Michelson Medical Research Foundation
ActivePhilanthropy & VoluntarismFunds Individuals
About Michelson Medical Research Foundation
The Michelson Medical Research Foundation concentrates large, strategic gifts on a small set of initiatives spanning biomedical research, animal welfare, and education/workforce innovation. Much of its funding flows to affiliated Michelson entities to run programs (animal adoption and spay/neuter, startup accelerators, IP education, smart justice and workforce initiatives) and to a few external partners for targeted biomedical and knowledge-infrastructure investments such as rapid vaccine/microbiome research and immunology. The foundation favors program-building and operational support, often seeding new organizations or sustaining affiliated ventures.
Focus Areas
Microbiome and rapid vaccine development research (academic partnership with UCLA)Found Animals programs: spay/neuter, microchipping, adoption, reproductive biology research and launch grantsPhilanthropic infrastructure and affiliated foundation support (Michelson Philanthropies / Michelson 20MM Foundation operations)Education-to-workforce programs and intellectual property awareness (future of work, workforce development, IP education, smart justice)
Who They Fund
shelter animals (Los Angeles area)highly gifted children / K-12 students
About Michelson Medical Research Foundation
A $20 million grant to The UCLA Foundation - Ciii for the Microbiome and Rapid Vaccine Development Institute stands out in the Michelson Medical Research Foundation Inc’s recent grant history. The foundation uses large, strategic awards to build research and program infrastructure rather than scatter small gifts across many recipients. Its funding also reaches affiliated Michelson entities that run animal welfare, education, and workforce initiatives, alongside targeted support for biomedical partners working on vaccines, immunology, and related research capacity. Two recurring patterns define this grantmaker. First, it backs internal operating platforms such as Michelson Philanthropies Inc and The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc, which carry forward multiple programs and provide administrative support. Second, it funds named initiatives at external organizations when the goal is to launch or expand a specific research or knowledge-building effort. Examples include support for the CA Institute for Immunology & Immunology to cover legal and other startup expenses, and funding for Human Vaccines Project Inc to accelerate vaccine and immunotherapy development. The result is a portfolio shaped by institutional support, research development, and program delivery across a limited set of priorities.
What Michelson Medical Research Foundation Funds
Biomedical research is a central thread in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $1,000,000 to CA Institute for Immunology & Immunology to cover legal and other expenses until the organization established its funding, and $591,031 to Human Vaccines Project Inc to accelerate vaccine and immunotherapy development for infectious and non-communicable diseases. Animal welfare is another major area. The foundation gave $8,300,000 to The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc for multiple animal welfare programs, including the Michelson Prize and grants in reproductive biology, the microchipping program, the adoption program, and the start-up accelerator; it also made a $5,000,000 grant for the same purpose in 2023. Education and workforce-related work appears through The Michelson 20mm Foundation Inc, which received $2,700,000 in 2025 to carry forth educational, future-of-work, workforce development, smart justice, and educational awareness programs.
How Michelson Medical Research Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$112.3M
Total Assets
$250.8M
Total Revenue
$17.4M
Total Expenses
$113.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $27K and $796K, with a median of $45K.
25th Percentile
$27K
Median
$45K
75th Percentile
$796K
Geographic Reach
Regional4 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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