The Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1991, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since May 1991. The Institute maintains seven offices globally, located in Santa Monica, Washington DC, New York, Miami, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore, and operates in 21 countries including the United Kingdom, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Brazil, and Hong Kong.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5B
+23.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$42.9M
-8.9% YoY
Grant Count
31
+34.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.4M
-32.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Milken Institute is focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life, with emphasis on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health. The organization brings together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling critical global issues through the lens of what's pressing now and what's coming next.
Approach: The Institute catalyzes solutions by leveraging expertise and insight gained through research and the convening of top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints to construct programs and policy initiatives.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Finance and financial market understanding
- Health and medical research acceleration
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- International development and analysis
- Education, particularly STEM education
- Science and teacher education
The organization's programmatic work is driven by four pillars: finance, health, philanthropy, and an international arm.
Grantmaking
The Milken Institute provides grants across multiple focus areas. Based on recent filings, the organization reported total giving of $52,388,884 in 2024.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Institute's grantmaking priorities include New York, California, and Massachusetts as primary funding regions, though the organization's global presence and international arm suggest broader geographic engagement.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,525,254,492
- Total Revenue: $389,000,000
- Total Expenses: $151,000,000
- Total Liabilities: $177,000,000
- Total Giving: $52,388,884
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,237,778,532
- Total Revenues: $264,659,454
- Total Expenses: $150,849,724
Staffing: The organization employs approximately 323-495 people across its operations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,525,254,492 | $1,237,778,532 | $1,093,462,243 |
| Revenue | $388,976,676 | $264,659,454 | $273,734,030 |
| Expenses | $151,365,680 | $150,849,724 | $93,099,476 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $28,398,666 | $45,221,999 | $19,573,125 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
64 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research ($6,166,250), Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($4,962,414), The J Gladstone Institutes ($4,843,866).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE FEINSTEIN INSTITUTES FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH WESTBURY, NY | BIPOLAR DISORDER RESEARCH | $6,166,250 |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMBRIDGE, MA | TRANSFORMATIVE COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY | $4,962,414 |
| THE J GLADSTONE INSTITUTES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TRANSFORMATIVE COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY | $4,843,866 |
| THE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC BOSTON, MA | BIPOLAR DISORDER RESEARCH | $4,764,645 |
| THE BROAD INSTITUTE INC CAMBRIDGE, MA | BIPOLAR DISORDER RESEARCH | $4,500,000 |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY BERKELEY, CA | BIPOLAR DISORDER RESEARCH | $4,499,845 |
| THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY REDWOOD CITY, CA | TRANSFORMATIVE COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY | $2,000,000 |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, MA | TRANSFORMATIVE COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY | $1,999,027 |
| IMPACT CHARITABLE DENVER, CO | INITIATIVE FOR INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP (IIE) | $1,689,862 |
| IMPACT ASSETS BETHESDA, MD | INITIATIVE FOR INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP (IIE) | $1,370,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD DITIZIO | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PRESIDENT | 40 | $1,044,552 |
| MICHAEL L KLOWDEN | EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN | 40 | $39,211 |
| MICHAEL MILKEN | CHAIRMAN | 15 | — |
| RALPH FINERMAN | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| RICHARD SANDLER | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| DR YVONNE CHAN | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| MARIANO GUZMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| DR FREDA LEWIS-HALL | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| GREGORY MILKEN | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| LANCE MILKEN | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| LORI MILKEN | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| KNEELAND YOUNGBLOOD | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| JOHN HUNTER | COO & CFO | 40 | $528,790 |
| RACHEL GOSLINS | EXEC DIRECTOR - MCAAD | 40 | $489,347 |
| ESTHER KROFAH | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $514,764 |
| MARTHA MAZZONE | GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $466,743 |
| SARAH SANDLER | EXEC DIR-BUSINESS & PROG DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $505,063 |
| MELISSA STEVENS | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $514,889 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Milken Institute and Ann Theodore Foundation have launched collaborative initiatives focused on sarcoidosis research, announcing significant funding commitments to support clinical trials and research advancement in this area through the Ann Theodore Sarcoidosis Breakthrough Initiative Grant Program.
Milken Institute, Ann Theodore Foundation Launch New Grant to ...The organization has shaped innovative ideas and influenced policy decisions over its 33-year history through rigorous research, analysis, and thought leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Milken Institute fund?
**Mission:** The Milken Institute is focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life, with emphasis on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health. The organization brings together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling critical global issues through the lens of what's pressing now and what's coming next. **Approach:** The Institute catalyzes solutions by leveraging expertise and insight gained through research and the …
How do I apply for a grant from The Milken Institute?
The Milken Institute provides grants across multiple focus areas. Based on recent filings, the organization reported total giving of $52,388,884 in 2024. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award ranges: $5,398 to $9,911,455 • Primary focus areas include Education, Science Teachers, STEM Education, and Obesity Prevention **Recent Grant Activity:** The Institute has partnered with the Ann Theodore Foundation on sarcoidosis research initiatives, announcing more than $25 million in new funding fo…
Where does The Milken Institute make grants?
The Institute's grantmaking priorities include New York, California, and Massachusetts as primary funding regions, though the organization's global presence and international arm suggest broader geographic engagement.
What size grants does The Milken Institute award?
In 2024, The Milken Institute awarded 31 grants totaling $42.9M — an average of about $1.4M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Milken Institute's EIN?
The Milken Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4240775. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Milken Institute'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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