Robert and Lisa Margolis Family
The Robert and Lisa Margolis Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2005 and based in Santa Monica, California. Founded by Robert J. Margolis, M.D., and his wife Lisa Margolis, the foundation focuses on strategic philanthropic giving across health policy, education, and community support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$88.3M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.9M
-4.3% YoY
Grant Count
26
-7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$149K
+3.0% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding priorities include:
- Health Policy: Major focus area with national scope
- STEM Education: Particularly for minorities and underrepresented populations
- Science Education: Support for educational initiatives in science
- Support for Veterans: Assistance for injured and returning veterans
- Community Organizations: Local California-based nonprofits
- Marine Conservation and Education
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations through trustee-selected grants without formal application cycles or programs.
Grant Range
$25,000 to $1,710,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with additional national grants focused on health policy. Grantmaking also extends to North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023-2024):
- Total Assets: $82.5 million (2023) to $96 million (2024)
- Total Annual Giving: $3.9 to $4.0 million
- Total Revenues: $3.6 million (2023)
- Total Expenses: $4.5 million (2023)
- Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
Tax Status:
- EIN: 20-3951826
- 501(c)(3) private foundation
- Tax-exempt since March 2006
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $88,345,929 | $82,534,159 | $78,284,363 |
| Revenue | $5,764,056 | $3,614,069 | $1,911,435 |
| Expenses | $4,516,894 | $4,532,764 | $4,563,025 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,998,500 | $4,167,097 | $3,999,285 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,845,426 | $3,044,119 | $1,678,537 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,351,689 | $4,064,018 | $4,134,940 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Duke University Concentration ($1,710,000), California Science Center Foundatio ($1,025,000), Canine Companions ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MENDEZ NATIONAL INST OF TRANSPLANTA LOS ANGELES, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL MED CTR FOUNDAT LOS ANGELES, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CONGREGATION NER TAMID OF SOUTH BAY RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER FOUNDATIO LOS ANGELES, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $1,025,000 |
| MARTIN LUTHER KING JR GEN HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| CANINE COMPANIONS OCEANSIDE, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| MARINE APPLIED RESEARCH RICHMOND, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| LAND OF THE FREE FOUNDATION CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY CONCENTRATION DURHAM, NC | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $1,710,000 |
| US VETS LOS ANGELES, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder & Key Figure:
- Robert J. Margolis, M.D.: Duke University School of Medicine alumnus (1971), board-certified internist and medical oncologist. Former CEO of HealthCare Partners LLC, which he led from 1992 through February 2014. Long-time leader in the managed care industry and integrated healthcare delivery.
- Lisa Margolis: Co-founder
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT J MARGOLIS MD | President/CEO | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made a significant $10 million gift to Duke University to advance health policy across the United States and internationally. This major grant supports the Duke-Margolis Center's work in health policy research and implementation.
$10 million gift from Robert and Lisa Margolis to Duke University \u2013\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Robert and Lisa Margolis Family fund?
The foundation's primary funding priorities include: • **Health Policy**: Major focus area with national scope • **STEM Education**: Particularly for minorities and underrepresented populations • **Science Education**: Support for educational initiatives in science • **Support for Veterans**: Assistance for injured and returning veterans • **Community Organizations**: Local California-based nonprofits • **Marine Conservation and Education**
How do I apply for a grant from Robert and Lisa Margolis Family?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $25,000 to $1,710,000 • Typical awards: $20,000 to $2,000,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $3.9 to $4.0 million • Number of grants: 21-26 grants annually **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations through trustee-selected grants without formal application cycles or programs. **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Community Partners: $150,000 • Aquarium of the…
Where does Robert and Lisa Margolis Family make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with additional national grants focused on health policy. Grantmaking also extends to North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Robert and Lisa Margolis Family award?
In 2024, Robert and Lisa Margolis Family awarded 26 grants totaling $3.9M — an average of about $149K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Robert and Lisa Margolis Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Robert and Lisa Margolis Family reported a distributable amount of $4.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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