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Intuitive Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.1M
Grant Range
Up to $0.1M00
Decision Time
3mo
0

Intuitive Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,139,894 (2023)
  • Total Committed Since 2018: Over $65 million
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (quarterly to rolling basis)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program; up to $75,000 for clinical research
  • Geographic Focus: Global (with emphasis on low- and middle-income countries)
  • Number of Grants: 69 awards (2023)

Contact Details

Overview

The Intuitive Foundation was established in 2018 as a corporate foundation (501(c)(3)) to reduce the global burden of disease and suffering through philanthropy, research, and education. Since its founding, Intuitive Surgical has contributed more than $170 million to the Foundation, including a $45 million donation announced in January 2025. In 2024, the Foundation provided research grants and surgical fellowships totaling more than $6 million, plus $3 million to support the Surgical Education Learners Forum (SELF). The Foundation focuses on medical and technology research, STEM educational programs, healthcare training programs and facilities, and direct disaster relief, with a particular emphasis on expanding surgical training access in underserved regions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Clinical Research Grants - Up to $75,000 Support for research in robotic-assisted surgery focused on surgical care and outcomes at nonprofit institutions worldwide. Application via Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by full proposal invitation.

Robotic Surgery Fellowship Grants Financial support to nonprofit institutions for fellowship programs (6-12 months) providing clinical experience in robotic-assisted surgical skills after conventional medical residency. Must be applied for by fellowship directors, not individual fellows. Rolling submissions, reviewed quarterly.

Robotic Bronchoscopy Fellowships Training support for specialists in robotic bronchoscopy and lung cancer care. Preferred specialties include colorectal, general surgery, and thoracic.

Clinical Skills Training Grants - Up to $75,000 For nonprofit organizations to create and test SELF modules that expand access to procedural training, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Evaluated four times per year (deadlines: end of third week of March, June, September, December).

FIRST Robotics Grants Support for high school robotics teams worldwide. The Foundation has made grants to 889 teams from Australia, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United States. Grant applications open in June; reports due in May.

Priority Areas

  • Robotic-assisted surgery research and outcomes
  • Surgical education and training, particularly for underserved regions
  • STEM education programs addressing underrepresentation of women and minorities in healthcare and technology
  • Clinical skills training using simulation-based platforms
  • Fellowship programs in robotic surgery and bronchoscopy
  • Youth robotics education through FIRST teams

What They Don't Fund

  • For-profit activities or for-profit institutions
  • Equipment or instruments purchased from Intuitive Surgical
  • Hard equipment purchases exceeding $5,000
  • Physician salaries (though support personnel salaries are allowed)
  • Indirect costs exceeding 20% of total budget
  • Multiple simultaneous grants to the same principal investigator
  • Individual fellows applying directly (fellowship applications must come from program directors)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

  • Dr. Catherine Mohr - President. Previously Vice President of Strategy for Intuitive Surgical since 2006. Dr. Mohr emphasizes focusing on "wicked problems" in healthcare, particularly the lack of access to surgery. She states: "It is my great honor, on behalf of the Intuitive Foundation, to award these prizes and celebrate the innovative results of this Challenge that will help train health care providers in the places where the knowledge is needed most."

  • Sherice Nivens - Program Director

  • Dale Bergman - Grant Program Manager

  • Patrick Diamond - Program Manager, SELF

Board of Directors

  • Mark Rubash - Board Chair (served on Intuitive Surgical's Board since 2007, chairs Audit Committee)
  • Lonnie Smith - Director (served on Intuitive's Board from June 1997 until retirement in April 2020; previously Chairman)
  • Dr. Myriam J. Curet - Director (Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Intuitive Surgical)
  • Romain Denis - Director (Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Compliance for Intuitive Surgical)
  • Kelly McCrystal - Director (Strategic advisor to Intuitive Surgical and global health organizations)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Clinical Research Grants:

  1. Submit Letter of Intent (LOI) through the Foundation's grant system
  2. Selection committee reviews and ranks LOIs
  3. Those reaching predetermined scoring threshold are invited to submit full proposal
  4. Top-ranked proposals receive awards based on scientific merit

