Robert B. McMillen Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 20-0011616 · since 2003mcmillenfoundation.org·Alaska, Tucson, Washington·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$69,660

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

A small fraction of the prior year ($308k in 2023 tax year).

$500 to $150k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$4,750

Typical grant (median)

6 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

If your work is in medical research on early-life detection and intervention for children, in cardiology, lipids or organ transplantation, in social enhancement for marginalised and underserved communities, or in higher education in Washington and Alaska, it matches the foundation's stated themes.
The filing gives Washington and Alaska as its geographic focus, with Tucson as a priority, and says the foundation gives bonus consideration to Tucson organisations and to those using the arts as a lens.
Keep the request modest: half of its recent grants to organisations were $4,500 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $500 and $150,000, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling.
Unsolicited proposals are not accepted, so send a Letter of Inquiry first; applications are rolling, so there is no deadline to wait for.
The MAC Reverse Scholarship Program is for individual visual artists living and working in Washington State, so an organisation should not apply to it.

Overview

Robert B. McMillen Foundation is a US private foundation based in Tucson, AZ.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation supports medical research in cardiology, lipids and organ transplantation, with particular interest in early-life detection and intervention and programmes benefiting children. It also gives grants to non-profit organisations working on complex problems through innovation and creativity, seeking a more equitable and thriving society. Its social enhancement priorities include initiatives supporting marginalised and underserved communities, with preference for organisations located in Tucson and those using the arts as a lens for their work. The foundation also supports higher education in Washington and Alaska through reverse scholarships for visual artists. Its MAC Reverse Scholarship Program provides student-loan relief to visual artists with a visual arts degree who are living and working in Washington State.

Themes

Medical research
Higher education
Social enhancement

Geographic Focus

Washington; Alaska. Priority: Tucson.

How to apply

Organisations whose work aligns with the foundation's mission and funding priorities may submit a Letter of Inquiry as a thoughtful introduction. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted.

Application success factors

Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 13 grants to organisations were $4,500 or less.

What the foundation says:

Medical research focused on early-life detection and intervention, especially programmes benefiting children, is preferred.
Social Enhancement prioritises initiatives supporting marginalised and underserved communities.
It gives bonus consideration to organisations in Tucson and to those using the arts as a lens for their work.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Washington100%

The largest single recipient received 86% of grant dollars to organisations.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
<1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

6 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $4,750

How much do they typically give?

Share of 6 grants in tax year 2023 by size

Under $1k50%

$1k–$2.5k0%

$2.5k–$5k0%

$5k–$10k17%

$10k–$25k17%

$25k–$50k0%

$50k–$100k0%

$100k–$250k17%

Median $4,750 (tax year 2023)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Uw Medicine Advancement · Research
$148,0002023 tax year
Allied Arts of Whatcom County · Aawc arts education project
$13,5002023 tax year
Gallery 110 · Emerging artist program
$9,0002023 tax year
Salvation Army · General support
$5002023 tax year
Seattle Goodwill Industries · General support
$5002023 tax year
United Way of King County · General support
$5002023 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Brian Bassir — Director
Erin Mcmillen — Secretary
Cynthia Petrie — Treasurer
Christi Clark — Vice President
Michael Mcmillen — Chairman
Cassandra Town — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$611,145	$305,821	$6,180,011	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$635,261	$307,726	$6,816,538	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$415,119	$69,660	$7,130,957	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.