Lowell Milken Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation says it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold proposal is not the route it offers.
- Its stated themes are Education, Innovation, Arts & Culture and Social Capital, and its recorded grants chiefly went to higher-education and research institutions, community-centre programmes and preschool-to-12th-grade programmes, so work in those areas is the closest fit.
- About 8 in 10 of its 41 grants to organisations fell between $5,000 and $815,000, the median was $100,000, and half were $100,000 or less, so a modest request suits a small charity; the largest was about $5,000,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- No geographic focus is stated, and its grants have mainly been in California, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida, but that describes where it has funded, not who may apply.
- Organisations that cannot secure an invitation should not send an unsolicited request.
Overview
Lowell Milken Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Santa Monica, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation describes its work as strengthening communities by investing in people and ideas across Education, Innovation, Arts & Culture, and Social Capital. It pursues this mission through comprehensive initiatives and strategic partnerships, designing, piloting and scaling initiatives to elevate educator excellence and student learning, develop principled leaders and entrepreneurs, preserve, advance and share cultural heritage, and foster civic values. It seeks to equip people of all ages with skills, knowledge and meaningful experiences for productive, satisfying lives. Its recorded grants chiefly supported higher-education and research institutions and programmes, community-centre programmes, and preschool-to-12th-grade programmes, alongside human-service programmes and research.
Themes
- Education
- Innovation
- Arts & Culture
- Social Capital
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Grant size: In its TY2022 filing, half of its 41 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax year 2022.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 37% of grant dollars to organisations.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 41 grants in tax year 2022 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2022)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Ucla Foundation - School Of Law · Higher ed & research inst. & progs$4,975,0002022 tax year
- National Philanthropic Trust · Community centers & programs$1,250,0002022 tax year
- American Friends of Ariel · Higher ed & research inst. & progs$1,050,0002022 tax year
- Stephen Wise Temple · Preschool - 12th grade programs$1,022,0002022 tax year
- Nami Westside Los Angeles · Human service programs$815,0002022 tax year
- ArtCenter College of Design · Higher ed & research inst. & progs$600,0002022 tax year
- Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs · Higher ed & research inst. & progs$500,0002022 tax year
- Ucla Foundation - School Of Music · Higher ed & research inst. & progs$425,0002022 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Richard Yee — Treasurer & Secretary
- Stan Maron — Director
- Lanetta Wahlgren — Director
- Jeff Green — Assistant Secretary, Director
- Jeremy Milken — Vice President, Director
- David Milken — Vice President, Director
- Ryan Milken — Executive Vice President, Director
- Lowell Milken — President, Director
- Sarah Haufrect — Vice President Programs & Communications
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
1 year of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $14,778,029 | $13,606,550 | $197,792,062 | Filing for 2022 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.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Lowell Milken Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Santa Monica, CA
- lowellmilken.org
Applying to Lowell Milken Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Santa Monica, CA
- lowellmilken.org