The Michelson 20MM Foundation Inc
Los Angeles, CA · EIN 27-2898736. Reported 197 grants totalling $3,863,776 to 129 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation told the IRS it does not accept unsolicited requests: it contributes only to organizations it selects itself.
Does this foundation accept applications?
No -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation to check a box if it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds". The Michelson 20MM Foundation Inc checked it on its most recent filing, as 78% of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered did. An unsolicited request is unlikely to go anywhere.
Organizations it funds that make grants of their own
3 of the organizations The Michelson 20MM Foundation Inc funded make grants themselves, and it reported 6 grants totalling $233,000 to them. That is 7% of the $3,426,330 of its giving we could match to a registered organization. Each is classified by the IRS as a philanthropy or grantmaking organization, reported grants to at least 25 organizations of its own, and has at least 10 funders behind it.
All of them file Form 990, which never asks whether an organization funds only groups it picks, so there is no answer on record either way.
What that does not mean. It does not mean an application to any of them reaches this foundation's money. A private foundation's grant to a community foundation or a federated campaign is often a donor-advised fund or a gift designated for a purpose the foundation chose, and has nothing to do with any open programme the receiving organization runs. Its return's purpose text sometimes names a family fund or a designated purpose, which is the plainest case of money no applicant can reach; where it names none, neither return says which. The list is who this foundation paid that also makes grants. Whether any of them would fund you is a question for its own page.
| Grantmaker | Kind | State | Received | Grants | Years | Last | Only funds organizations it picks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University Foundation | grantmaking organization | California | $125,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
| California Community Foundation | community foundation | California | $98,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
| Southern California Grantmakers | grantmaking organization | California | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
A floor, not a full list. A grantmaker appears here only where this foundation's return named it clearly enough for us to match the name to an EIN, which we manage for about two thirds of 990-PF grant rows, and only where that grantmaker has a page on this site. There may be more. Dollars here are summed by EIN across every spelling on its returns, so a figure can differ from the matching row in the full list below, which groups names as written. And the IRS classification cannot tell a grantmaker from a funders' association or a donor-advised fund sponsor, so a payment to one of these may be dues or an account rather than support for a grants programme.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $15,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $25,000; the smallest was $50 and the largest $127,500.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Partners | Los Angeles, CA | $197,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Center for Accessible Technology | Berkeley, CA | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | $131,800 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| California State University Foundation | Long Beach, CA | $125,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nextgen Climate America Inc | Sacramento, CA | $120,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Public Policy Institute of California | La Jolla, CA | $110,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Generation Hope | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Utility Reform Network | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| California Community Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $98,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Education Trust Inc | Washington, DC | $79,150 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Creative Commons Corporation | Mountain View, CA | $75,853 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Institute for Local Self Reliance Inc | Minneapolis, MN | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| National Association for Community College Entr | Springfield, MA | $74,602 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| California Competes | Kensington, CA | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| New Venture Fund | Baltimore, MD | $63,250 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| UC College of the Law San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Unite-La Inc | Los Angeles, CA | $56,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Foundation for California Community Colleges | Sacramento, CA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Impact Justice | Oakland, CA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| People Centered Internet | Palo Alto, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Regents of the University of Ca Irvine | Irvine, CA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Urban Resource Institute | New York, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Young Invincibles | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| California State University Long Beach Research Fo | Long Beach, CA | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Connect to Compete Inc | Los Angeles, CA | $40,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| William Marsh Rice University | Houston, TX | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Homeboy Industries | Los Angeles, CA | $37,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Csulb 49ER Foundation | Long Beach, CA | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Campaign for College Opportunity | Los Angeles, CA | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Urban Assoc of Forestry and Fire Professionals | Asuza, CA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Rand Corporation | Santa Monica, CA | $25,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| A New Way of Life Reentry Project | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| American Association of Colleges and Universities | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bard College | Annandale on Hudson, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bethune Cookman University Inc | Daytona Beach, FL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Believe in Students Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| California State University Northridge Foundation | Northridge, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| California State University Channel Islands | Camarillo, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| California State University Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City Heights Community Development Corporation | San Diego, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Csula Auxiliary Services Inc | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Destination Crenshaw | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Elevate Community Services Inc | Fresno, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Foundation for Compton Community College District | Compton, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hampton University | Hampton, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Human-I-T | Pasadena, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Higher Learning Advocates Inc | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Institute for the Study of Knowl Mngmt in Edu | Half Moon Bay, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in | Half Moon Bay, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Indigenous Justice | Sacramento, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Insure the Uninsured Project | Sacramento, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| John Burton Advocates for Youth | San Franciso, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mohuman | San Diego, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Morehouse College | Atlanta, GA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| March on Foundation Inc | Annapolis, MD | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Norfolk State University Foundation Inc | Norfolk, VA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Oakland Public Education Fund | Oakland, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Public Advocates Inc | San Francisco, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Peoples Resource Center | El Monte, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Privacy Rights Clearinghouse | San Diego, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Regents of the University of California Riverside | Riverside, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg, SC | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Student Basic Needs Coalition | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Friends of Chabot College | Hayward, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Giving Spirit | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Institute for College Access and Success | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Mirman School for Gifted Children | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Transformative Collective Institute Inc | Tehachapi, CA | $25,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee Institute, AL | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Xavier University | New Orleans, LA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Community College League of California | Sacramento, CA | $24,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| USC - Sponsored Projects Accounting | Los Angeles, CA | $24,200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Glendale College Foundation | Glendale, CA | $23,100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Student Legal Defense Network | Washington, DC | $21,415 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Center for Intellectual Property Understanding | Briarcliff Manor, NY | $21,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Food Research and Action Center | Washington, DC | $20,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Purdue University | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| United Negro College Fund Inc | Washington, DC | $19,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| California Invention Convention | Santa Cruz, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pro Bono Advisory Council | Birmingham, AL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Association of Community College Trustees | Washington, DC | $14,425 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Austin Pets Alive Inc | Austin, TX | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Partners for College Affordability & Public Trust | Washington, DC | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Academic Senate for Ca Community Colleges | Sacramento, CA | $11,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Benton Institute for Broadband & Society | Wilmette, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| California State University Fresno Foundation | Fresno, CA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cal Poly Corporation | San Luis Obispo, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair | South Pasadena, CA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Online Learning Consortium Inc | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Southern California Grantmakers | Los Angeles, CA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| University of California Berkeley Foundation | Berkeley, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Root & Rebound | Oakland, CA | $9,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| National Academy of Inventors Inc | Tampa, FL | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Venturewell | Hadley, MA | $6,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Tides Center | San Francisco, CA | $5,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Santa Monica College Foundation | Santa Monica, CA | $5,150 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bard College Berlin a Liberal Arts University | Annandale on Hudson, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hbcu Founders Initiative | La Jolla, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kalw Public Media Inc | San Francisco, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Student Organizing Inc | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The University Foundation at Sacramento State | Sacramento, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Underground Scholars Inc | Berkeley, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Open Education Global Incorporated | Concord, MA | $4,195 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Pukuu Cultural Community Services | San Fernando, CA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United States Intellectual Property Alliance Inc | Villa Rica, GA | $2,600 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education | Las Vegas, NV | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Institute for Intellect Property & Social Justice | Rockville, MD | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Open Campus Media Inc | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| US Ip Alliance Inc | Atlanta, GA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Student Senate for California Community College | Sacramento, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| CASA of Los Angeles | Monterey Park, CA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| San Diego State University Foundation | San Diego, CA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The College of the Canyons Foundation | Santa Clarita, CA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| A Place Called Home (apch) | Los Angeles, CA | $1,244 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Social Justice Learning Institute | Inglewood, CA | $942 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Neighborhood Connections Inc | Londonderry, VT | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Intellectual Property Law Association | Arlington, VA | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Japanese Garden Society of Oregon | Portland, OR | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sgi-USA | Santa Monica, CA | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Beautiful Foundation Inc | New Orleans, LA | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of California Irvine Foundation | Irvine, CA | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
45 of 129 (35%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 40%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one, and this foundation told the IRS it does not.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Community Partners
Resources for People Impacted by Mass Incarceration COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR PUBLIC GOOD EDUCATION ACCESS & AFFORDABILITY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY EDUCATION/SUPPORT - California State University Foundation
Education Access & Affordability - Generation Hope
Digital Services Access & Affordability - New Venture Fund
Intellectual Property Education/Support - Northwestern University
Resources for People Impacted by Mass Incarceration - California Competes
Digital Learning & Workforce Skills Digital Services Access & Affordability Education Access & Affordability
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 147 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 48 | $748,675 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | 49 | $982,665 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 45 | $843,039 | $12,500 |
| 2024 | 55 | $1,289,397 | $15,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
65% of its giving went to organizations in California.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more. Unlike this foundation, none of them is on record as funding only organizations it picks, and each page says what its filings show.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Michelson 20MM Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 3000 S Robertson Blvd Suite 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90034. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS.
EIN 27-2898736 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.