Intuitive Foundation
The Intuitive Foundation is a private foundation based in Sunnyvale, California. Created in 2018, it supports philanthropy, research, and education aimed at reducing disease and suffering and improving patient outcomes. Its grantmaking includes medical and technology research, robotic-assisted surgical training, and community programs in STEM and healthcare pathways.
Intuitive Foundation at a glance
In short: Intuitive Foundation gave $12.6M across 104 grants in 2024 (avg $121K), top state Delaware. 51% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,598,625
- +37.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 104
- +48.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $121,141
- -7.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $51,822
- Total assets
- $122,699,636
- +38.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 51% first-time grantees (45 of 88, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Delaware (22% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Intuitive Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through online applications. Unsolicited proposals are aggregated and assessed quarterly. Award restrictions are limited to 501(c)(3) organizations or foreign equivalents. For clinical research grants, applicants submit a Letter of Intent; proposals meeting the program’s review threshold may be invited to submit a full proposal.
- Review Cycle
- Unsolicited proposals are rolling requests and are assessed quarterly.
- Deadline
- Unsolicited proposals are rolling requests and are assessed quarterly.
- Next open deadline
- January 4, 2027 (Bronchoscopy Research Grant)
- Contact
Application contact: Intuitive Foundation
Mailing address: 1020 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Phone: (408) 523-2100
Email: grants@intuitive-foundation.org
Website: https://intuitive-foundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Intuitive Foundation
Bronchoscopy Research Grant
Intuitive Foundation
Amount
Up to US $75,000
Deadline
January 4, 2027
Listed date — confirm with the funder
Intuitive Foundation: Robotic Surgery Grant Program - Fellowship Programs & Directors
Intuitive Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Intuitive Foundation: The da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK) Program Grant
Intuitive Foundation
Amount
Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Intuitive Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Online Giving Foundation ($2.8M). Together the top 10 received $7.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($291,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
409 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 212 grants of 409 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports research at nonprofit institutions worldwide. Its website says it supports philanthropy in places with significant numbers of Intuitive Surgical employees, including the United States, Europe, India, Japan, and South Korea. The 2024 grant list includes recipients in the United States and Europe.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 104 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Intuitive Foundation open to new grantees?
51%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 45 of 88 grantees (51%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $68K; repeat grants $222K. How we count
Medians: $53K first-time, $70K repeat.
- 30% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 358% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.1M (2020) to $12.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 104 grants totaling $12.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Online Giving Foundation Newark, DE | General Support for Various Designated Charities | $2,823,734 |
| European Society Coloproctology | European society of coloproctology colorectal robotic surgery training program | $1,857,795 |
| The Gog Foundation Philadelphia, PA | A randomized controlled trial of robotic versus open radical hysterectomy for cervical | $749,759 |
| European Society of Thoracic Surgeons | The adoption rate of robotic surgery in the european thoracic community is approaching a tipping point. The ests wants to drive further quality improvement in care in the field of thoracic procedures with a clear society and evidence based driven robotic training curriculum in partnership with industry. | $365,000 |
| Engineers Without Borders Denver, CO | Programmatic support for merging of engineering world health and engineers without borders for management of biomedical engineering training program | $275,000 |
| First Robotic Manchester, NH | Competition Team Support | $256,700 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Gift to support the development and scholarly activity conducted by the da vinci research kit | $220,000 |
| Emory University Atlanta, GA | Robotic surgical fellowships colorectal surgery program director terrah paul olson | $212,390 |
| Research Foundation of the Ascrs Bannockburn, IL | The Research in Robotic Surgical Technology Program | $180,000 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $215,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Intuitive Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $122,699,636 | $49,261,626 | $16,454,344 | $12,598,625 | 104 | $15,157,801 | $4,261,626 | $4,236,527 |
| 2023 | $88,307,916 | $42,652,947 | $15,409,594 | $9,139,894 | 70 | $11,065,545 | $2,637,947 | $2,725,783 |
| 2022 | $56,658,694 | $915,325 | $11,830,434 | $9,194,214 | 90 | $10,333,351 | $900,325 | $2,972,350 |
| 2021 | $66,087,520 | $30,041,225 | $9,007,954 | $10,236,716 | 94 | $11,083,281 | $11,225 | $2,073,460 |
| 2020 | $47,157,637 | $25,103,720 | $11,898,068 | $5,133,493 | 51 | — | $103,720 | $1,350,790 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Intuitive Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated aim is to reduce the global burden of disease and suffering through philanthropy, research, and education aimed at better outcomes for patients. Its current opportunities include clinical research on robotic-assisted surgery and bronchoscopy, robotic surgery and bronchoscopy fellowships, the da Vinci Research Kit program, and STEM and healthcare outreach.
