The Agouron Institute
The Agouron Institute is a private foundation based in Pasadena, California, that makes grants in selected areas of biology and chemistry to research institutions and universities. The Institute’s history page says it was formed in 1978 to investigate new research frontiers and technologies in those fields.
The Agouron Institute at a glance
In short: The Agouron Institute gave $1.8M across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $73K), mostly in California. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,815,590
- -73.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $72,624
- -76.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $10,787,084
- -6.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (5 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Agouron Institute
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Institute does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Its Geobiology Fellowship Program was discontinued as of January 1, 2024, and the Institute said it would not accept further applications to that program.
- Contact
Mailing address: 630 N Rosemead Blvd Suite 110, Pasadena, CA 91107
Phone: (626) 577-0500
Website: https://www.agi.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Agouron Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Pennsylvania State University ($441K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 104 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, reported grant dollars went primarily to recipients in California (53%), Pennsylvania (24%), and Maryland (10%); 8% went to recipients outside the United States, and 2% went to Rhode Island. Named 2025 recipients also included Universidad de Concepcion, McGill University, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Agouron Institute open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 25 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $89K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 40% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 340% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $599K (2021) to $6.8M (2024). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA | Scientific Research & Education | $441,222 |
| California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA | Scientific Research & Education | $430,000 |
| Stanford University Menio Park, CA | Scientific Research & Education | $370,590 |
| John Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Scientific Research & Education | $106,725 |
| Universidad De Concepcion | Scientific Research & Education | $100,000 |
| University of CA Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Scientific Research & Education | $96,857 |
| Life Sciences Research Foundation Baltimore, MD | Scientific Research & Education | $70,000 |
| Gordon Research Conferences West Kensington, RI | Scientific Research & Education | $35,000 |
| Regents of the University of CA San Diego La Jolla, CA | Scientific Research & Education | $30,000 |
| McGill University | Scientific Research & Education | $17,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Agouron Institute?
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 | $10,787,084 | $1,853,788 | $2,575,826 | $1,815,590 | 25 | $2,439,719 | $1,718,412 | $717,078 |
| 2024 | $11,509,122 | $3,384,641 | $7,895,285 | $6,785,471 | 22 | $7,696,054 | $3,186,142 | $955,573 |
| 2023 | $16,019,766 | $965,251 | $2,781,959 | $1,546,141 | 25 | $2,616,994 | $800,591 | $1,025,912 |
| 2022 | $17,839,174 | $1,380,124 | $2,295,749 | $1,436,646 | 19 | $2,175,045 | $1,284,420 | $1,220,807 |
| 2021 | $18,754,799 | $1,205,799 | $1,455,392 | $599,209 | 13 | — | $1,099,140 | $1,183,235 |
| 2020 | $19,001,692 | $1,170,223 | $2,673,801 | $1,849,500 | 20 | — | $1,060,353 | $1,093,503 |
| 2019 | $20,505,270 | $1,171,290 | $2,468,433 | $1,649,197 | 28 | — | $1,062,390 | $1,171,217 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Agouron Institute reported a distributable amount of $717K 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 Institute’s stated goal is to advance scientific understanding in the areas it funds. Its website describes research meetings as a way to investigate specific areas of biology and chemistry that it may consider funding. It also reviews technology and resource needs in fields of interest and publishes reports with funding recommendations.
The Institute’s 2025 grants were all described as supporting “scientific research & education.” Recipients included universities and research organizations. For example, Gordon Research Conferences says it provides an international forum for discussing frontier research; North Carolina State University says it supports university colleges, libraries, and other university-connected functions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Institute reported 25 grants totaling $1,815,590. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $441,222, with a median of $10,000. Its largest awards were $441,222 to Pennsylvania State University, $430,000 to the California Institute of Technology, and $370,590 to Stanford University. Other notable awards included $106,725 to Johns Hopkins University, $100,000 to Universidad de Concepcion, and $96,857 to the University of California, Santa Cruz.
The Institute’s website says it does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Its 2024 filing 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
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing were Dr. Melvin Simon, chairman; Edward Stolper, Dr. Theodore Friedmann, Dr. Gordon Gill, Dr. David Hirsch, Dr. Deborah Spector, Peter Johnson, and Dr. John Grotzinger, directors; Dr. John Abelson, president; and Gary Friedman, executive vice president and secretary.
