The Alix Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $29,774,252 (2023)
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies widely (average $1,751,427 per award)
Geographic Focus: National (with emphasis on major U.S. cities)
Number of Grants: 17 awards (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 151 S Old Woodward Ave, Suite 400, Birmingham, MI 48009-6103

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Overview

The Alix Foundation was established in 1994 as a private family foundation by Jay Alix, founder of AlixPartners, the global advisory firm specializing in corporate turnarounds and restructuring. With assets totaling approximately $56.6 million (2024), the foundation distributed $29,774,252 in grants during 2023 across 17 awards. The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on education, healthcare and medical research, and religious organizations. Jay Alix's philanthropic philosophy centers on transformative investments in medicine and education, exemplified by his landmark $200 million gift to Mayo Clinic in 2018—the largest gift in Mayo Clinic's history—which led to the renaming of the institution's medical school as the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. The foundation operates through a selective, invitation-only model, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with defined application cycles or specific funding tiers. Instead, grantmaking is conducted on a discretionary basis by the foundation's trustees.

Average Grant Size: $1,751,427 (2023)
Grant Distribution: 17 awards made in 2023
Application Method: Invitation only—no public application process

Priority Areas

Based on available information, the foundation supports:

Education: Higher education institutions, medical education, scholarship programs
Healthcare and Medical Research: Medical schools, cancer research, healthcare institutions
Religious Organizations: Faith-based charitable institutions
Arts and Culture: Selective support in Southeast Michigan

The foundation has demonstrated a particular interest in transformative, large-scale investments in medical education and healthcare, with an emphasis on scholarship support and curriculum innovation.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's invitation-only policy effectively excludes organizations outside their pre-identified network. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from any organization.

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership:

Jay Alix - Chairman of the Board (uncompensated)
Christine T. Alix - President ($42,500 annual compensation)
Anika F. Alix - Director ($42,500 annual compensation)
Robert E. Shields - CEO
Arthur J. Kubert - VP, CFO, Secretary & Treasurer

About Jay Alix:

Jay Alix is the founder of AlixPartners and has concentrated on philanthropy in recent years, particularly in medicine and education. According to Crain's Detroit Business, Alix has "done quite a bit of philanthropy in Southeast Michigan quietly and anonymously" and has been "involved in some very significant medical things, in education and the arts." His philanthropic approach emphasizes strategic, high-impact investments rather than broad-based grantmaking.

On his approach to medical education philanthropy, Alix stated: "My primary philanthropic interests are medicine and education."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Alix Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

This policy, used by approximately 71% of private foundations in the United States, allows the foundation to:

Focus resources on organizations aligned with trustee interests
Build long-term relationships with select grantees
Reduce administrative burden on both foundation staff and prospective applicants
Conduct proactive research to identify high-impact organizations

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following strategies are based on general best practices for engaging invitation-only funders. No funder-specific information about The Alix Foundation's approach to identifying new grantees is publicly available.

Since The Alix Foundation identifies grantees through trustee discretion and internal research, organizations seeking support would need to:

Build visibility in the foundation's priority areas (education, healthcare/medical research, religious organizations)
Establish connections within Southeast Michigan philanthropic and business communities
Develop relationships within sectors where Jay Alix has demonstrated interest (medical education, cancer research, arts)
Demonstrate transformative potential and significant impact in your field

Given Jay Alix's connections to the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School), Mayo Clinic, University of Michigan, and the Southeast Michigan region, organizations with ties to these institutions or geographies may have greater potential for consideration.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, decisions are likely made on a rolling basis as opportunities align with trustee interests.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the invitation-only model. The foundation does not track or report application success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only structure, the following factors appear important based on analysis of the foundation's giving patterns and leadership priorities:

Transformative Scale: Jay Alix's $200 million gift to Mayo Clinic demonstrates a preference for large-scale, transformative investments rather than incremental support. Organizations should be prepared to articulate how significant funding would create lasting, systemic change.

Educational Excellence: The foundation has shown particular interest in scholarship programs and curriculum innovation in medical education. Projects that expand access to education or advance educational methodologies align with documented priorities.

Strategic Focus on Medicine: Healthcare and medical research constitute core funding priorities. The foundation's support has included cancer research and medical schools, suggesting interest in advancing medical knowledge and practice.

Southeast Michigan Connections: While the foundation funds nationally, Jay Alix has maintained quiet but significant involvement in Southeast Michigan's medical, educational, and arts sectors.

Long-term Relationship Potential: The foundation's model suggests preference for sustained partnerships with select organizations rather than one-time grants to many organizations.

Institutional Credibility: The foundation's documented grants have gone to established, prestigious institutions. Strong governance, financial stability, and demonstrated impact are likely essential.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists - The foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis with preselected organizations
Focus on transformative gifts - Average grant size of $1.75 million suggests preference for significant, high-impact investments
Education and healthcare priorities - Medical education, scholarship support, healthcare institutions, and medical research are core focus areas
Family foundation structure - Grantmaking decisions reflect the interests and vision of Jay Alix and family members serving as trustees
Relationship-driven - Success requires building visibility and credibility within the foundation's priority sectors and geographic areas of interest
Patient approach required - Without a formal application process, engagement must be strategic, relationship-based, and long-term
Geographic considerations - While funding is national in scope, Southeast Michigan organizations may have advantages given the founder's regional connections

References

Information compiled December 27, 2025