Clinical research grants support work at nonprofit institutions worldwide on surgical care and patient outcomes. For the 2026–2028 clinical research program, the foundation identifies comparative clinical outcomes research as an area of interest. Bronchoscopy research grants focus on the impact of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy on the care of patients with pulmonary disease. The foundation also supports surgical education through its Surgical Education Learners Forum and community initiatives including FIRST Robotics sponsorship and outreach programs.
Examples of grantees include The GOG Foundation, which describes its mission as promoting excellence in clinical and basic scientific research on gynecologic malignancies, and Johns Hopkins University, whose stated mission includes education, independent research, and bringing the benefits of discovery to the world.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 104 grants totaling $12,598,625. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $2,823,734, with a median grant of $51,822.
Among the largest reported 2024 grants were $2,823,734 to American Online Giving Foundation for general support for various designated charities; $1,857,795 to the European Society of Coloproctology for a colorectal robotic surgery training program; and $749,759 to The GOG Foundation for a randomized controlled trial of robotic versus open radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Other grants included $365,000 to the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons for a robotic training curriculum, $275,000 to Engineers Without Borders for support related to merging Engineering World Health and Engineers Without Borders’ biomedical engineering training program, and $256,700 to FIRST Robotics for competition team support.
The foundation’s current programs also include clinical research grants of up to $75,000 per project. For these grants, eligible costs may include support personnel, equipment, supplies, and travel for projects lasting up to one year; funds may not be used for physician salaries. The da Vinci Research Kit program provides in-kind hardware support for eligible nonprofit educational and research entities. Robotic surgery fellowships support training programs at nonprofit institutions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dr. Catherine Mohr as president, Victor Chow as treasurer, and Stephanie Gilliard as secretary. Directors listed include Dr. Myriam J. Curet, Romain Denis, and Kelly McCrystal. Lonnie M. Smith is listed as board chair; Mark Rubash is listed as board chair through February 2024.
The foundation’s website also identifies Dale Bergman as grant program manager, Patrick Diamond as program manager for SELF, and Sherice Nivens as program director.
Intuitive Foundation is led by Catherine Mohr, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Catherine Mohr
President
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lonnie M. Smith
Board Chair
Director Start → Director, 2021
Director → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Rubash
Board Chair
On filings since 2020
0.7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Myriam J. Curet
Director
On filings since 2020
0.7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Romain Denis
Director
On filings since 2020
0.7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly McCrystal
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victor Chow
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Gilliard
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Wendy Cheng (2020–2023) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Intuitive Foundation
How much does Intuitive Foundation give each year?
Intuitive Foundation gave $12.6M across 104 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.1M across 70 grants.
What is Intuitive Foundation's typical grant size?
Intuitive Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $51,822, and its average grant was $121,141, across 104 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Intuitive Foundation that year got $68K on average.
Where does Intuitive Foundation give grants?
Intuitive Foundation's top state is Delaware, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (7%) and Pennsylvania (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (5 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), Houston, TX (3 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).
Does Intuitive Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of Intuitive Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 104) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Intuitive Foundation's largest grantees?
Intuitive Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Online Giving Foundation ($2,823,734), European Society Coloproctology ($1,857,795) and The Gog Foundation ($749,759), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($291,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Intuitive Foundation?
Intuitive Foundation reported $122.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Intuitive Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to reduce the global burden of disease and suffering through philanthropy, research, and education aimed at better outcomes for patients. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Intuitive Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through online applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Intuitive Foundation's EIN?
Intuitive Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2210302. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Intuitive Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Intuitive Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Intuitive Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/intuitive-foundation-morg_025f6e42c1834321af06e6d27695b85d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_832210302_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Intuitive Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/intuitive-foundation-morg_025f6e42c1834321af06e6d27695b85d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Intuitive Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Intuitive Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?