The Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank based in Santa Monica, California. It is classified as a public charity and was formed in 1989. Its work spans research, policy initiatives, convenings, and philanthropic programs; its reported grants include support for medical research and an initiative for inclusive entrepreneurship.
The Milken Institute at a glance
In short: The Milken Institute gave $42.9M across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $1.4M), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $42,891,793
- -8.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +34.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,383,606
- -32.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $375,792
- Total assets
- $1,525,254,492
- +23.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (38% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Milken Institute
- Contact
Mailing address: 1250 Fourth Street 2Nd Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 570-4600
Website: https://milkeninstitute.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Milken Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research ($6.2M). Together the top 10 received $37.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 20 grants of 64 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Massachusetts (38%), California (28%), New York (18%), Colorado (4%), and Maryland (3%). The Institute reports operating seven offices in Santa Monica, Washington, DC, New York, Miami, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Milken Institute gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 $325K (2022) to $47.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $42.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,525,254,492 | $388,976,676 | $151,365,680 | $42,891,793 | 31 | $28,398,666 |
| 2023 | $1,237,778,532 | $264,659,454 | $150,849,724 | $47,107,466 | 23 | $45,221,999 |
| 2022 | $1,093,462,243 | $273,734,030 | $93,099,476 | $325,000 | 2 | $19,573,125 |
| 2021 | $890,913,032 | $317,370,742 | $64,582,177 | $400,000 | 3 | $27,366,583 |
| 2020 | $606,413,267 | $137,924,964 | $54,155,182 | $629,943 | 5 | $14,719,967 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to increase global prosperity through collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs, and improve health. It describes its approach as involving independent, data-driven research, action-oriented meetings, and policy initiatives.
Its programs include medical research acceleration, public health, aging, finance, philanthropy, and analysis of Asian demographic trends, trade relationships, and capital flows. The Institute also describes its philanthropic services as including strategy advice, funder convenings, grant-program design, and management.
The Institute’s 2024 grants supported research institutions and other organizations. For example, the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research received a grant for bipolar disorder research; the grantee describes its own mission as bridging biomedical research and patient care. MIT and the J. David Gladstone Institutes received grants for transformative computational biology. MIT describes its mission as advancing knowledge and educating students, while Gladstone describes its mission as advancing disease-oriented science and mentoring future leaders. Impact Charitable and Impact Assets received support for the Initiative for Inclusive Entrepreneurship; Impact Charitable describes its work as unlocking and accelerating capital for positive change, and Impact Assets describes its mission as supporting impact investing and charitable giving.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Institute reported 31 grants totaling $42,891,793. Grant amounts ranged from $82,800 to $6,166,250, with a median of $375,792.
The largest reported awards included $6,166,250 to the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research for bipolar disorder research; $4,962,414 to MIT and $4,843,866 to the J. David Gladstone Institutes for transformative computational biology; and $4,764,645 to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and $4,500,000 to the Broad Institute for bipolar disorder research. Other awards included $4,499,845 to the Regents of the University of California, Berkeley, for bipolar disorder research; $2,000,000 to Stanford University and $1,999,027 to Harvard College for transformative computational biology; and $1,689,862 to Impact Charitable and $1,370,000 to Impact Assets for the Initiative for Inclusive Entrepreneurship.
The Institute says grantees submit proposals explaining how funds will serve the proposed purpose, and that it follows up to check proper use and assess impact. Its filing also describes awards supporting the Milken-Motsepe Prize for Innovation in Africa, bipolar disorder research, and ALS research.
