The Merkin Family Foundation concentrates its giving on large, strategic investments in elite higher-education and biomedical research institutions across the U.S., often making multi‑million dollar and repeat commitments to advance science and education. Grants are highly targeted — funding flagship research centers, university programs, and occasionally high-profile civic projects (e.g., a memorial for fallen journalists) rather than many small community grants. The foundation’s portfolio reflects a national, research‑oriented philanthropic posture with an emphasis on strengthening research capacity at top institutions.
Merkin Family Foundation’s recent giving is defined by large, repeat commitments to a small set of higher-education and biomedical research institutions. The largest grant in the recent record is $5.6 million to the Milken Institute in 2025, and the foundation also made multi-million-dollar awards to California Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, and the Broad Institute. That pattern points to a funder focused on building research capacity, supporting scientific discovery, and backing institutions with national reach. The foundation’s portfolio is not broad-based community grantmaking. Instead, it concentrates on education and medical research, with occasional support for projects outside those core areas. In the recent grants list, those exceptions include a $1 million grant to the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation for a memorial to fallen journalists in Washington, D.C., and support for arts-and-education organizations in California. Most of the listed grants go to universities, research institutes, and medical research nonprofits, often at substantial levels that signal project, program, or infrastructure support rather than small, one-off awards.
Education is a major line of work for Merkin Family Foundation, especially when it connects to research institutions and specialized programs. It gave $4.46 million to California Institute of Technology in 2024, $1.96 million in 2023, and another $400,000 in 2025, all coded as education. Biomedical and cancer research is another clear priority. The foundation awarded $680,000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in 2024 and $430,000 in 2023 for medical and cancer research, plus $100,000 to the University of Southern California in 2023 for medical research. It also funds specialized scientific infrastructure. In 2024, Convergent Research received $1 million for medical research, and The Maven Project received $300,000 in 2025 for telehealth. Outside science and education, the foundation made a $1 million grant to the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to build a memorial in Washington, D.C.
Merkin Family Foundation’s typical grant size is shaped by a wide spread: the 25th percentile is $31,250, the median is $100,000, and the 75th percentile is $983,500. That distribution shows a mix of smaller awards and large strategic commitments. The recent record also includes repeated grants to the same organizations across multiple years, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-time awards. It is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The pattern in the grants list leans toward operating, program, or institutional support at established nonprofits and universities, with several recipients appearing in consecutive years.
$9.2M
$228.6M
$11.2M
$11.3M
Most grants fall between $31K and $984K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$31K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$984K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving: a small number of very large grants (several multi‑million gifts), frequent repeat funding to the same flagship institutions, national in scope and focused on capacity‑building for research and higher education rather than broad, distributed small grants.
Notable grantees: California Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Broad Institute, Milken Institute, Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. California receives the largest share by recipient location, and many grants land in Pasadena, La Jolla, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, and Oakland. Maryland appears as the top state by grant count, driven by recipient institutions in Baltimore. Outside California and Maryland, recent awards also reached Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Bonita Springs, Florida, plus San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The recent grants list is concentrated in universities, research institutes, and medical research nonprofits. Examples include California Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, the Broad Institute, Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Convergent Research. The foundation also supports selected arts-and-education and civic memorial projects.
Yes. The typical grant size ranges from a 25th percentile of $31,250 to a median of $100,000 and a 75th percentile of $983,500. Recent awards include multiple seven-figure grants, such as $5.6 million to the Milken Institute and $4.46 million to California Institute of Technology.
Yes. Several organizations appear more than once across recent years, including California Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, the Broad Institute, Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. That pattern indicates ongoing relationships with selected institutions.
By recipient location, California accounts for 73% of grants. The top state by grant count is Maryland, and recent grants also reached Massachusetts, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
Education and medical research are the dominant themes. The foundation also supports medical and cancer research, telehealth, arts and education, foster youth support, and a memorial project for fallen journalists.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MILKEN INSTITUTE | FLUSHING, CA | $5,600,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $2,000,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO | LA JOLLA, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | PASADENA, CA | $400,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE MAVEN PROJECT | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | TELEHEALTH |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CA | OAKLAND, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL AND CANCER RESEARCH |
| LOS ANGELES BALLET | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | ARTS & EDUCATIONARTS & EDUCATION |
| THE HAROLD & CAROLE PUMP FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| KYLES FAMILY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | TEACH LIFE SKILLS |
| THE ANDERSON FAMILY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE SUGAR RAY LEONARD FOUNDATION | WOODLAND HILLS, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOSTER YOUTH SUPPORT |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | PASADENA, CA | $4,460,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| BROAD INSTITUTE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $3,000,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| CONVERGENT RESEARCH | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | MEDIAL RESEARCH |
| FALLEN JOURNALISTS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | BONITA SPRINGS, FL | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO BUILD A MEMORIAL TO FALLEN JOURNALISTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. |
| MILKEN INSTITUTE | FLUSHING, CA | $934,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $680,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL AND CANCER RESEARCH |
| MACGILLURAY FREEMAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $250,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | ARTS & EDUCATION |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CA | OAKLAND, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| THE HAROLD & CAROLE PUMP FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| LOS ANGELES BALLET | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | ARTS & EDUCATIONARTS & EDUCATION |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PUERTO RICO | SAN JUAN, PR | $50,000 | 2024 | FOSTER YOUTH SUPPORT |
| UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | FOSTER YOUTH SUPPORT |
| THE HEART FOUNDATION | WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| KERSHAW'S CHALLENGE | DALLAS, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE |
| KYLES FAMILY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TEACH LIFE SKILLS |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $4,000,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BROAD INSTITUTE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $3,000,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | PASADENA, CA | $1,960,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO | LA JOLLA, CA | $1,000,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| MILKEN INSTITUTE | FLUSHING, CA | $766,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $430,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL AND CANCER RESEARCH |
| MACGILLIVRAY FREEMAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $250,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | ARTS & EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CA | OAKLAND, CA | $75,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| LOS ANGELES BALLET | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | ARTS & EDUCATIONARTS & EDUCATION |
| KERSHAW'S CHALLENGE | DALLAS, TX | $15,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
MILKEN INSTITUTE
$5,600,000EDUCATION
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$2,000,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO
$500,000EDUCATION
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CA
$150,000EDUCATION
THE HAROLD & CAROLE PUMP FOUNDATION
$50,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
KYLES FAMILY FOUNDATION
$25,000TEACH LIFE SKILLS
THE ANDERSON FAMILY FOUNDATION
$15,000EDUCATION
THE SUGAR RAY LEONARD FOUNDATION
$10,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
FALLEN JOURNALISTS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$1,000,000TO BUILD A MEMORIAL TO FALLEN JOURNALISTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
MILKEN INSTITUTE
$934,000EDUCATION
MACGILLURAY FREEMAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$250,000EDUCATION
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
$100,000ARTS & EDUCATION
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CA
$75,000EDUCATION
THE HAROLD & CAROLE PUMP FOUNDATION
$50,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
THE HEART FOUNDATION
$25,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
KYLES FAMILY FOUNDATION
$10,000TEACH LIFE SKILLS
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$4,000,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO
$1,000,000EDUCATION
MILKEN INSTITUTE
$766,000EDUCATION
MACGILLIVRAY FREEMAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$250,000EDUCATION
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
$100,000ARTS & EDUCATION
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CA
$75,000EDUCATION