The Michael and Lori Milken Family Foundation concentrates its giving in large institutional gifts, primarily funding policy/research institutions and Jewish community philanthropy. Most dollars flow to a repeat partner, the Milken Institute, for higher education and research programs, while a single seven-figure grant supports Jewish community centers and endowments. The foundation appears focused on high-impact, organizational-level investments rather than many small grassroots grants.
A $20,000,000 grant to the Jewish Community Foundation Charitable Fund stands out in The Michael and Lori Milken Family Foundation’s recent giving. That gift reflects a pattern of large institutional support tied to community centers and programs, alongside major commitments to research, higher education, and Jewish community philanthropy. The foundation’s largest recent awards are not scattered across many small recipients; instead, they cluster around a few repeat institutions that receive substantial multiyear support. The Milken Institute is a central recipient, with grants of $18,956,703 in 2024, $15,664,454 in 2023, and $1,289,016 in 2025 for the Milken Scholars Program. Those awards point to a sustained relationship that combines research and scholar support. The foundation also backs issue-specific work, including prostate cancer research through the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and institution-level funding for higher education and research at George Washington University and the University of Pennsylvania - Graduate School of Education. Alongside these larger organizational gifts, the foundation supports Jewish community infrastructure, K–12 education, health care, and cultural institutions. Recent grantees include Milken Community School, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, Los Angeles Ballet, Ellis Island Honors Society, and Kehillat Israel.
Higher education and research are prominent in the foundation’s portfolio. In 2025, it gave $1,289,016 to the Milken Institute for the Milken Scholars Program, and it also awarded $400,000 to George Washington University and $150,000 to the University of Pennsylvania - Graduate School of Education. K–12 education is another recurring area. The foundation supported Milken Community School with $925,000 in 2025, while Brentwood School received $325,000 in 2023 and Windward School received $250,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in both 2024 and 2025. Health care and disease-focused research appear in multiple grants as well. Prostate Cancer Foundation received $1,158,000 in 2024 and $302,000 in 2025 for prostate cancer research, and Capital Caring Health received $150,000 in 2025. Cultural institutions also receive support, including $455,000 to Los Angeles Ballet in 2024 and $225,000 to Ellis Island Honors Society in 2025.
$26.1M
$401.7M
$60.5M
$27.8M
Most grants fall between $2K and $25K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Highly concentrated giving: very large, institutional grants (including repeat funding to the Milken Institute) and a small number of recipients rather than broad, distributed grantmaking.
Notable grantees: Milken Institute, Jewish Community Foundation Charitable Fund
Typical grants are modest relative to the foundation’s largest awards: the p25 is $2,000, the median is $5,000, and the p75 is $25,000. The recent list, however, also includes large institutional grants in the six-, seven-, and eight-figure range, showing a wide spread between routine support and major commitments. Giving is clearly recurring rather than one-off. The Milken Institute appears across 2023, 2024, and 2025; Windward School appears in three consecutive years; Ownership Works and American Exchange Project also recur. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
The grants are overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 259 grants going to recipients in the United States. California is the main recipient state, accounting for 70% of grants, while Washington, DC is the top state by grant count overall. Recent recipient cities include Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Falls Church, and New York. The pattern shows a strong California concentration, but the foundation also gives to organizations in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on policy and economic research institutions, higher education and scholar programs, K–12 schools, community centers and programs, cultural institutions, health care, and prostate cancer research. The Milken Institute is a recurring recipient, and several grants also support Jewish community infrastructure.
Yes. The Milken Institute received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Windward School appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well. Ownership Works and American Exchange Project also recur across multiple years, indicating an ongoing relationship with several grantees.
The typical grant size is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes much larger institutional awards, including a $20,000,000 gift and several grants above $1,000,000.
California receives 70% of grants, and many recent recipients are in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Outside California, recent grants also went to organizations in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Falls Church, New York, and Floral Park.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CHARITABLE FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $1,289,016 | 2025 | MILKEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| MILKEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $925,000 | 2025 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| MATTEL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT UCLA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $617,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $302,000 | 2025 | PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH |
| AMERICAN EXCHANGE PROJECT | SUDBURY, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| OWNERSHIP WORKS | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| LOS ANGELES BALLET | LOS ANGELES, CA | $235,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| ELLIS ISLAND HONORS SOCIETY | FLORAL PARK, NY | $225,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| WINDWARD SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| CAPITAL CARING HEALTH | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $150,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $125,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| THE JOHN THOMAS DYE SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| LOS ANGELES DODGERS FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - MARSHALL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| LOS ANGELES OPERA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| KEEP MEMORY ALIVE | LAS VEGAS, NV | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL RESEARCH |
| LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | STANFORD, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| PIONEER VALLEY SYMPHONY | GREENFIELD, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| CHILDREN'S DIABETES FOUNDATION | AURORA, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| CALIFORNIA FORWARD | HERCULES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| VISION TO LEARN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| BRENT SHAPIRO FOUNDATION FOR DRUG AWARENESS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS |
| STANDWITHUS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| KIPP SOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| JOE TORRE SAFE AT HOME FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL RESEARCH |
| STAND UP TO CANCER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL RESEARCH |
| OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION | ASHLAND, OR | $10,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| PHASE ONE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL RESEARCH |
| IOLANI SCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $10,000 | 2025 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LUBAVITCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| STUDENTS RUN AMERICA | TARZANA, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| LOS ANGELES JEWISH SYMPHONY | ENCINO, CA | $7,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| BAR ILAN UNIVERSITY OF ISRAEL | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| UNION RESCUE MISSION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS |
| AMERICANS FOR BEN GURION UNIVERSITY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| HADASSAH | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| FIRST STAR INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| LOS ANGELES POLICE FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| WASHINGTON NATIONALS PHILANTHROPIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| SANTA MONICA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION WELLNESS FUND | SANTA MONICA, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| PROVIDENCE TRINITY KIDS CARE | TORRANCE, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CHARITABLE FUND
$20,000,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
MATTEL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT UCLA
$617,000HEALTH CARE
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$400,000HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS
PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH
ELLIS ISLAND HONORS SOCIETY
$225,000CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
$150,000HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS
HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS
$125,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - MARSHALL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
$80,000HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS
LOS ANGELES OPERA
$75,000CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS
KEEP MEMORY ALIVE
$75,000GENERAL RESEARCH
STANFORD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
$50,000HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS
PIONEER VALLEY SYMPHONY
$50,000CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
$10,000GENERAL RESEARCH
LOS ANGELES JEWISH SYMPHONY
$7,000CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS
AMERICANS FOR BEN GURION UNIVERSITY
$5,000HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS
FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER
$5,000HEALTH CARE
HADASSAH
$5,000HEALTH CARE
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$5,000HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS
SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER
$5,000CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS
LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE
$5,000CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS
SANTA MONICA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION WELLNESS FUND
$3,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
PROVIDENCE TRINITY KIDS CARE
$3,000HEALTH CARE