Centurion Foundation

The Centurion Foundation is a young, high-asset private foundation established in 2022 by Michael and Victoria Chambers following the $9.6 billion sale of their biotechnology company Aldevron to Danaher Corporation in 2021. With approximately $158 million in assets and located in West Fargo, North Dakota, this foundation represents new mega-philanthropy in the Upper Midwest. The critical thing for grant seekers to understand is that the Centurion Foundation explicitly does NOT accept unsolicited applications — it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations at the discretion of the trustees. The foundation has indicated on its IRS filings that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Given the founders backgrounds as biotech entrepreneurs, the foundation prioritizes biomedical research and scientific innovation. To position for potential future funding, organizations should: (1) build visibility in biomedical research circles where the Chambers family is engaged, (2) develop connections through North Dakota State University and other Chambers-affiliated institutions, (3) demonstrate excellence in scientific innovation relevant to biotechnology, and (4) recognize that this is fundamentally a donor-directed foundation where personal relationships drive funding decisions.

The Centurion Foundation contributed $5,633,334 across just 6 grants in 2023, reflecting a highly concentrated grantmaking approach. Individual grants ranged from $100,000 to $2.5 million, with an average grant size of approximately $939,000. The three largest known grants were: Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund at $2.5 million (likely a donor-advised fund for further distribution), Whitehead Institute at $1 million (a leading biomedical research institute affiliated with MIT), and North Dakota State University at $1 million (the founders local university). This pattern reveals several key insights: the foundation channels significant funds through donor-advised vehicles, invests heavily in elite research institutions, and maintains loyalty to its North Dakota roots. With $158 million in assets, the 5% minimum distribution requirement mandates approximately $7.9 million in annual giving, suggesting the foundation may increase its grant volume or size in coming years. The foundation operates without published cycles or deadlines since all grants are discretionary.

The Centurion Foundation, with $158 million in assets, is one of the largest private foundations in North Dakota and represents the new generation of tech/biotech wealth philanthropy. Here is how it compares to peers:

The Centurion Foundation is distinctive as the product of a single biotech exit ($9.6B Aldevron sale), making it among the largest foundations rooted in North Dakota. Unlike most ND-based foundations that accept applications and focus on community needs, Centurion operates as a purely donor-directed entity focused on elite biomedical research. Its giving level ($5.6M) is relatively modest for its asset base, suggesting it may be in early strategic development.

The Centurion Foundation was established in 2022, making it one of the newest major private foundations in the United States. The foundation was created following the landmark sale of Aldevron — a Fargo-based company specializing in plasmid DNA, mRNA, and protein manufacturing for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries — to Danaher Corporation for $9.6 billion in 2021. Aldevrons technology played a significant role in COVID-19 vaccine production. Michael Chambers co-founded Aldevron in 1998 and grew it into a global leader in nucleic acid manufacturing. The foundations 2023 Form 990 showed $150.8 million in assets and $5.6 million in grants to 6 organizations. The foundation website (centurionfoundation.com) currently shows only a server directory listing with no public-facing content about grantmaking, programs, or mission — suggesting the foundation is still building its public presence and operational infrastructure. There is also a separate entity called The Centurion Foundation (centurionfoundation.org) which appears to be a different organization.

1. Do not submit unsolicited proposals: The foundation has explicitly indicated on IRS filings that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations. Cold outreach is unlikely to be productive.

2. Build relationships through the Aldevron/biotech network: Michael and Victoria Chambers built their wealth through Aldevrons biotechnology platform. Organizations in nucleic acid research, mRNA technology, vaccine development, or related biomedical fields are most aligned with the founders interests.

3. Leverage North Dakota connections: The foundation maintains strong ties to its home state, as evidenced by the $1M grant to North Dakota State University. Organizations with North Dakota presence or partnerships may have an advantage.

4. Consider donor-advised fund pathways: The $2.5M grant to Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund suggests the Chambers family may also give through DAFs. Building relationships with their advisors could open doors.

5. Focus on institutional excellence: The Whitehead Institute grant signals the foundation values world-class research institutions. Demonstrate scientific rigor, innovation capacity, and track record of breakthrough discoveries.

6. Monitor for evolution: As a foundation established in 2022, the Centurion Foundation is still developing its strategy. It may open application processes or publish focus areas in coming years. Check centurionfoundation.com periodically for updates.

7. Understand the asset growth trajectory: With $158M in assets from the initial Aldevron sale proceeds, the foundation has significant capacity for growth. Early relationship-building could pay dividends as grantmaking scales up.

8. Distinguish from similarly-named entities: Centurionfoundation.org is a different organization. Ensure all research and outreach targets the correct entity (EIN 87-3351799, West Fargo, ND).