Robotic Surgery Fellowships:

  • Rolling submission process, reviewed quarterly
  • Applications must be submitted by fellowship program directors (not by individual fellows)
  • Submit through Foundation's grant system

Clinical Skills Training Grants:

  • Submit proposals online via Foundation's grant website
  • Accepted on rolling basis, evaluated four times per year
  • Deadlines: End of third week of March, June, September, December

FIRST Robotics:

  • Application portal opens in June
  • Foundation reviews submissions with independent reviewers providing scores and funding recommendations
  • Grants awarded once per season

Decision Timeline

  • Clinical Research Grants: LOI review and ranking, followed by invitation for full proposal; exact timeline not publicly specified
  • Fellowship Grants: Reviewed quarterly
  • Clinical Skills Training: Evaluated four times per year (quarterly)
  • FIRST Robotics: Review occurs after June application deadline; payments made by November

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the Foundation's grant history shows:

  • 69 awards in 2023 (total giving: $9,139,894)
  • 90 awards in 2022
  • 94 awards in 2021
  • 51 awards in 2020
  • 4 awards in 2019 (first full year)

The Foundation uses an international team of clinical and technical reviewers from both inside and outside of Intuitive to evaluate and rank the scientific or technical merit of proposals.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly specified. Contact grants@intuitive-foundation.org for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

The Foundation evaluates proposals based on scientific and technical merit, using international clinical and technical experts. Based on publicly available information, successful applications demonstrate:

For Clinical Research Grants:

  • Clear focus on robotic-assisted surgery outcomes and surgical care
  • Strong scientific merit as evaluated by international clinical and technical reviewers
  • Budgets that comply with Foundation restrictions (no more than 20% indirect costs, limited equipment purchases)
  • Research conducted at nonprofit institutions

For Fellowship Programs:

  • Active robotic surgical program with adequate clinical volume to support fellow training
  • Minimum 10% of fellow time dedicated to clinical research activities
  • Clear curriculum with defined goals, objectives, and evaluation methods
  • Fellowship director with at least one year at the institution and minimum 3 years post-fellowship
  • Recent publication or presentation record by program director (peer-reviewed journal or national/regional meeting within past 2 years)
  • Preference for colorectal, general surgery, or thoracic specialties
  • Program duration between 6-12 months

For Clinical Skills Training (SELF):

  • Focus on expanding access to procedural training in low- and middle-income countries
  • Creation of open-access, simulation-based training modules
  • Innovation in low-cost surgical education

For FIRST Robotics:

  • Previous competition in at least one official FIRST event
  • Demonstrated exposure of STEM programs to students who might not otherwise have opportunity
  • Evidence of multiplying impact beyond the team itself
  • Strong track record of team development and success

Dr. Catherine Mohr's emphasis on solving "wicked problems" - particularly lack of access to surgery - suggests applications that address healthcare disparities and expand surgical training globally are particularly valued.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Global health equity focus: The Foundation prioritizes expanding surgical training and research access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Applications demonstrating impact in underserved regions align strongly with their mission.

  • Scientific merit is paramount: All proposals are reviewed by international clinical and technical experts. Strong methodology, clear objectives, and rigorous research design are essential.

  • Follow the two-step process: For clinical research grants, invest time in a compelling LOI - this is your gateway to full proposal invitation.

  • Budget compliance matters: Stay within the 20% indirect cost limit, avoid Intuitive Surgical equipment purchases, and keep hard equipment under $5,000. Budget violations can disqualify otherwise strong proposals.

  • Fellowship directors apply, not fellows: If seeking fellowship support, work with your program director - individual fellows cannot apply directly.

  • Align with review cycles: Plan submissions around quarterly reviews for fellowships and Clinical Skills Training grants to avoid delays.

  • Demonstrate training capacity: For fellowship programs, document sufficient clinical volume, research opportunities, and mentoring resources to support fellow development.

References

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