Milky Way Research Foundation
The Milky Way Research Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. Its grantmaking includes research grants and investigator awards to universities and biomedical research institutions.
Milky Way Research Foundation at a glance
In short: Milky Way Research Foundation gave $7.9M across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $987K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,899,074
- -51.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -52.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $987,384
- +2.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,137,513
- Total assets
- $198,227
- -96.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Milky Way Research Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1900 N Street Nw, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 346-4293
Website: https://milkywayrf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Milky Way Research Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University ($1.8M across 2 grants). Together the top 7 received $7.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 46 grants of 94 (49%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in California (43%), Massachusetts (42%), and New York (15%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Milky Way Research Foundation gives
- Giving fell 53% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2021) to $27.8M (2023). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $7.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Investigator Award Research Grant | $1,150,000 |
| University of Rochester Rochester, NY | Investigator Award Research Grant | $1,150,000 |
| Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research Cambridge, MA | Investigator Award Research Grant | $1,150,000 |
| Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Redwood City, CA | Investigator Award Research Grant | $1,150,000 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA | Investigator Award Research Grant | $1,125,025 |
| Harvard Medical Center Boston, MA | Investigator Award Research Grant | $1,066,570 |
| Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Redwood City, CA | Investigator Award Research Grant | $640,598 |
| University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Research Grant | $466,881 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $198,227 | $2,968,211 | $7,976,878 | $7,899,074 | 8 | $7,976,878 | — | $22,182 |
| 2024 | $5,206,894 | $18,181,812 | $13,157,350 | $16,399,481 | 17 | $16,806,764 | $11 | $93,368 |
| 2023 | $3,832,047 | $30,038,500 | $26,997,009 | $27,806,873 | 36 | $27,174,862 | $8,939 | $220,822 |
| 2022 | $1,968,509 | $19,192,947 | $22,096,300 | $16,736,760 | 30 | $16,363,107 | $110 | $51,360 |
| 2021 | $138,669 | $1,670,011 | $1,625,717 | $1,334,194 | 3 | — | $11 | $4,417 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Milky Way Research Foundation reported a distributable amount of $22K for 2025 — 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 own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants included investigator award research grants and a research grant. Among its grantees, the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research says it “forges new frontiers in science” and describes its work in genetics and genomics; the University of Rochester describes its activities as including higher education, research, and charitable patient care.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 8 grants totaling $7,899,074. The grants ranged from $466,881 to $1,150,000, with a median of $1,137,512. Notable recipients included the University of California Los Angeles, the University of Rochester, the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, each of which received a $1,150,000 investigator award research grant. Massachusetts General Hospital received $1,125,025 and Harvard Medical Center received $1,066,570, both for investigator award research grants.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard Klausner as director, president, and treasurer, and James A Hutchinson as director and secretary.
Milky Way Research Foundation is led by Richard Klausner, Director, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Richard Klausner
Director, President & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James A. Hutchinson
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Milky Way Research Foundation
How much does Milky Way Research Foundation give each year?
Milky Way Research Foundation gave $7.9M across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $16.4M across 17 grants.
What is Milky Way Research Foundation's typical grant size?
Milky Way Research Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,137,513, and its average grant was $987,384, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Milky Way Research Foundation give grants?
Milky Way Research Foundation's top state is California, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (42%) and New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants) and Redwood City, CA (2 grants).
Does Milky Way Research Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Milky Way Research Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Investigator Award Research Grant" (7 grants).
Who are Milky Way Research Foundation's largest grantees?
Milky Way Research Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University ($1,790,598 across 2 grants), University of California Los Angeles ($1,150,000) and University of Rochester ($1,150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Milky Way Research Foundation?
Milky Way Research Foundation reported $198K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $22K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Milky Way Research Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants included investigator award research grants and a research grant. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Milky Way Research Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Milky Way Research Foundation's EIN?
Milky Way Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-2277927. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Milky Way Research Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Milky Way Research Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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