The Heart Failure Research Foundation improves the lives of patients by reducing the burden of heart failure through the advancement of scientific knowledge and the promotion of breakthrough research.
Your Generosity at Work
The Heart Failure Research Foundation will find and fund new researchers, as we hit our first milestone of $150,000 donated to the future of heart failure research. Your philanthropic, tax-deductible gift provided the resources to accomplish this.
The Heart Failure Research Foundation supports new researchers in all areas related to heart failure. Our Emerging Leaders Grants program is open to all early-stage investigators who have completed their terminal research degree or clinical training and are within 5 years of their first faculty appointment. This program is open to investigators in any field. We will help the next generation of investigators establish successful research careers.
As the Heart Failure Research Foundation launches, our immediate goal is to award 1-2 early-stage investigators with a 1-year grant up to $150,000, with the potential for a renewal for a second year. Our first Emerging Leader class of early career researchers is targeted for 2024.
Novel approaches in research can struggle to gain a funding foothold. That’s where the Foundation wants to make a difference. We are interested in providing initial funding to established researchers to explore fledgling ideas that have the potential for high reward in the long-term. The proposed project would expect to deliver preliminary data to demonstrate feasaiility and promise for large-scale study. Preference will be given to inter-disciplinary teams.
Transformative Research Grants are a mid-term goal of the Foundation. We hope to release our initial RFP in 2024, and award grants of up to $250,000 annually by 2025.
Recognizing Our Donors
The Foundation is the philanthropic home for individuals who want to improve the lives of patients through the advancement of heart failure research. Our work is only possible when our donors choose to generously give.
Diamond Society ($50,000+)
Jackson National Life Insurance Company in memory of Surendra Kanani
Patient-Centered Education and Research to support Palliative Care Research
Rich & Ann Teerlink
Sapphire Society ($15,000-24,999)
Robin Lewis-Gage & Family in memory of Harlan Lewis & Gary Gage
The following individuals have given an annual gift in 2026
Silver Circle ($2,500-4,999)
Vanguard Charitable in honor of Ken Margulies
Bronze Circle ($1,000-2,499)
KC-130J Fleet Replacement Detachment in memory of Mitchell Frank
Copper Circle (up to $999)
Anonymous (2)
Brett Stewart in honor of Mitchell Frank
Joan Perry
Julie (Albers) Horchem in honor of Mitchell Frank
Kenneth Bolling
The following individuals have given an annual gift in 2025
Gold Circle ($5,000-9,999)
Michael Felker
Silver Circle ($2,500-4,999)
Kenneth Margulies
Louis Perdue in honor of Lyn Strickland
Bronze Circle ($1,000-2,499)
John Barnes
Camilla Clarke in honor of Natalie Pierson
Jerome Fleg
Randall Starling
Orly Vardeny
UBS Financial Services in honor of Frederick E. Jurgens, Jr.
Copper Circle (up to $999)
Anonymous (2)
Anonymous in memory of Leon "Lee" Luzynski
William Abraham
Martha Abshire Saylor
Kirkwood Adams, Jr.
Govinda Adhikari
Amit Alam
Susan Alsfeld in memory of William Sloan
Carol Belovitch
Melissa Benson
Susan Bionat
Jennifer Bondarew
Leanne Bowen in honor of Leon Luzynski
Joe Burgett Rachwal
William Campbell
Cynthia Cawley
Robert Cella
Christopher Chien
Eugene Chung
Circana Help Desk Team in memory of Bill Haley
Dan and Laurie Cummins in honor of Jo Scott
Ira Dauber
Janine Davis in memory of Della A. (Johnson) Davis
Kathy Delorenzo in memory of David Krivanek
Denning Family Funeral Home in memory of Randy Blocker
Michelle Diddlemeyer in memory of Jack Thorne
Mark Drazner
Marie Droogan
Barbara Dull in honor of Ram L. Thawani
Stephanie Dunlap
Thomas Elimihele
Uri Elkayam
R. Douglas Ensley
Laura Estes
Hannah Every
Hashley Family in memory of Therese Smigels
Elly Fennell
Alana Ferrari
Christine Ford
Jessica Fowler in memory of David Krivanek
Marie Galvao
Freidoon Ghazi
Deva Gouss in memory of David Krivanek
Elena Grigoreva
Barbara Grajek
Christopher Hayward
Heart of Luverne
Kevin Hendrick in memory of Therese Smigels
Fizza Hussain
Iron Workers Local #7
Takumi Iseda in honor of Ram L. Thawani
Kasia Kaffenberger in memory of Randy Blocker
Kathleen Kamba
Jan Komtebedde
Marvin Konstam
David Kraus
Peggy Kudrick in honor of Charlotte Dee Smith
Claudine Kuelske
Marion Krymski in memory of Therese Smigels
Ann Laramee
KellyAnn Light-McGroary
Chun-Sam Lin in memory of Earl F. Parrish, Sr.
Anthony Magalski
Lisa Marcello
Peyton Masters in memory of Michael James Burke
Smitha Mathew
Rick & Marsha McCance in memory of Elaine Green
Donna Melillo in memory of Lorna Metskis
Greeshma Molugu
Felecia Morris in honor of Jerome Saxfino
Deepthi Mosali
Mohamed Moussa
Erin Murphy in memory of Blaine Chambers
James Nairn in memory of Therese Smigels
Jose Nieves in memory of Hugo Castro
Sharone Noebels-Sahin in memory of Blake Dremin
Anand Patil
Kris Patrick
Kathy Pesavento
Michael Peters
Pledgeling Foundation
Sean Pinney
Carole Rabkin in memory of Diana Ellis
Navin Rajagopalan in honor & memory of Kelly McCants
Josephine Randazzo
Bria Rice
Aurora Roses
Amy Schweitzer
Judi Selset
Sorabh Sharma
Spiral Giving Network
St. Vincent de Paul St. Joan of Arc Conference in memory of Therese Smigels
Pamela Steele
Josef Stehlik
Lynne Stevenson
Anita Thawani in honor of Ram L. Thawani
Anjali Thawani in honor of Ram L. Thawani
Katie Torres
Alessia Urbinati
Alberta Warner
Dale Ward in memory of Douglas McClaren
Daniel Weinseimerin honor of Brett Fitzgerald
Vincent Wiggins in honor of Ram L. Thawani
Karen Weiner in memory of Suren Kanani
Andrew Willeford
Carrie Willis
Elise Zevitz in memory of Douglas McClaren
Natalie Zundel
Impact Donor Giving Societies recognize individuals and families who give at the $15,000 level or higher. Gifts of this size can be made in installments over 1-3 years. Recognition is given from gift commitment until the year it is completed. Gifts may also be designated to either the Emerging Leaders or Transformative Research funds.
Every gift gets us closer to our goal of transforming patient care. Annual donors build the bedrock of our work with their committed, ongoing support each year. They will be recognized at the following levels of giving:
Sustainer Circle donors commit to monthly gifts using our online donation form. They break their gift into bite-sized chunks that add up to big impact in a year. These donors provide sustainable funding for our programs and receive regular program updates and fewer donation requests. They are recognized at their cumulative Annual Donor Giving Circle above, plus acknowledge in special Sustainers Circle donor listings.
Donors can give in honor of a family member or treatment provider, or remember a loved one, with a gift to Heart Failure Research Foundation. There is a special place on our form to add a dedication. Tribute gifts will be recognized in special listings on our website, and we will send a notification to your honoree or their family.