The Agouron Institute is led by John Abelson, President on every filing since 2019; 3 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John Abelson
President
On filings since 2019
30 hrs/week
$115K (2019) → $58K (2025)
Melvin Simon
Chairman
On filings since 2019
30 hrs/week
$115K (2019) → $58K (2025)
David Hirsch
Director
On filings since 2019
15 hrs/week
$15K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Deborah Spector
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$8K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Edward Stolper
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$8K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Gordon Gill
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$8K (2019) → $0 (2025)
John Grotzinger
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$8K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Peter Johnson
Director
On filings since 2019
15 hrs/week
$15K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Theodore Friedmann
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$8K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Gary Friedman
Executive Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$46K (2019) → $33K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $58K, to Dr Melvin Simon (Chairman). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Agouron Institute
How much does The Agouron Institute give each year?
The Agouron Institute gave $1.8M across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6.8M across 22 grants.
What is The Agouron Institute's typical grant size?
The Agouron Institute's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $72,624, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Agouron Institute that year got $7K on average.
Where does The Agouron Institute give grants?
The Agouron Institute gives mostly in California: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (24%) and Maryland (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does The Agouron Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on The Agouron Institute's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scientific Research & Education" (24 grants).
Who are The Agouron Institute's largest grantees?
The Agouron Institute's largest 2025 grantees include Pennsylvania State University ($441,222), California Institute of Technology ($430,000) and Stanford University ($370,590), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Agouron Institute?
The Agouron Institute reported $10.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $717K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Agouron Institute fund?
The Institute’s stated goal is to advance scientific understanding in the areas it funds. Its website describes research meetings as a way to investigate specific areas of biology and chemistry that it may consider funding. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Agouron Institute?
The Institute does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does The Agouron Institute 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Agouron Institute funds
Medical Research Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Agouron Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
The University of Delaware supports instruction, research, and public service, and its 2023 grants went to educational, medical, and research organizations. It made 177 grants totaling $45.2 million that year, averaging about $255,000 per grant, with recipients in Delaware and elsewhere; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.8B
Grants
0
Total Given
$21.4M
Alzheimer's Disease & Related Disorders Association Inc
Chicago, IL
The Alzheimer’s Association funds Alzheimer’s and dementia research, including basic, clinical, social and behavioral studies, and supports care, prevention, early detection, awareness, and advocacy. In 2025, its 79 grants ranged from $10,000 to $13.3 million, with a median of $270,750; research opportunities are open to U.S. and international researchers.
Assets
$523.7M
Grants
79
Total Given
$73.3M
Temple University - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Philadelphia, PA
Temple University funds research subcontracts to universities and research organizations, alongside its core work in higher education and public service. In 2025, its 112 reported grants totaled $16.0 million, with a median award of $44,032 and amounts ranging from $5,069 to $2.28 million; recipients were in multiple states, led by Pennsylvania. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.3B
Grants
112
Total Given
$16.0M
Research Corporation dba Research
Tucson, AZ
Research Corporation supports early-stage basic scientific research, especially in the physical sciences, and academic scientists at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. Its 2024 grants had a median of $55,000, with awards ranging from $74 to $193,142; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$241.5M
Grants
165
Total Given
$8.0M
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University’s grants primarily support research, alongside priorities tied to education, healthcare, and improving the human condition. In 2025 it awarded 208 grants ranging from $250 to $54.3 million, with a median of about $50,800; 65% of grant dollars went to Tennessee recipients. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$14.8B
Grants
208
Total Given
$91.2M
The George Washington University
Ashburn, VA
The George Washington University’s reported grants are primarily subaw awards supporting education, scholarly research, research support, and community-engaged scholarship, with recipients including universities, research organizations, and community organizations. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,000 to $3.42 million, with a median of about $131,000; Nashman Faculty Development awards are generally $2,000–$5,000. Funding went mainly to recipients in Washington, D.C., and several other states, and the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$5.5B
Grants
191
Total Given
$54.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Agouron Institute funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-agouron-institute-morg_d7ba455eab27435b88107fbd6eff1a47
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_953248387_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Agouron Institute funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-agouron-institute-morg_d7ba455eab27435b88107fbd6eff1a47},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 The Agouron Institute'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.
The Agouron Institute down — hundreds of funders to go?