The Lowell Milken Family Foundation
The Lowell Milken Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1986 by Lowell Milken. Based in Santa Monica, California, the foundation operates with a distinctive model focused on cultivating human capital through education and lifelong learning initiatives. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications; instead, it makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations aligned with its strategic vision.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$143.3M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.0M
-26.5% YoY
Grant Count
57
+39.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$176K
-47.1% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on creating and supporting initiatives that cultivate human capital through education and lifelong learning. Primary funding areas include:
- Education: K-12 education institutions and educational excellence programs
- Early Childhood Programs: Support for early learning initiatives
- Cultural Initiatives: Arts and cultural organizations
- Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development: Building capacity in the philanthropic sector
The foundation pursues its mission through multiple flagship programs and initiatives rather than traditional open grant programs.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
**: $1,250 to $2,500,000
Invitation Only
**: Invitation-only; does not accept unsolicited grant applications
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in California, with some national grants. Recent grantmaking has also included activity in New York and Kansas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $143,349,156 | 2024 |
| Total Assets | $215,000,000 | 2023 |
| Revenue | $20,195,498 | 2024 |
| Total Expenses | $11,500,000 | 2024 |
| Total Giving | $10,006,250 | 2024 |
| Annual Giving | $13,600,000 | 2023 |
The foundation maintains substantial assets and demonstrates consistent annual giving levels in support of its mission.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $143,349,156 | $139,992,783 | $140,468,784 |
| Revenue | $20,195,498 | $15,449,416 | $33,852,306 |
| Expenses | $11,480,006 | $14,778,029 | $11,254,472 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,075,926 | $14,479,247 | $10,730,357 |
| Net Investment Income | $14,183,859 | $12,192,758 | $24,192,871 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,993,069 | $9,775,296 | $9,448,970 |
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
205 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Milken Community School ($2,500,000), University of California Los Angeles - School of Law ($2,440,000), Stephen Wise Temple ($527,500).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Lowell Milken: Founder of the Lowell Milken Family Foundation (established 1986). He co-founded the Milken Family Foundation in 1982 and has been at the forefront of significant educational and medical research initiatives in the United States. His philanthropic approach is described as proactive and hands-on, ensuring initiatives are scalable, sustainable, and impactful.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH HAUFRECT | VP PROGRAMS & COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $50,069 |
| LOWELL MILKEN | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 35 | — |
| RYAN MILKEN | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 30 | — |
| DAVID MILKEN | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| JEREMY MILKEN | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| JEFF GREEN | ASSISTANT SECRETARY, DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| LANETTA WAHLGREN | DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| STAN MARON | DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| RICHARD YEE | TREASURER & SECRETARY | 15 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Milken Educator Awards Milestone**: The foundation celebrated awarding the 3,000th Milken Educator Award to Louisiana teacher Ashley Davis, who received the milestone award and $25,000 prize.
Lowell Milken Surprises Louisiana Teacher Ashley Davis with Milestone 3,000th**Discovery Award Program**: Students have earned over $25,000 in prizes through the Lowell Milken Center Discovery Award program by creating projects that highlight history's unsung heroes.
Lowell Milken Surprises Louisiana Teacher Ashley Davis with Milestone 3,000th**Educator Recognition**: The foundation continues its tradition of surprising educators coast-to-coast with $25,000 cash prizes through the Milken Educator Awards program.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lowell Milken Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on creating and supporting initiatives that cultivate human capital through education and lifelong learning. Primary funding areas include: • **Education**: K-12 education institutions and educational excellence programs • **Early Childhood Programs**: Support for early learning initiatives • **Cultural Initiatives**: Arts and cultural organizations • **Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development**: Building capacity in the philanthropic sector The foundation pursues…
How do I apply for a grant from The Lowell Milken Family Foundation?
• **Grant Range**: $1,250 to $2,500,000 • **Annual Giving**: $13.6 million (2023) • **Recent Grant Activity**: 57 grants made in 2023 • **Application Process**: Invitation-only; does not accept unsolicited grant applications **Milken Educator Awards**: The foundation's signature program recognizing exemplary K-12 educators, principals, and specialists with individual $25,000 unrestricted prizes. Over 2,800 educators have been recognized since 1987, with more than $70 million distributed through…
Where does The Lowell Milken Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in California, with some national grants. Recent grantmaking has also included activity in New York and Kansas.
What size grants does The Lowell Milken Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lowell Milken Family Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $10.0M — an average of about $176K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lowell Milken Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lowell Milken Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lowell Milken Family 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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