The Agouron Institute is a private foundation based in Pasadena, California, that issues grants in selected areas of biology and chemistry to research institutions and universities. Established in 1980, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a focus on advancing scientific research and understanding in its core disciplines.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.5M
-28.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.8M
+338.9% YoY
Grant Count
22
-12.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$308K
+398.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Agouron Institute reported a distributable amount of $956K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Institute's goal is to identify specific research projects that, when provided with short-term funding (typically 1-3 years), can make significant contributions to understanding in biology and chemistry. The organization aims to jump-start new fields or ideas that might otherwise not be funded by traditional sources, with the intention that its grants have significant impact on the progress of scientific understanding in the areas it funds.
The Institute hosts scientific meetings to investigate specific areas of biology and chemistry it may wish to consider for funding. These meetings feature scientific talks followed by extended open discussion sessions. The organization also reviews and evaluates current technology and resource needs in fields of interest, publishing reports with funding recommendations to back its commitment to these areas.
Grantmaking
The Agouron Institute does **not accept unsolicited grant proposals**. All inquiries should be directed to info@agi.org.
Grant Range
s have ranged from $2,250 to $5,265,780. The Institute occasionally funds exploratory field trips and field work in addition to primary research grants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Institute funds research institutions and universities across the United States and internationally, with documented funding activity in California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, as well as international locations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $11,509,122
- Total Revenues: $3,384,641
- Total Expenses: $7,895,285
- Total Giving: $6,778,629
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $16,000,000
- Total Revenues: $965,251
- Total Expenses: $2,781,959
The Institute maintains a substantial endowment that was significantly increased following the 1998 sale of Agouron Pharmaceuticals to Warner Lambert (which subsequently merged with Pfizer).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,509,122 | $16,019,766 | $17,839,174 |
| Revenue | $3,384,641 | $965,251 | $1,380,124 |
| Expenses | $7,895,285 | $2,781,959 | $2,295,749 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,696,054 | $2,616,994 | $2,175,045 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,186,142 | $800,591 | $1,284,420 |
| Distributable Amount | $955,573 | $1,025,912 | $1,220,807 |
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
99 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include California Institute of Technology ($5,265,780), Pennsylvania State University ($451,126), University of Ca Santa Cruz ($359,050).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PASADENA, CA | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION | $5,265,780 |
| COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES GOLDEN, CO | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCTION | $5,000 |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE HANOVER, NH | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION | $114,530 |
| GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCES WEST KENSINGTON, RI | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION | $38,000 |
| JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BALTIMORE, MD | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION | $98,344 |
| MARINE BIOLOGICAL LAB WOODS HOLE, MA | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD UNIV CAMBRIDGE, MA | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| SELKIRK CONSERVATION ALLIANCE PRIEST RIVER, ID | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION | $15,600 |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY MENIO PARK, CA | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION | $125,375 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION | $109,255 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dr. Melvin Simon - Officer ($130,000 compensation)
- Dr. John Abelson - President and Executive Director
- Joan Kobori, PhD - Program Director ($238,645 compensation)
- Joyce Kato - Administrative Assistant ($98,700 compensation)
The organization operates with 5 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR MELVIN SIMON | CHAIRMAN | 30 | $130,000 |
| EDWARD STOLPER | DIRECTOR | 5 | $15,000 |
| DR THEODORE FRIEDMANN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $15,000 |
| DR GORDON GILL | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| DR DAVID HIRSCH | DIRECTOR | 15 | $25,000 |
| DR DEBORAH SPECTOR | DIRECTOR | 5 | $15,000 |
| DR JOHN ABELSON | PRESIDENT | 30 | $130,000 |
| GARY FRIEDMAN | EXEC VP & SEC | 40 | $91,000 |
| PETER JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 15 | $25,000 |
| DR JOHN GROTZINGER | DIRECTOR | 5 | $15,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Agouron Institute fund?
The Institute's goal is to identify specific research projects that, when provided with short-term funding (typically 1-3 years), can make significant contributions to understanding in biology and chemistry. The organization aims to jump-start new fields or ideas that might otherwise not be funded by traditional sources, with the intention that its grants have significant impact on the progress of scientific understanding in the areas it funds. The Institute hosts scientific meetings to investi…
How do I apply for a grant from The Agouron Institute?
The Agouron Institute does **not accept unsolicited grant proposals**. All inquiries should be directed to info@agi.org. Recent grant activity shows the following awards: • California Institute of Technology: $5,265,780 (2024) • Lamb Fellowship of Pennsylvania State University: $451,126 (2024) • Stanford University: $125,375 (2024) Total giving in 2024 was $6,778,629 across multiple grants. Grant sizes have ranged from $2,250 to $5,265,780. The Institute occasionally funds exploratory field tri…
Where does The Agouron Institute make grants?
The Institute funds research institutions and universities across the United States and internationally, with documented funding activity in California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, as well as international locations.
What size grants does The Agouron Institute award?
In 2024, The Agouron Institute awarded 22 grants totaling $6.8M — an average of about $308K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Agouron Institute required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Agouron Institute reported a distributable amount of $956K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Agouron Institute's EIN?
The Agouron Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3248387. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Agouron Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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