Robert and Lisa Margolis Family
The Robert and Lisa Margolis Family is a private foundation based in Santa Monica, California. In 2024, it reported 26 grants totaling $3,877,500 to charitable organizations.
Robert and Lisa Margolis Family at a glance
In short: Robert and Lisa Margolis Family gave $3.9M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $149K), mostly in California. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,877,500
- -4.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- -7.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $149,135
- +3.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $41,250
- Total assets
- $88,345,929
- +7.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (52% 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 Robert and Lisa Margolis Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: C/O Jmc Adv 2444 Wilshire Blvd 622, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Phone: (310) 354-4221
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert and Lisa Margolis Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Duke University Concentration ($1.7M). Together the top 10 received $3.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 80 grants of 139 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California recipients received 52% of grant dollars and North Carolina recipients received 44%. Recipients in the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Nevada received 2%, 1%, and 1%, respectively.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Robert and Lisa Margolis Family open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 26 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $171K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $41K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $3.5M (2021) to $4.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $3.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University Concentration Durham, NC | Financial Support | $1,710,000 |
| California Science Center Foundatio Los Angeles, CA | Financial Support | $1,025,000 |
| Canine Companions Oceanside, CA | Financial Support | $100,000 |
| US Vets Los Angeles, CA | Financial Support | $100,000 |
| Aquarium of the Pacific Long Beach, CA | Financial Support | $100,000 |
| Save the Redwoods League San Francisco, CA | Financial Support | $95,000 |
| Campbell Hall North Hollywood, CA | Financial Support | $90,000 |
| St Joseph's Center Venice, CA | Financial Support | $75,000 |
| USC Nieghborhood Academic Intiative Los Angeles, CA | Financial Support | $75,000 |
| Marine Applied Research Richmond, CA | Financial Support | $60,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $88,345,929 | $5,764,056 | $4,516,894 | $3,877,500 | 26 | $3,998,500 | $4,845,426 | $4,351,689 |
| 2023 | $82,534,159 | $3,614,069 | $4,532,764 | $4,053,097 | 28 | $4,167,097 | $3,044,119 | $4,064,018 |
| 2022 | $78,284,363 | $1,911,435 | $4,563,025 | $3,885,285 | 20 | $3,999,285 | $1,678,537 | $4,134,940 |
| 2021 | $78,063,601 | $5,261,377 | $4,084,552 | $3,526,387 | 36 | $3,636,387 | $4,649,248 | $4,136,985 |
| 2020 | $73,304,597 | $-295,837 | $4,081,096 | $3,538,763 | 29 | — | $934,572 | $3,524,752 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert and Lisa Margolis Family reported a distributable amount of $4.4M 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 own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grantees included organizations working in areas such as environmental conservation, food access, workforce support, and services for people with disabilities. For example, Save the Redwoods League describes its work as protecting and restoring redwood forests, while Food Forward says it fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing surplus produce. Swipe Out Hunger describes its mission as partnering with college campuses to end student hunger, and the Institute for Exceptional Care says it works to transform healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Other 2024 recipients included Duke University and the California Science Center Foundation; the filing lists their grant purposes as “financial support.”
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $3,877,500. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $1,710,000, with a median of $41,250. The largest awards were $1,710,000 to Duke University and $1,025,000 to the California Science Center Foundation. Other notable grants included $100,000 each to Canine Companions, US Vets, and Aquarium of the Pacific; $95,000 to Save the Redwoods League; and $90,000 to Campbell Hall.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert J. Margolis, MD, as President/CEO.
Robert and Lisa Margolis Family is led by Robert J. Margolis MD, President & CEO on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert J. Margolis MD
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Robert and Lisa Margolis Family
How much does Robert and Lisa Margolis Family give each year?
Robert and Lisa Margolis Family gave $3.9M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.1M across 28 grants.
What is Robert and Lisa Margolis Family's typical grant size?
Robert and Lisa Margolis Family's median grant in 2024 was $41,250, and its average grant was $149,135, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert and Lisa Margolis Family that year got $31K on average.
Where does Robert and Lisa Margolis Family give grants?
Robert and Lisa Margolis Family gives mostly in California: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (44%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (8 grants), North Hollywood, CA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Robert and Lisa Margolis Family give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Robert and Lisa Margolis Family's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support" (26 grants).
Who are Robert and Lisa Margolis Family's largest grantees?
Robert and Lisa Margolis Family's largest 2024 grantees include Duke University Concentration ($1,710,000), California Science Center Foundatio ($1,025,000) and Canine Companions ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Robert and Lisa Margolis Family?
Robert and Lisa Margolis Family reported $88.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Robert and Lisa Margolis Family fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grantees included organizations working in areas such as environmental conservation, food access, workforce support, and services for people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert and Lisa Margolis Family?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert and Lisa Margolis Family's EIN?
Robert and Lisa Margolis Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3951826. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Robert and Lisa Margolis Family accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert and Lisa Margolis Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-lisa-margolis-family-morg_7051084167d04d43a625b27c2648104f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203951826_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert and Lisa Margolis Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-lisa-margolis-family-morg_7051084167d04d43a625b27c2648104f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Robert and Lisa Margolis Family'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.
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