Established in 1950 by the late New York legislator and businessman Charles A. Dana, The Dana Foundation is a private philanthropic institution committed to support activities and publications related to education, health, and sciences principally in the areas of brain science, immunology, and arts education. The foundation holds its base office in New York and has offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

The Dana Foundation is involved in numerous activities such as sharing knowledge; sponsoring events like forums, lectures and workshops; news reporting; and supporting scientists and art education through science and health grants on sections covering brain and immuno-imaging, human immunology, neuroimmunology, clinical neuroscience research; and art education grants including Three-City Initiative Grants and Rural Initiative Grants.

The Dana Foundation website is part of the foundation’s information-sharing program. It contains a BrainWeb section that provides relevant information about brain diseases and disorders, with links to over 25 common brain disorders. Its Brain Resource tool and Immunology Research Tool generate search results derived from the foundation’s broad content library including news articles, reports, publications, and other important information. Other web resources include the Brainy Kids Online that provides educational resources, lesson plans, labs, and games to children and teenagers as well as to parents and teachers; and Brain Resources for Seniors which has links to brain-health related sites meant for the consumption of older adults.

Additionally, The Dana Foundation runs the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives (DABI), a nonprofit organization consisting of 260 distinguished neuroscientists, including 10 Nobel laureates, aiming to promote public consciousness about the benefits and development of brain research and to share information on the brain understandably and accessibly. DABI carries out programs such as the Brain Awareness Week campaign; the radio series Gray Matters; and Staying Sharp, a program that includes a series of booklets and public forums.

The foundation also operates Dana Press, a publisher of a series of books focusing mainly on brain sciences; Cerebrum, a monthly online magazine; BrainWork, a bi-monthly newsletter; and several periodical publications.