The Michelson Foundation
The Michelson Foundation is a private foundation based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Established in 2014, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.4M
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$372K
-48.8% YoY
Grant Count
8
-55.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$46K
+15.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Michelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants primarily in the form of unrestricted funding. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in:
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Pennsylvania
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $15,377,536
- Total Revenues: $451,027
- Total Expenses: $388,133
- Total Giving: $371,667
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment Income and Dividends: $447,942
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $3,085
The foundation has no liabilities and maintains zero employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,377,536 | $15,314,642 | $15,705,443 |
| Revenue | $451,027 | $353,876 | $294,454 |
| Expenses | $388,133 | $744,677 | $1,529,343 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $381,467 | $736,975 | $1,517,686 |
| Net Investment Income | $444,361 | $373,167 | $318,382 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,034,774 | $1,364,356 | $1,341,763 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Better Angels Society - The American Revolution ($166,667), The Metropolitan Opera ($50,000), Ertz Family Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE METROPOLITAN OPERA NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $35,000 |
| Better Angels Society - The American Revolution Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $166,667 |
| Eagles Autism Foundation Philadelphia, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
| Teach for America (Annual Benefit) New York City, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| Ertz Family Foundation Alpharetta, GA | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| Jones-Gordon Foundation Paradise Valley, AZ | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| Kukio Ho'omana Fund Kailua Kona, HI | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL W MICHELSON | DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMEN | 1 | — |
| SUSAN P DOELL | SECRETARY AND TREASURER | 3 | — |
| KATE M GOLDKAMP | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAURA E MICHELSON SIEVERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Michelson Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Michelson Foundation?
The foundation makes grants primarily in the form of unrestricted funding. Recent grant activity includes: • American Enterprise Institute: $35,000 (unrestricted, 2024) • Jones-Gordon Foundation: $5,000 (unrestricted, 2024) Typical grant awards range from $200,000 to $900,000.
Where does The Michelson Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in: • New York • District of Columbia • Pennsylvania
What size grants does The Michelson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Michelson Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $372K — an average of about $46K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Michelson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Michelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Michelson 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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