The Michelson 20mm Foundation Incorporated
The Michelson 20MM Foundation is a private foundation focused on equitable higher education and economic opportunity, operating Spark Grants, pooled funds, impact investments, research, and advocacy. The site identifies the foundation as part of the Michelson Philanthropies network and describes focus areas such as open educational resources, digital equity, student basic needs, and smart justice.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Organizations working on equitable higher education, open educational resources, digital equity, student basic needs, or smart justice that need grants in the small-to-midrange ($5K–$125K) and can demonstrate clear program impact or scalable pilots.
Good Fit
- • Project directly advances open educational resources, digital access, student basic needs, or smart justice.
- • Budget and timeline match the foundation's common grant sizes (small-to-midrange awards).
- • Demonstrable impact in California or a clear plan for broader state/national relevance.
- • Ability to move on a rolling timeline and accept faster turnaround from a Spark Grants process.
Geography
Observed grants span nine states but are heavily weighted to California, which received roughly two-thirds of the dollars in the latest year; the footprint is multi‑state with a strong in‑state tilt.
Recipient Variety
In the latest year the foundation made 55 grants to 53 distinct recipients with many new entrants, indicating a broad and diverse recipient base rather than a tiny closed circle.
New Applicants
Direct evidence shows many new recipients in 2024 (36 new grantees, ~68% new), and a public Spark Grants application route is available on the website, so unfamiliar applicants appear plausibly able to enter the portfolio despite some preselected funding.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
