The Lowell Milken Family Foundation
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Monica, California. It says it strengthens communities by investing in people and ideas across education, innovation, arts and culture, and social capital.
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lowell Milken Family Foundation gave $10.0M across 57 grants in 2024 (avg $176K), mostly in California. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,006,250
- -26.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- +39.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $175,548
- -47.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $143,349,156
- +2.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (15 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (74% 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 The Lowell Milken Family Foundation
- 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: 1250 Fourth Street 520, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 570-4800
Website: https://lowellmilken.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lowell Milken Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Milken Community School ($2.5M). Together the top 10 received $8.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
212 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 212 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California recipients received 74% of grant dollars, New York recipients 17%, Oregon recipients 4%, Washington, DC recipients 3%, and Florida recipients 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Lowell Milken Family Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 30 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $368K; repeat grants $297K. How we count
Medians: $106K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 37% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $7.3M (2020) to $13.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 57 grants totaling $10.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Milken Community School Los Angeles, CA | Preschool - 12TH Grade Programs | $2,500,000 |
| University of California Los Angeles - School of Law Los Angeles, CA | Higher Ed & Research Inst. & Progs | $2,440,000 |
| Stephen Wise Temple Los Angeles, CA | Community Centers & Programs | $527,500 |
| Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Los Angeles, CA | Community Centers & Programs | $500,000 |
| Jerusalem Center for Security & Foreign Affairs Cedarhurst, NY | Community Centers & Programs | $500,000 |
| Letter of the Law - Shurat Hadin Israel Law Center Woodmere, NY | Community Centers & Programs | $500,000 |
| The Lawfare Project New York, NY | Community Centers & Programs | $500,000 |
| UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Los Angeles, CA | Higher Ed & Research Inst. & Progs | $425,000 |
| Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA | Higher Ed & Research Inst. & Progs | $400,000 |
| Jewish News Service Inc Beaverton, OR | Community Centers & Programs | $400,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lowell Milken Family Foundation?
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 | $143,349,156 | $20,195,498 | $11,480,006 | $10,006,250 | 57 | $11,075,926 | $14,183,859 | $9,993,069 |
| 2023 | $139,992,783 | $15,449,416 | $14,778,029 | $13,606,550 | 41 | $14,479,247 | $12,192,758 | $9,775,296 |
| 2022 | $140,468,784 | $33,852,306 | $11,254,472 | $10,422,304 | 44 | $10,730,357 | $24,192,871 | $9,448,970 |
| 2021 | $120,322,003 | $26,514,031 | $10,329,489 | $9,756,227 | 38 | — | $13,612,493 | $10,308,567 |
| 2020 | $111,901,243 | $24,491,181 | $7,631,565 | $7,298,636 | 32 | — | $6,234,075 | $7,330,638 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lowell Milken Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to strengthen communities by unleashing human potential. Its website describes work across education, innovation, arts and culture, and social capital, including initiatives focused on educator excellence, student learning, leadership, cultural heritage, and civic values. Its listed initiatives include the Milken Educator Awards, the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, and arts and culture organizations and programs.
The 2024 grants show support for schools, higher education, community programs, research, and other charitable organizations. For example, Milken Community School says its mission is to teach Jewish religious courses and standard subjects. Art Center College of Design says its mission is to educate, inspire, and empower creative and design leaders. The Prostate Cancer Foundation describes funding research on prostate cancer biology and treatment, while the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research describes its mission as pursuing a cure and improved therapies.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 57 grants totaling $10,006,250. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,500,000, with a median of $1,250.
The largest 2024 grants included $2,500,000 to Milken Community School for preschool–12th grade programs and $2,440,000 to the UCLA School of Law for higher education and research. Other large grants included $527,500 to Stephen Wise Temple and $500,000 each to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Jerusalem Center for Security & Foreign Affairs, Letter of the Law – Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, and The Lawfare Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lowell Milken as president and director; Ryan Milken as executive vice president and director; David Milken and Jeremy Milken as vice presidents and directors; and Sarah Haufrect as vice president of programs and communications. It also lists Jeff Green as assistant secretary and director, Lanetta Wahlgren and Stan Maron as directors, and Richard Yee as treasurer and secretary.
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation is led by Lowell Milken, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lowell Milken
President & Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Milken
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Green
Assistant Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Milken
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lanetta Wahlgren
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Milken
Executive Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stan Maron
Director
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Haufrect
Vice President Programs & Communications
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$56K (2023) → $50K (2024)
Richard Yee
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $50K, to Sarah Haufrect (VP Programs & Communications).
Frequently asked questions about The Lowell Milken Family Foundation
How much does The Lowell Milken Family Foundation give each year?
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation gave $10.0M across 57 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13.6M across 41 grants.
What is The Lowell Milken Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,250, and its average grant was $175,548, across 57 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lowell Milken Family Foundation that year got $368K on average.
Where does The Lowell Milken Family Foundation give grants?
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (13 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Miami, FL (2 grants).
Does The Lowell Milken Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of The Lowell Milken Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 57) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Approved Program Grant" (27 grants), "Community Centers & Programs" (11 grants) and "Higher Ed & Research Inst. & Progs" (5 grants).
Who are The Lowell Milken Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Milken Community School ($2,500,000), University of California Los Angeles - School of Law ($2,440,000) and Stephen Wise Temple ($527,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Lowell Milken Family Foundation?
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation reported $143.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Lowell Milken Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to strengthen communities by unleashing human potential. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lowell Milken Family Foundation?
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 The Lowell Milken Family Foundation's EIN?
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4078354. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Lowell Milken Family Foundation 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 October 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). The Lowell Milken Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lowell-milken-family-foundation-morg_cb0a67e737f74dcfa88f4284693b5c91
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954078354_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lowell Milken Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lowell-milken-family-foundation-morg_cb0a67e737f74dcfa88f4284693b5c91},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Lowell Milken Family Foundation'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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