The Robert & Lynda Altman Family Foundation focuses exclusively on medical research, with all disclosed giving directed toward translational genomics and cancer-related diagnostics and treatment. Its grants establish a named research fund and support concrete projects to develop ultra-rapid whole genomic sequencing and sensitive diagnostics for progression from myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML). The foundation funds through a close partnership model with research institutions, targeting rapid improvement in patient outcomes for specific hematologic malignancies.
The Robert & Lynda Altman Family Foundation’s recent giving centers on translational genomics research for hematologic disease, especially work tied to myeloproliferative neoplasms and secondary acute myeloid leukemia. A defining feature of the foundation’s grantmaking is its repeated support for a named family research fund at the Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation, with multiple grants in 2023 and 2024 that were designed to advance two complementary research areas for RA. That pattern points to a funder that uses large, institutional grants to back specific biomedical research agendas over time. The foundation’s largest disclosed recent grants were made to Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation in Phoenix, including a $4,325,684 general-purpose grant in 2023 and a $3,022,490 grant in 2024 for the Robert & Lynda Carter Altman Family Research Fund with TGEN and its affiliate, City of Hope. Other disclosed grants show the same research orientation, including a $2,651,826 award in 2024 and a $1,254,800 award in 2023 for the same research fund structure. The overall pattern is concentrated, programmatic support for biomedical research institutions rather than broad small-grant activity.
The foundation gives in a narrow set of biomedical research topics. In translational genomics, it made a $4,325,684 general-purpose grant to Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation in Phoenix. It also supported the Robert & Lynda Carter Altman Family Research Fund with TGEN and its affiliate, City of Hope through several large grants, including $3,070,884 in 2023 and $3,022,490 in 2024. The stated research purpose behind that fund points to two complementary areas designed for RA. That focus aligns with diagnostics and treatment research for myeloproliferative neoplasms and secondary acute myeloid leukemia. The foundation’s support is institution-based and linked to clinical research centers, with City of Hope named in the fund description. Beyond the biomedical program, the disclosed grant list includes general-purpose support for Landon School in Bethesda and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, showing that the foundation also makes selective grants outside its core research agenda.
$1.4M
$227.8M
$14.6M
$3.5M
Most grants fall between $200K and $3M, with a median of $1.3M.
25th Percentile
$200K
Median
$1.3M
75th Percentile
$3M
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Highly concentrated and targeted: all giving goes to a single primary research partner (repeat grants totaling a large sum) to create a named fund and underwrite specific diagnostic and sequencing projects rather than broad or diversified philanthropy.
Notable grantees: Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), City of Hope (affiliate clinical research partner), The Robert & Lynda Carter Altman Family Research Fund (designated within TGen/City of Hope)
The disclosed grant-size distribution is large: the 25th percentile is $200,000, the median grant is $1,254,800, and the 75th percentile is $3,022,490. The pattern is shaped by a few very large awards rather than many small ones. Recent filings also show repeated support to the same biomedical grantee across 2023 and 2024, which suggests ongoing institutional partnerships. The foundation appears to operate as a family foundation: it is named for Robert and Lynda Altman and does not fund individuals. The recent grants list also shows that some awards were made in publicly traded stock. No application process is provided in the data.
Grantmaking is regional and heavily concentrated outside Maryland. The top recipient state by grant count is DC, while 0% of grants were made to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state of Maryland. Phoenix appears repeatedly through grants to Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation, and Washington, DC appears through Smithsonian Institution awards. Bethesda, MD also appears among recipients, including Landon School.
Its disclosed giving is focused on medical research, especially translational genomics research for hematologic cancers. The grant descriptions point to work on myeloproliferative neoplasms, progression to secondary acute myeloid leukemia, rapid whole-genome sequencing, and diagnostic development tied to treatment decisions.
The grant-size profile is very large. The 25th percentile is $200,000, the median grant is $1,254,800, and the 75th percentile is $3,022,490. Recent awards include multi-million-dollar grants to Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation.
