rehab 5k Run/Walk & Roll, exclusive Q&A sessions with researchers, and opportunity to meet Board Members and field leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $2.5 million provided to 160+ research projects; recipients secured $28+ million in additional funding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation has a close partnership with AAPM&R. The AAPM&R Executive Director serves as an ex-officio member of the Foundation's Board. Directors must include Fellows of AAPM&R. Events are held in conjunction with AAPM&R Annual Assembly. The Board of Governors of AAPM&R elects Foundation directors.
• AAPM&R Annual AssemblycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 2025 Rehab 5k Run/Walk & Roll will be held in conjunction with the AAPM&R Annual Assembly in Salt Lake City. Events provide fundraising opportunities and grant award presentations at these annual gatherings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: Much larger nonprofit funding spinal cord injury research and quality-of-life programs. Overlaps with Foundation for PM&R's spinal cord injury and neurologic rehabilitation grants but operates at significantly greater scale and brand recognition.
• National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR): Federal agency that funds rehabilitation and disability research at significantly larger scale. Represents both a complementary funder (many Foundation grantees pursue NIDILRR grants next) and a competitive alternative for major rehabilitation research dollars.
• American Heart Association: Major nonprofit funding cardiovascular and stroke research. The AHA's stroke rehabilitation research portfolio overlaps with Foundation for PM&R's neurologic rehabilitation grants, though AHA operates at vastly greater scale.
• Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI): Large independent research funding organization supporting comparative effectiveness research. Overlaps with Foundation for PM&R's Nobis inpatient rehabilitation grant focus on comparative effectiveness and best practices.
• Susan G. Komen Foundation: Large disease-specific research funder. Compares to Foundation for PM&R's Tactile Medical Cancer Rehabilitation Research Grant in funding cancer-related disability research, though Komen operates at dramatically greater scale.

Direct peers

• Foundation for Orthopedic Research and Education (FORE): Funds orthopedic and musculoskeletal research through small grants and fellowships — directly comparable to Foundation for PM&R's Scott Nadler PASSOR Musculoskeletal Research Grant ($30K) and broader musculoskeletal research portfolio.
• American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF): AOTF funds occupational therapy research through small pilot grants and career development awards. Directly comparable in structure, scale (small staff, lean budget), and mission (advancing rehabilitation science) to Foundation for PM&R.
• Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation: Funds research on spinal cord injury and related disabilities — overlapping with Foundation for PM&R's neurologic and SCI rehabilitation grant portfolio. Similar grant sizes ($50-150K typical), similar career development focus.
• Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR): The research funding arm of APTA, FPTR is the most directly comparable peer — a small 501(c)(3) foundation providing pilot and career development grants to physical therapy researchers, with a similar model of small-dollar seed grants producing outsized extramural funding leverage.

Others

• amfAR (Foundation for AIDS Research): Disease-specific research grantmaker with comparable operational model — small staff, named research grants, leveraged funding multiplier, donor club programs. Useful structural comparable for capital efficiency and donor engagement benchmarks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Foundation4PMR
• Facebookfacebook.com/FoundationforPMR

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Foundation for PM&R