A current RFP posted September 24, 2026, describes the Kissick Family Foundation Frontotemporal Dementia Grant Program, run in partnership with the Institute’s SPARC program. It seeks applications for two-year basic or early-stage translational research projects on sporadic frontotemporal dementia. The program intends to award up to five grants, each of up to $500,000 including indirect costs, to independent doctoral-level investigators at qualifying research-based institutions worldwide; early-career investigators are a priority. The RFP states that applications are being accepted through the SPARC online grant portal.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard Ditizio as chief executive officer and president; Michael L. Klowden as executive vice chairman; Michael Milken as chairman; Ralph Finerman as treasurer; and Richard Sandler as secretary. Directors listed are Dr. Yvonne Chan, Mariano Guzman, Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, Gregory Milken, and Lance Milken.
The Milken Institute is led by Richard Ditizio, Chief Executive Officer & President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 18 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard Ditizio
Chief Executive Officer & President
President & COO → Chief Executive Officer & President, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$745K (2020) → $1M (2024)
Rachel Goslins
Executive Director - McAad
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$499K (2023) → $489K (2024)
Michael Milken
Chairman
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Milken
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lance Milken
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Milken
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Freda Lewis-Hall
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kneeland Youngblood
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mariano Guzman
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yvonne Chan
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Hunter
COO & CFO
Executive Vice President, CFO & Assistant Treasurer → Executive Vice President & CFO, 2021
Executive Vice President & CFO → COO & CFO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$391K (2020) → $529K (2024)
Melissa Stevens
Executive Vice President
Executive Dir-Ctr for Strategic Philanthr → Executive Dir-Ctr for Strategic Philanthropy, 2021
Executive Dir-Ctr for Strategic Philanthropy → Executive Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$397K (2020) → $515K (2024)
Michael L. Klowden
Executive Vice Chairman
CEO → Executive Vice Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$798K (2020) → $39K (2024)
Esther Krofah
Executive Vice President
Executive Dir-Fastercures & Ctr for Public Health → Executive Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$357K (2021) → $515K (2024)
Martha Mazzone
General Counsel
COO & General Counsel - McAad → General Counsel, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$383K (2021) → $467K (2024)
Sarah Sandler
Executive Dir-Business & Program Development
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$394K (2022) → $505K (2024)
Ralph Finerman
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Sandler
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Kathryn O'Reilly (2020–2022) — Executive Dir-Business & Program Development
- Former: Kerry Healey (2020–2022) — President - McAad
- Former: Michael Piwowar (2020–2022) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Kevin Klowden (2020–2021) — Executive Dir-Ctr for Regional Economics
- Former: Paul Irving (2021) — Chairman-Ctr for the Future of Aging
- Former: Edward Greissing (2020) — Executive Dir- Ctr for Public Health
- Former: Staci Warden (2020) — Executive Dir- Global Market Development
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 $1.0M, to Richard Ditizio (Chief Executive Officer & President). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Milken Institute
How much does The Milken Institute give each year?
The Milken Institute gave $42.9M across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $47.1M across 23 grants.
What is The Milken Institute's typical grant size?
The Milken Institute's median grant in 2024 was $375,792, and its average grant was $1,383,606, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Milken Institute give grants?
The Milken Institute's top state is Massachusetts, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (28%) and New York (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cambridge, MA (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Redwood City, CA (2 grants) and Rochester, NY (2 grants).
Does The Milken Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on The Milken Institute's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Bipolar Disorder Research" (11 grants), "Milken-Motsepe Prize" (5 grants) and "Transformative Computational Biology" (4 grants).
Who are The Milken Institute's largest grantees?
The Milken Institute's largest 2024 grantees include The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research ($6,166,250), Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($4,962,414) and The J Gladstone Institutes ($4,843,866), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Milken Institute?
The Milken Institute reported $1.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $389.0M.
What does The Milken Institute fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to increase global prosperity through collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs, and improve health. It describes its approach as involving independent, data-driven research, action-oriented meetings, and policy initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Milken Institute?
The Milken Institute has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check milkeninstitute.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Milken Institute funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-milken-institute-morg_82a7cbaba02043618e1bc380d06f7890
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954240775_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Milken Institute funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-milken-institute-morg_82a7cbaba02043618e1bc380d06f7890},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Milken Institute'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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