The John Martin Foundation
The John Martin Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in San Francisco, California, established in 2014 by Dr. John C. Martin, former Chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences, and his life partner Dr. Lillian Lou. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation with a focus on global health initiatives, particularly for underserved and economically disadvantaged populations worldwide.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$40.5M
-22.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.9M
+24.0% YoY
Grant Count
18
+5.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$772K
+17.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John Martin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on facilitating sustainable improvement of health and wellbeing for populations in socially and economically disadvantaged settings. Primary funding priorities include:
- Advancement of control and prevention of endemic illnesses among underserved populations
- Viral hepatitis and infectious disease research and prevention
- Global health projects focused on disease prevention and control
- Health initiatives for underserved populations
The foundation's work builds on Dr. Martin's legacy at Gilead Sciences, where he contributed to revolutionizing worldwide therapy for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates an invitation-only grant process. Decision timelines and success rates are not publicly available.
Grant Range
$500,000 - $7,000,000+
Average Grant
Approximately $660,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects internationally with emphasis on underserved populations globally, as well as select U.S. locations. Geographic areas of support include:
- International focus (Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, and other global locations)
- United States: California, Colorado, Georgia, and New York
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $52,447,292
- Total annual giving: $11,216,120
- Total revenues: $1,612,525
- Total expenses: $9,588,532
- Total liabilities: $3,540,000
Staffing:
- 1 full-time employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,466,518 | $52,447,292 | $60,530,854 |
| Revenue | $1,693,041 | $1,612,525 | $27,060,703 |
| Expenses | $20,322,374 | $9,588,532 | $13,566,392 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,361,737 | $11,641,912 | $8,470,939 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,735,843 | $2,453,169 | $953,422 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,280,292 | $2,773,206 | $3,049,894 |
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
70 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Regents of the University of California San Diego ($2,500,000), Liver Foundation West Bengal ($2,000,000), Myriad Usa Inc ($1,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARANDA ORG INC NEW YORK, NY | PILOTING THE ARANDA SUBSCRIPTION MODEL FOR ACCESS TO ANTIMICROBIALS IN BOTSWANA | $500,000 |
| ARANDA ORG INC NEW YORK, NY | EXTENDING THE ARANDA MODEL AND ENHANCING STEWARDSHIP AND SURVEILLANCE SERVICE TO NEW COUNTRIES | $1,250,000 |
| ASIAN LIVER CENTER PALO ALTO, CA | HBV-CONNECT: STRENGTHENING HEALTHCARE CAPACITIES FOR PREVENTION, SCREENING, AND CARE OF HEPATITIS B IN VIETNAM | $113,983 |
| CENTER FOR DISEASE ANALYSIS FOUNDATION INC LAFAYETTE, CO | POLARIS OBSERVATORY TO SUPPORT HEPATITIS ELIMINATION | $1,000,000 |
| ICALMA | ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PATTERNS OF BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS: A SURVEILLANCE PROJECT FROM ARGENTINA AND URUGUAY | $50,880 |
| INSTITUTE OF HUMAN VIROLOGY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE BALTIMORE, MD | ASSESSMENT OF LONG-ACTING AMPHETAMINES TO REDUCE HARM IN METHAMPHETAMINE USE DISORDER (ALARM) | $300,000 |
| INTEGRAL GLOBAL CONSULTING ATLANTA, GA | LINKAGE TO CARE AND HEALTH EDUCATION IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN | $500,000 |
| LIVER FOUNDATION WEST BENGAL | JOHN C MARTIN CENTER FOR LIVER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION | $2,000,000 |
| MYRIAD USA INC NEW YORK, NY | AMERICAN FRIENDS OF CAPRISA | $1,500,000 |
| PHARMACCESS FOUNDATION | AMENDED - PAVING THE WAY FOR UHC IN KISUMU THROUGH A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH | $489,815 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lillian Lou - President & Director (40 hours/week, $240,000 annual compensation)
- Robert Martin - Secretary & Treasurer (5 hours/week, no compensation)
- Thomas Martin - Director (5 hours/week, no compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LILLIAN LOU | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 40 | $270,000 |
| TAIYIN YANG | SECRETARY & TREASURER | 5 | — |
| CLIFFORD SAMUEL | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with 17 grants awarded in the most recent reporting period (2023). The foundation indicates it is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding. The most recent tax filing was published in June 2024 for the fiscal year ending December 2023.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John Martin Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on facilitating sustainable improvement of health and wellbeing for populations in socially and economically disadvantaged settings. Primary funding priorities include: • Advancement of control and prevention of endemic illnesses among underserved populations • Viral hepatitis and infectious disease research and prevention • Global health projects focused on disease prevention and control • Health initiatives for underserved populations The foundation's work bui…
How do I apply for a grant from The John Martin Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $11,216,120 (2023) • Total grants distributed: 17 grants in recent reporting period • Grant range: $500,000 - $7,000,000+ • Median grant amount: $300,000 • Average grant size: Approximately $660,000 **Recent Grants:** • Scripps Research Institute: $2,000,000 for MCMQ069 as a single-dose cure and 28-day chemoprophylaxis to eradicate malaria (2023) • Regents of the University of California at San Diego: $1,000,000 for UC San Diego Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liv…
Where does The John Martin Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects internationally with emphasis on underserved populations globally, as well as select U.S. locations. Geographic areas of support include: • International focus (Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, and other global locations) • United States: California, Colorado, Georgia, and New York
What size grants does The John Martin Foundation award?
In 2024, The John Martin Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $13.9M — an average of about $772K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John Martin Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John Martin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John Martin Foundation's EIN?
The John Martin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0948144. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John Martin Foundation'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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