The Dauten Family Foundation makes very large, targeted gifts to national policy institutes and mental-health organizations, favoring institutional support over many small grants. Its funding is dominated by multi-million-dollar grants to the Milken Institute, alongside substantial support for serious mental-health research and service organizations such as Fountain House and Harvard’s bipolar disorder fund. The pattern suggests a priority on influencing public policy/economic research and advancing clinical and community responses to serious mental illness.
Highly concentrated, large-dollar grants to a very small number of institutional grantees; repeat multi-million-dollar support for the same lead grantee (Milken Institute) alongside sizable one-off gifts to mental-health research and service providers.
A defining feature of Dauten Family Foundation C/o Kent P Dauten is the scale of its support for the Milken Institute, with grants of $28,067,683 in 2023, $9,284,500 in 2024, and $19,825,372 in 2025. That concentration sits alongside substantial funding for mental-health organizations and research programs, pointing to a portfolio built around policy, biomedical research, and services for people living with mood disorders. The foundation’s recent giving includes support for Fountain House in New York, Harvard University’s Bipolar Disorder Fund for Neuroscience Research, and several hospital- and community-based mental health organizations. It also backs advocacy and education groups such as the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and The Kennedy Forum. Across these grants, the pattern is clear: large institutional awards, repeated commitments to a small set of grantees, and a strong emphasis on serious mental illness, especially bipolar disorder and related mood disorders. Its checks are not limited to research alone. Some grants support program services, while others explicitly fund neuroscience research or the opening of a new hospital program. That mix shows a funder that uses major grants to support policy influence, clinical research, and direct service delivery within the same issue area.
In public policy and economic research, Dauten Family Foundation C/o Kent P Dauten gave $19,825,372 to The Milken Institute in 2025 to further program services. The size and repetition of that support make the institute a central grantee in the foundation’s portfolio. On serious mental illness, the foundation funded Harvard University with $138,405 in 2024 for the Bipolar Disorder Fund for Neuroscience Research, after a $1,823,420 grant in 2023 for the same purpose. It also supported the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation with $25,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to advance scientific research on mental illness. For community-based support, it gave $250,000 to Fountain House in 2025 and $2,856,200 in 2024 for program services. The foundation also supported the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance with grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 tied to hope, help, support, and education for people with mood disorders and those who love them.
Dauten Family Foundation C/o Kent P Dauten makes large grants: the typical award falls between $125,000 at the 25th percentile and $535,000 at the 75th percentile, with a median of $264,571. The pattern is more concentrated than broad-based, with repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, including the Milken Institute, Harvard University, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, The Kennedy Forum, and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. The grant language emphasizes program services, research support, and opening or expanding services, rather than open applications or individual giving. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$22.4M
$32.4M
$41.9M
$22.6M
Most grants fall between $125K and $535K, with a median of $265K.
25th Percentile
$125K
Median
$265K
75th Percentile
$535K
About 38% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: The Milken Institute, Fountain House, Harvard University (Bipolar Disorder Fund for Neuroscience Research)
Grantmaking is national, with recipients in 100% of the grants located in the U.S. Chicago appears frequently among recipients, including the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, The Kennedy Forum, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. New York is another major recipient location, with Fountain House and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation both appearing there. Other recipient cities include Santa Monica, Cambridge, Boston, Northfield, Arlington, Rutherford, Des Plaines, and Salt Lake City.
The foundation supports national public policy and economic research organizations, along with mental-health research and service providers. Recent grants went to the Milken Institute for program services, Harvard University for the Bipolar Disorder Fund for Neuroscience Research, Fountain House for program services, and hospital-based psychiatry departments in Boston and Chicago.
Yes. Several grantees appear in multiple years, including the Milken Institute in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Harvard University in 2023 and 2024; the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance in 2023, 2024, and 2025; The Kennedy Forum in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The 25th percentile grant is $125,000, the median is $264,571, and the 75th percentile is $535,000. Recent gifts also show a much larger upper end, including mult-million-dollar grants to the Milken Institute.
