Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation
The Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation (SMA Foundation) is a nonprofit that accelerates development of treatments for SMA through research funding, drug discovery, and clinical development support. The site lists leadership, board, contact details (Jackson, WY address and phone), and research/granting information including a Research Funding page and program guidelines.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
An academic or research institution led by a principal investigator proposing SMA-focused, translational or preclinical research aligned with the foundation’s stated research priorities.
Good Fit
- • Work focused on Spinal Muscular Atrophy or closely related translational research.
- • Principal-investigator–led proposals with clear experimental plans and milestones.
- • Capacity to partner with established research centers or oversight arrangements.
- • Projects that align with the foundation’s stated program guidelines and priorities.
Geography
Observed giving is highly concentrated in California (about 91% of 2023 dollars) with only two states recorded in the latest year, indicating a narrow geographic footprint despite the foundation being based in Wyoming.
Recipient Variety
In the latest year there were nine grants but they were paid to only two distinct recipients, and one of those recipients also received funding the prior year, so the observed recipient set is very small.
New Applicants
The foundation publishes funding guidelines and a PI letter-of-intent route, and one new recipient appeared in the two-year record, but the funder also signals that projects are largely preselected and the multi-year sample is limited, so direct evidence of open access to unfamiliar applicants is mixed.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
