The Michelson Foundation
The Michelson Foundation is a private foundation based in Scottsdale, Arizona. It makes grants to organizations; its 2025 filing reports eight grants totaling $961,473.
Key facts about The Michelson Foundation
In short: The Michelson Foundation gave $961K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $120K), top state Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 46-4978561
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $961,473
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- Average grant
- $120,184
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $14,937,008
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.9M
-2.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$961K
+158.7% YoY
Grant Count
8
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$120K
+158.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Michelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The Michelson Foundation gives
- Giving fell 36% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 35% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation or identify formal funding focus areas. Its 2025 grantees included organizations with different missions. The Better Angels Society supports American history documentaries intended to promote lifelong learning, civic engagement, and civil discourse. Teach for America works to find, develop, and support leaders to teach students in underserved communities. Libertas College Preparatory aims to prepare students in grades 4–8 for high-performing high schools and competitive colleges. The Kukio Ho'omana Fund supports local organizations working in areas including youth empowerment, affordable housing, environmental preservation, cultural enrichment, and food security.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported eight grants totaling $961,473. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $453,140, with a median of $40,000. All eight grants were listed as unrestricted.
Review Cycle
** None.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee (47%) and Washington, DC (35%), followed by California (6%), Missouri (5%), and Pennsylvania (3%). The listed grants also included recipients in New York and Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 8 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Blair Community Scholars Pr Nashville, TN | UNRESTRICTED | $453,140 |
| The Better Angels Society Inc Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $333,333 |
| Child Mind Institute Inc San Francisco, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| Book Book Go Warson Woods, MO | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| Eagles Autism Foundation Philadelphia, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
| Teach for America New York City, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| Kukio Ho'omana Fund Kailua Kona, HI | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| LIBERTAS COLLEGE PREPARATORY Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,937,008 | $537,994 | $978,522 | $961,473 |
| 2024 | $15,377,536 | $451,027 | $388,133 | $371,667 |
| 2023 | $15,314,642 | $353,876 | $744,677 | $725,266 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,937,008 | $15,377,536 | $15,314,642 |
| Revenue | $537,994 | $451,027 | $353,876 |
| Expenses | $978,522 | $388,133 | $744,677 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $971,823 | $381,467 | $736,975 |
| Net Investment Income | $531,295 | $444,361 | $373,167 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,767,627 | $2,034,774 | $1,364,356 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS November 15, 2019)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael W. Michelson as director and chairmen; Susan P. Doell as secretary and treasurer; and Kate M. Goldkamp and Laura E. Michelson Sievers as directors.
The Michelson Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kate M. Goldkamp
Director
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael W. Michelson
Director & Chairmen
Director & Chariman → Director & Chairmen, 2020
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura E. Michelson Sievers
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan P. Doell
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2018
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Laura E. Michelson (2018–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Susan P Doell
Mailing address: 155 Bovet Road Suite 770, San Mateo, CA 94402
Phone: (650) 653-2406
Frequently asked questions about The Michelson Foundation
How much does The Michelson Foundation give each year?
The Michelson Foundation gave $961K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $372K across 8 grants.
What is The Michelson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Michelson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $120,184, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Michelson Foundation give grants?
The Michelson Foundation's top state is Tennessee, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (35%) and California (6%).
Does The Michelson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Michelson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Michelson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Michelson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Vanderbilt University Blair Community Scholars Pr ($453,140), The Better Angels Society Inc ($333,333) and Child Mind Institute Inc ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Michelson Foundation?
The Michelson Foundation reported $14.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $972K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Michelson Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation or identify formal funding focus areas. Its 2025 grantees included organizations with different missions. The Better Angels Society supports American history documentaries intended to promote lifelong learning, civic engagement, and civil discourse. Teach for America works to find, develop, and support leaders to teach students in underserved communities. Libertas College Preparatory aims to prepare students in grades 4–8 for…
How do I apply for a grant from The Michelson Foundation?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Michelson Foundation's EIN?
The Michelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4978561. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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