Yes. Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation received multiple grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, including both general-purpose support and awards tied to the Robert & Lynda Carter Altman Family Research Fund. Landon School also appears more than once in 2025.
The top state by grant count is DC. The recipient list also includes Phoenix, Bethesda, and Washington, DC, while none of the disclosed grants went to recipients in Maryland, the foundation’s headquarters state.
It does not fund individuals. The data also shows institutional grants made to organizations such as Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, Landon School, and Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation. No application process is described in the available grant data.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LANDON SCHOOL | BETHESDA, MD | $386,845 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE - GRANT MADE IN PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK |
| LANDON SCHOOL | BETHESDA, MD | $244,183 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE - GRANT MADE IN PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK |
| LANDON SCHOOL | BETHESDA, MD | $235,614 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE - GRANT MADE IN PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK |
| LANDON SCHOOL | BETHESDA, MD | $209,257 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE - GRANT MADE IN PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,871 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE - GRANT MADE IN PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK |
| LANDON SCHOOL | BETHESDA, MD | $112,680 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE - GRANT MADE IN PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK |
| LANDON SCHOOL | BETHESDA, MD | $7,524 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LANDON SCHOOL | BETHESDA, MD | $4,129 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE - GRANT MADE IN PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK |
| TRANSLATIONAL GENOMICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $3,022,490 | 2024 | ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROBERT & LYNDA CARTER ALTMAN FAMILY RESEARCH FUND WITH TGEN AND ITS AFFILIATE, CITY OF HOPE, TO FACILITATE RESEARCH EFFORTS IN TWO COMPLEMENTARY AREAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR RAPID IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENT OUTCOMES WHO SUFFER FROM MPN/SAML. ONE RESEARCH PROJECT, THE THERAPEUTIC RESEARCH PROJECT, TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE CITY OF HOPE WILL COMPREHENSIVELY TEST AND SCALE UP THE MANUFACTURE OF THE DRUG DENOMINATED AS MIR-142. THIS "MIMETIC" DRUG SIMULATES (REPLACES) THE ACTION OF A NORMAL SIGNAL THAT IS MISSING IN MPN/SAML PATIENTS. |
| TRANSLATIONAL GENOMICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $2,651,826 | 2024 | ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROBERT & LYNDA CARTER ALTMAN FAMILY RESEARCH FUND WITH TGEN AND ITS AFFILIATE, CITY OF HOPE, TO FACILITATE RESEARCH EFFORTS IN TWO COMPLEMENTARY AREAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR RAPID IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENT OUTCOMES WHO SUFFER FROM MPN/SAML. ONE RESEARCH PROJECT, THE DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT, IS TO BE CONDUCTED BY TGEN TO DEVELOP TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE FIRST DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST SENSITIVE TEST FOR THE TRANSITION FROM MPN TO SAML. THE SECOND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY AN ULTRA-RAPID WHOLE GENOMIC SEQUENCING TEST TO IDENTIFY DRUG TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM MPN TO SAML. |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MATTHEW SILVERMAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TRANSLATIONAL GENOMICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $4,325,684 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TRANSLATIONAL GENOMICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $3,070,884 | 2023 | ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROBERT & LYNDA CARTER ALTMAN FAMILY RESEARCH FUND WITH TGEN AND ITS AFFILIATE, CITY OF HOPE, TO FACILITATE RESEARCH EFFORTS IN TWO COMPLEMENTARY AREAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR RAPID IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENT OUTCOMES WHO SUFFER FROM MPN/SAML. ONE RESEARCH PROJECT, THE DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT, IS TO BE CONDUCTED BY TGEN TO DEVELOP TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE FIRST DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST SENSITIVE TEST FOR THE TRANSITION FROM MPN TO SAML. THE SECOND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY AN ULTRA-RAPID WHOLE GENOMIC SEQUENCING TEST TO IDENTIFY DRUG TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM MPN TO SAML. |
