MacMillan Family Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 48-1286405 · since 2003macmillanff.org·New Jersey, New York·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$23.3M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$10,000 to $250k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$50,000

Typical grant (median)

151 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The foundation gives priority to New York City and New Jersey, so an organisation working in those places on cancer and medical research, education, arts or community wellbeing is the clearest fit.
Most of its grants (about 8 in 10) fall between $10,000 and $250,000, and half of its grants to organisations are $50,000 or less, so a request near the lower end of that range suits it best.
It does not accept unsolicited requests, so begin by completing its brief survey about your organisation and proposed project rather than sending a cold proposal.
Repeat giving is substantial: 75% of its grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so a first-time applicant should not assume an early approach will lead to a grant.

Overview

MacMillan Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.

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 MacMillan Family Foundation supports organisations that strengthen and enrich society through cancer and medical research, education and the arts. Its community grants support local, community-based organisations providing services and programmes to maintain and enhance the health, education and wellbeing of communities where its people live and work. In cancer and medical research it funds educational and research institutions and programmes helping exceptional scientists study causes and cures of cancer, and initiatives advancing health equity; it regards basic science as fundamental to discovery. Its education work aims to improve student outcomes in under-resourced communities in New York City and New Jersey, focusing on community schools, capacity-building for school leaders and early childhood educators, and literacy among young people. In the arts it funds infrastructure and capacity-building for long-term organisational sustainability and a thriving arts community, as well as arts education for young people.

Themes

Cancer and medical research
Education
Arts
Community wellbeing

Geographic Focus

Priority: New York City; New Jersey.

How to apply

Organisations can submit a brief survey so the foundation can learn about their organisation and proposed projects.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 75% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 373 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

It funds research institutions and programmes that help exceptional scientists study causes of and cures for cancer.
It supports programmes and initiatives advancing health equity.
It focuses education work on community schools, school leaders, early childhood educators and young people's literacy.
It funds arts infrastructure and capacity-building to strengthen organisational sustainability and a thriving arts community.
Its arts programmes include arts education for young people.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

New York60%

New Jersey29%

Pennsylvania3%

Connecticut3%

North Carolina<1%

California<1%

6 other states: <1%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 3%

The largest single recipient received 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to organisations MacMillan Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
3% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Canada).
6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

151 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $50,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 151 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$5k–$10k5%

$10k–$25k19%

$25k–$50k21%

$50k–$100k17%

$100k–$250k26%

$250k–$500k7%

$500k–$1M1%

$1M and over4%

Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)

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

New York Genome Center · General purpose
$5,000,0002024 tax year
Columbia University · General purpose
$1,600,0002024 tax year
Institute for Advanced Study · General purpose
$1,075,0002024 tax year
Princeton Healthcare System Foundation · General purpose
$1,025,0002024 tax year
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research · General purpose
$1,000,0002024 tax year
Mark Foundation for Cancer Research · General purpose
$1,000,0002024 tax year
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation · General purpose
$575,0002024 tax year
Center for Supportive Schools · General purpose
$500,0002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Alissa Macmillan — Director
Kevin Macmillan — Secretary
Nancy Macmillan — President And Treasurer
Duncan Macmillan — Chairman

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$27,951,836	$22,100,810	$462,668,766	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$30,449,695	$23,755,750	$554,072,703	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$31,318,999	$23,288,500	$675,982,787	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.