The foundation gives nationally, and all 29 recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients. Chicago is a frequent recipient city, followed by New York, Boston, and Cambridge among the named locations in the recent grants list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $19,825,372 | 2025 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY | BOSTON, MA | $535,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| JOSSELYN CENTER | NORTHFIELD, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $500,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE | CHICAGO, IL | $395,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DSBA'S MISSION AND PURPOSE, WHICH PROVIDE HOPE, HELP, SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOOD DISORDERS AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM |
| THE KENNEDY FORUM | CHICAGO, IL | $350,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| FOUNTAIN HOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY MENTAL ILLNESS BY AWARDING GRANTS THAT WILL LEAD TO ADVANCES AND BREAKTHROUGHS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH |
| THE MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $9,284,500 | 2024 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| FOUNTAIN HOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,856,200 | 2024 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY | BOSTON, MA | $739,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $689,300 | 2024 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE KENNEDY FORUM | CHICAGO, IL | $325,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $264,571 | 2024 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE | CHICAGO, IL | $140,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DSBA'S MISSION AND PURPOSE, WHICH PROVIDE HOPE, HELP, SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOOD DISORDERS AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $138,405 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE BIPOLAR DISORDER FUND FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH |
| BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY MENTAL ILLNESS BY AWARDING GRANTS THAT WILL LEAD TO ADVANCES AND BREAKTHROUGHS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $28,067,683 | 2023 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,823,420 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE BIPOLAR DISORDER FUND FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY | BOSTON, MA | $500,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE KENNEDY FORUM | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $221,276 | 2023 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| LUTHERN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS | DES PLAINES, IL | $125,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE OPENING OF THE NEW PROJECT IMPACT PROGRAM METHODIST HOSPITAL |
| DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE | CHICAGO, IL | $125,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT DSBA'S MISSION AND PURPOSE, WHICH PROVIDE HOPE, HELP, SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOOD DISORDERS AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY MENTAL ILLNESS BY AWARDING GRANTS THAT WILL LEAD TO ADVANCES AND BREAKTHROUGHS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH |
| ONE MIND | RUTHERFORD, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
THE MILKEN INSTITUTE
$19,825,372TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
$535,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
JOSSELYN CENTER
$500,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$500,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE
$395,000TO SUPPORT DSBA'S MISSION AND PURPOSE, WHICH PROVIDE HOPE, HELP, SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOOD DISORDERS AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM
THE KENNEDY FORUM
$350,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
FOUNTAIN HOUSE
$250,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$25,000TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY MENTAL ILLNESS BY AWARDING GRANTS THAT WILL LEAD TO ADVANCES AND BREAKTHROUGHS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
THE MILKEN INSTITUTE
$9,284,500TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
FOUNTAIN HOUSE
$2,856,200TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
$739,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$689,300TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
THE KENNEDY FORUM
$325,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO
$264,571TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE
$140,000TO SUPPORT DSBA'S MISSION AND PURPOSE, WHICH PROVIDE HOPE, HELP, SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOOD DISORDERS AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$138,405TO SUPPORT THE BIPOLAR DISORDER FUND FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$25,000TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY MENTAL ILLNESS BY AWARDING GRANTS THAT WILL LEAD TO ADVANCES AND BREAKTHROUGHS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS
$25,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
THE MILKEN INSTITUTE
$28,067,683TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$1,823,420TO SUPPORT THE BIPOLAR DISORDER FUND FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
$500,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
THE KENNEDY FORUM
$250,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
$221,276TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO
$200,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
LUTHERN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS
$125,000TO SUPPORT THE OPENING OF THE NEW PROJECT IMPACT PROGRAM METHODIST HOSPITAL
DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE
$125,000TO SUPPORT DSBA'S MISSION AND PURPOSE, WHICH PROVIDE HOPE, HELP, SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOOD DISORDERS AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS
$25,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$25,000TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY MENTAL ILLNESS BY AWARDING GRANTS THAT WILL LEAD TO ADVANCES AND BREAKTHROUGHS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
ONE MIND
$25,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES