The Lucas Brothers Foundation concentrates its giving in biomedical research—most prominently Alzheimer's research—while also funding higher-education initiatives and a small set of ethics and humanitarian projects. Grants are large and targeted (often multi-hundred-thousand dollar gifts) to a small group of institutions, with repeat support for research partners and local education programs. Funding spans local (Silicon Valley) recipients and major university research foundations, with occasional international humanitarian giving.
The Lucas Brothers Foundation’s largest recent award was a $1,000,000 grant to Myriel Inc co Karen Ashe for Alzheimer research, underscoring how heavily the foundation leans into disease-specific biomedical work. Across the recent record, that research focus appears alongside a second, separate line of giving to Santa Clara University for the study and promotion of applied venture Ethics, plus targeted support for college students facing financial hardship in the Peninsula. The foundation also makes occasional humanitarian grants, including support for House of Hope for Costa Rica. Its giving is concentrated in a small number of institutions and often takes the form of large, project-restricted awards. Myriel Inc and Santa Clara University each appear more than once, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation’s recent support also includes University of Minnesota Foundation for medical research and Peninsula College Fund for first-generation college students. The pattern points to a grantmaker that combines long-running research support with selective education and humanitarian funding.
Alzheimer’s research is the clearest thread in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $750,000 in 2023 and $385,000 in 2024 to Myriel Inc co Dr Karen Ashe for Alzheimer research, then followed with a $1,000,000 grant in 2025 for the same purpose. In higher education and ethics, the foundation gave Santa Clara University $700,000 in 2024 for the study and promotion of applied venture Ethics and another $300,000 in 2025 for the same theme. It also provided $50,000 to SCU College of Arts Science in 2025 in memory of Mario. The foundation’s student support work is more direct: it gave $162,000 to The Peninsula College Fund in 2025 and $140,000 in 2024 to help 15 first-generation college students with emergency funds for financial hardship. Its broader medical and humanitarian interests also include $200,000 to University of Minnesota Foundation for medical research and $200,000 to House of Hope for Costa Rica for humanity.
Typical grants are large: the p25 size is $171,500, the median is $250,000, and the p75 is $621,250. The recent record shows repeated support for the same recipients over multiple years, especially Myriel Inc co Dr Karen Ashe and Santa Clara University, which points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does make grants to individuals; it also does not make program-related investments. The pattern is best described as targeted, project-restricted funding with a small number of recurring institutional partners.
$2.7M
$39.8M
$1.9M
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $172K and $621K, with a median of $250K.
25th Percentile
$172K
Median
$250K
75th Percentile
$621K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Lucas Brothers Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 14 | $5.4M | 93.3% |
| 2 | Czech Republic |
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Concentrated, high-value grants to a small number of repeat grantees—heavy emphasis on a flagship scientific research partner with additional large gifts to universities and selective local/international program support.
Notable grantees: Myriel Inc / Dr. Karen Ashe, Santa Clara University, University of Minnesota Foundation, The Peninsula College Fund, House of Hope for Costa Rica
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States. California receives half of the grants, and the recent list shows multiple recipients in Santa Clara, San Jose, and Milpitas. Minnesota is the top state by grant count, with grants to Saint Paul and Minneapolis-area recipients tied to research funding. Outside the U.S. appears only indirectly through a Costa Rica-related humanitarian grant, though the recipient listed is based in Salt Lake City.
The strongest recurring areas are Alzheimer’s biomedical research, applied venture ethics at Santa Clara University, emergency support for first-generation college students, broader medical research, and occasional humanitarian or community-development work connected to Costa Rica.
Its recent grants are generally large. The typical grant-size distribution is $171,500 at the 25th percentile, $250,000 at the median, and $621,250 at the 75th percentile.
Yes. The recent grants show repeated support for Myriel Inc co Dr Karen Ashe across 2023, 2024, and 2025, and for Santa Clara University in 2024 and 2025. That pattern suggests ongoing grant relationships.
The student-support grants go to first-generation college students facing financial hardship through Peninsula College Fund. The recent awards include $162,000 in 2025 and $140,000 in 2024 to help 15 students with emergency funds.
No. California accounts for 50% of grants, but recent awards also went to Minnesota-based recipients in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and the foundation gave a humanitarian grant connected to Costa Rica through a recipient in Salt Lake City.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $1.2M |
6.7% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ustav OrganickE Chemie | Praha Dejvice | $1,199,999 | 2026 | Focuses on basic research at the intersection of chemistry and biology. |
| MYRIEL INC CO KAREN ASHE | SAINT PAUL, MN | $1,000,000 | 2026 | Alzheimer research |
| St Joseph Financial Services | San Jose, CA | $250,000 | 2026 | Providing financial and accounting services to Catholic entities. |
| HOUSE OF HOPE FOR COSTA RICA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $200,000 | 2026 | HUMANITY |
| THE PENINSULA COLLEGE FUND | MILPITAS, CA | $90,000 | 2026 | Funds to help 15 first generation college students emergency funds for students facing financial hardship. |
| MYRIEL INC CO KAREN ASHE | SAINT PAUL, MN | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Alzheimer research |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | study and promotion of applied venture Ethics |
| HOUSE OF HOPE FOR COSTA RICA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $200,000 | 2025 | HUMANITY |
| THE PENINSULA COLLEGE FUND | MILPITAS, CA | $162,000 | 2025 | Funds to help 15 first generation college students emergency funds for students facing financial hardship. |
| SCU College of Arts Science | SANTA CLARA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | IN MEMORY OF MARIO |
| SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY | santa clara, CA | $700,000 | 2024 | study and promotion of applied venture Ethics |
| MYRIEL INC CO KAREN ASHE | SAINT PAUL, MN | $385,000 | 2024 | Alzheimer research |
| Peninsula College fund | Milpitas, CA | $140,000 | 2024 | Funds to help 15 first generation college students emergency funds for students facing financial hardship. |
| Myriel Inc co Dr Karen Ashe | saint paul, MN | $750,000 | 2023 | Alzheimer research |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNESPOLIS, MN | $200,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
Ustav OrganickE Chemie
$1,199,999Focuses on basic research at the intersection of chemistry and biology.
MYRIEL INC CO KAREN ASHE
$1,000,000Alzheimer research
St Joseph Financial Services
$250,000Providing financial and accounting services to Catholic entities.
HOUSE OF HOPE FOR COSTA RICA
$200,000HUMANITY
THE PENINSULA COLLEGE FUND
$90,000Funds to help 15 first generation college students emergency funds for students facing financial hardship.
MYRIEL INC CO KAREN ASHE
$1,000,000Alzheimer research
Santa Clara University
$300,000study and promotion of applied venture Ethics
HOUSE OF HOPE FOR COSTA RICA
$200,000HUMANITY
Funds to help 15 first generation college students emergency funds for students facing financial hardship.
SCU College of Arts Science
$50,000IN MEMORY OF MARIO
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
$700,000study and promotion of applied venture Ethics
MYRIEL INC CO KAREN ASHE
$385,000Alzheimer research
Peninsula College fund
$140,000Funds to help 15 first generation college students emergency funds for students facing financial hardship.
Myriel Inc co Dr Karen Ashe
$750,000Alzheimer research