| TRANSLATIONAL GENOMICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $1,254,800 | 2023 | ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROBERT & LYNDA CARTER ALTMAN FAMILY RESEARCH FUND WITH TGEN AND ITS AFFILIATE, CITY OF HOPE, TO FACILITATE RESEARCH EFFORTS IN TWO COMPLEMENTARY AREAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR RAPID IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENT OUTCOMES WHO SUFFER FROM MPN/SAML. ONE RESEARCH PROJECT, THE THERAPEUTIC RESEARCH PROJECT, TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE CITY OF HOPE WILL COMPREHENSIVELY TEST AND SCALE UP THE MANUFACTURE OF THE DRUG DENOMINATED AS MIR-142. THIS "MIMETIC" DRUG SIMULATES (REPLACES) THE ACTION OF A NORMAL SIGNAL THAT IS MISSING IN MPN/SAML PATIENTS. |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
$200,871GENERAL PURPOSE - GRANT MADE IN PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROBERT & LYNDA CARTER ALTMAN FAMILY RESEARCH FUND WITH TGEN AND ITS AFFILIATE, CITY OF HOPE, TO FACILITATE RESEARCH EFFORTS IN TWO COMPLEMENTARY AREAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR RAPID IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENT OUTCOMES WHO SUFFER FROM MPN/SAML. ONE RESEARCH PROJECT, THE THERAPEUTIC RESEARCH PROJECT, TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE CITY OF HOPE WILL COMPREHENSIVELY TEST AND SCALE UP THE MANUFACTURE OF THE DRUG DENOMINATED AS MIR-142. THIS "MIMETIC" DRUG SIMULATES (REPLACES) THE ACTION OF A NORMAL SIGNAL THAT IS MISSING IN MPN/SAML PATIENTS.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROBERT & LYNDA CARTER ALTMAN FAMILY RESEARCH FUND WITH TGEN AND ITS AFFILIATE, CITY OF HOPE, TO FACILITATE RESEARCH EFFORTS IN TWO COMPLEMENTARY AREAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR RAPID IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENT OUTCOMES WHO SUFFER FROM MPN/SAML. ONE RESEARCH PROJECT, THE DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT, IS TO BE CONDUCTED BY TGEN TO DEVELOP TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE FIRST DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST SENSITIVE TEST FOR THE TRANSITION FROM MPN TO SAML. THE SECOND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY AN ULTRA-RAPID WHOLE GENOMIC SEQUENCING TEST TO IDENTIFY DRUG TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM MPN TO SAML.
MATTHEW SILVERMAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROBERT & LYNDA CARTER ALTMAN FAMILY RESEARCH FUND WITH TGEN AND ITS AFFILIATE, CITY OF HOPE, TO FACILITATE RESEARCH EFFORTS IN TWO COMPLEMENTARY AREAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR RAPID IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENT OUTCOMES WHO SUFFER FROM MPN/SAML. ONE RESEARCH PROJECT, THE DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT, IS TO BE CONDUCTED BY TGEN TO DEVELOP TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE FIRST DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST SENSITIVE TEST FOR THE TRANSITION FROM MPN TO SAML. THE SECOND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY AN ULTRA-RAPID WHOLE GENOMIC SEQUENCING TEST TO IDENTIFY DRUG TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM MPN TO SAML.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROBERT & LYNDA CARTER ALTMAN FAMILY RESEARCH FUND WITH TGEN AND ITS AFFILIATE, CITY OF HOPE, TO FACILITATE RESEARCH EFFORTS IN TWO COMPLEMENTARY AREAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR RAPID IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENT OUTCOMES WHO SUFFER FROM MPN/SAML. ONE RESEARCH PROJECT, THE THERAPEUTIC RESEARCH PROJECT, TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE CITY OF HOPE WILL COMPREHENSIVELY TEST AND SCALE UP THE MANUFACTURE OF THE DRUG DENOMINATED AS MIR-142. THIS "MIMETIC" DRUG SIMULATES (REPLACES) THE ACTION OF A NORMAL SIGNAL THAT IS MISSING IN MPN/SAML PATIENTS.