Michelson Medical Research Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is in human immunology, vaccine discovery, immunotherapy, infectious or degenerative diseases, surgical technologies or the ethical treatment of animals in medicine, it matches the foundation's stated fields.
- Half of its 29 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less, so a modest, carefully costed request suits it best, even though its largest grant was $20,000,000 and the typical band runs from $8,700 to $8,200,000.
- In its most recent filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so relationships appear to count for a great deal and a cold approach is unlikely to be the strongest route.
- It accepts applications on a rolling basis, but Michelson Prizes applications must be submitted electronically by the deadline because paper applications are not accepted, and Next Generation Grants do not cover indirect costs, so organisations that need those costs should not apply for that programme.
Overview
Michelson Medical Research Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, CA.
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 researchers and programmes that translate scientific ideas into therapies and move advances from the laboratory into society. It describes its approach as funding high-risk, high-potential research, giving researchers and practitioners room to break new ground or improve existing treatments, and using programmatic support, research prizes and strategic investments. Its stated fields include human immunology, vaccine discovery and immunotherapy, as well as research addressing infectious and degenerative diseases, surgical technologies and the ethical treatment of animals in medicine. The Michelson Prizes favour innovative, impactful proposals with potential across diseases; the Next Generation Grants target researchers aged 35 and under working in human immunology and vaccine development. Awards to investigators are channelled through their affiliated institutions.
Themes
- Medical research
- Human immunology
- Vaccine discovery
- Immunotherapy
- Infectious diseases
- Degenerative diseases
- Animal welfare in medicine
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California.
What They Don't Fund
- Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants only: indirect costs
How to apply
Submit the Michelson Prizes application electronically by the deadline; paper applications are not accepted.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% 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 29 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Michelson Prizes favour highly innovative, impactful research with potential across many diseases.
- The committee looks for proposals that tackle roadblocks in human vaccine development and advance understanding of key immune processes.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 31% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations Michelson Medical Research Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 64% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 8 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $1.9M (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- UCLA Foundation · To fund ciii for the microbiome and rapid vaccine development institute$20,000,0002024 tax year
- Michelson Found Animals Foundation · BENEFIT OF ANIMALS THROUGH MULTIPLE ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE MICHELSON PRIZE AND GRANTS IN REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY, THE MICROCHIPPING PROGRAM, THE ADOPTION PROGRAM, THE START-UP ACCELERATOR PROGRAM, THE SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM AND OTHERS TOWARD The Michelson Found Animals FOUNDATION, INC.'S PURPOSE OF REDUCING EUTHANASIA RATES IN LOS ANGELES AREA ANIMAL SHELTERS.$8,300,0002024 tax year
- Michelson Philanthropies · carry forth programs and provide administrative support for affiliate Foundations, the Michelson 20MM Foundation and the Michelson Found Animals Foundation.$8,200,0002024 tax year
- Michelson 20MM Foundation · Carry forth multiple educational programs, including educational and success programs, future of work and workforce development programs, smart justice programs, programs to increase educational awareness on topics related to intellectual property, and programs intended to support private-sector solutions to issue within the education sector.$2,700,0002024 tax year
- California Institute for Immunology and Immunology · To cover legal and other expenses until the organization established its funding$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Milken Institute · Infrastructure to facilitate knowledge and resources to advance economic and social mobility.$100,0002024 tax year
- The Uc Regents (Ucla) · Ucla medical hospitality program$8,7002024 tax year
- Surgery Education Fund · Medical-surgery education support$2,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Alya Michelson — Director & Co-Chair
- David Cohen — Secretary / CFO
- Gary Karlin Michelson M D — Director, President & Co-Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $12,275,467 | $10,943,981 | $260,054,130 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $13,246,781 | $12,492,560 | $268,147,175 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $113,369,932 | $40,310,700 | $250,750,104 | 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.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to Michelson Medical Research Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required