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Intuitive Foundation is a private corporation based in SUNNYVALE, CA. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2018. It holds total assets of $122.7M. Annual income is reported at $49.3M. Total assets have grown from $29.5M in 2019 to $122.7M in 2024. The foundation is governed by 7 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2020 to 2024. Funding is distributed across 5 states, including Global, US: Thoracic and General Surgery focus, APAC: Urology, Gynecology, Colorectal, General, Head/Neck, Thoracic. According to available records, Intuitive Foundation has made 235 grants totaling $24.6M, with a median grant of $33K. Annual giving has grown from $5.1M in 2020 to $9.2M in 2022. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2021 with $10.2M distributed across 94 grants. Individual grants have ranged from $183 to $2M, with an average award of $105K. The foundation has supported 176 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, Delaware, Illinois, which account for 33% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 23 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The Intuitive Foundation operates as a corporate foundation funded by Intuitive Surgical, the maker of the da Vinci robotic surgery system. Its grantmaking strategy directly supports the ecosystem around robotic-assisted surgery — funding clinical research that validates outcomes, training the next generation of robotic surgeons through fellowships, and building STEM pipelines through FIRST Robotics. The Foundation uses a two-stage LOI-to-full-application model with biannual cycles (January and June deadlines), reviewed by an international panel of clinical and technical experts. This structured approach ensures high-quality research proposals while maintaining accessibility for global institutions. Unsolicited proposals are also accepted on a rolling quarterly basis, providing flexibility for organizations outside the standard cycle. With $170M+ in total contributions from Intuitive Surgical since 2018 and a $45M infusion in January 2025, the Foundation is well-capitalized and actively expanding its reach, particularly in global health equity and surgical training for low-resource settings.
In fiscal year 2024, the Intuitive Foundation awarded 104 grants totaling $14 million, with a median grant size of $51,822 and a range from $5,000 to $2.82 million. The largest grants went to professional medical societies and collaborative research organizations: American Online Giving Foundation ($2.82M), European Society of Coloproctology ($1.86M), and The GOG Foundation ($749.8K). Clinical research grants cap at $75,000 per project with strict budget rules — indirect costs limited to 20%, hard equipment purchases capped at $5,000, and no funding for physician salaries or for-profit activities. The Foundation has shown dramatic growth, from $1M in charitable disbursements in 2019 to $15.2M in 2024, reflecting increasing contributions from Intuitive Surgical (total revenue of $49.3M in 2024, with $45M from the parent company). Approximately 41% of 2024 grants went to foreign organizations, underscoring the global scope. Fellowship grants cover full fellow salary and benefits with 20% overhead, while FIRST Robotics grants are disbursed through FIRST Finance rather than directly to teams.
| Foundation | Parent Company | Assets | Annual Giving | Focus | Grant Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intuitive Foundation | Intuitive Surgical | $122.7M | $14.0M (104 grants) | Robotic surgery research, surgical fellowships, STEM | $5K - $2.82M |
| Medtronic Foundation | Medtronic | ~$500M+ | $97.1M (incl. corporate) | Global health equity, NCDs, community | $10K - $8.2M |
| Stryker Foundation | Stryker Corp | ~$50M | ~$5M | Orthopedic research, medical education, community | $5K - $500K |
| Edwards Lifesciences Foundation | Edwards Lifesciences | ~$100M | ~$10M | Cardiovascular innovation, patient access | $10K - $1M |
| Boston Scientific Foundation | Boston Scientific | ~$80M | ~$8M | Health equity, STEM education, community | $5K - $2M |
The Intuitive Foundation occupies a distinctive niche as the only major medical device foundation focused specifically on robotic surgery. While smaller than the Medtronic Foundation (which includes extensive corporate giving), it has grown rapidly from $29.5M in assets (2019) to $122.7M (2024). Its research grant cap of $75K is modest compared to Medtronic or Edwards, but its biannual cycle and structured LOI process make it more accessible than foundations requiring institutional nominations. The 41% international grant share is notably higher than most US-based device company foundations.
In January 2025, Intuitive Surgical announced a landmark $45 million donation to the Intuitive Foundation, bringing total contributions since inception to over $170 million. This is the largest single donation the Foundation has received and signals significant expansion capacity. The Foundation awarded more than $6 million in research grants and surgical fellowships in 2024, plus $3 million to support the Surgical Education Learners Forum (SELF), which develops open-source training modules for clinicians in low-resource settings. The SELF program evolved from the Global Surgical Training Challenge (GSTC), a three-year competition that drew 42 teams from 44 countries. By August 2024, over 15 training modules were freely available following a symposium in Malaysia. The Foundation also matched $7 million in employee donations across 2,000+ causes in 2024. For 2026-2027, the Clinical Research Grant program is actively accepting LOIs with deadlines of January 5 and June 5, 2026, and fellowship submissions are due January 5 and June 30, 2026. The FIRST Robotics program is closed for the 2025/2026 season but typically reopens in June.
To maximize your chances with the Intuitive Foundation, focus on these key strategies: (1) Nail the LOI — The five-part LOI (overview, problem/background, purpose/hypothesis/methods, capabilities, budget) is your gateway; be concise but compelling, as only top-ranked LOIs receive full application invitations. (2) Align with regional priorities — The Foundation prioritizes different surgical specialties by region: Thoracic and General Surgery in the US; Urology, Gynecology, and Colorectal in APAC; and Colorectal and General/Visceral in Europe. Tailor your proposal accordingly. (3) Include a health economist — For outcomes and cost-effectiveness studies, the Foundation explicitly recommends having a health economist on your team and identifying them in the capabilities section. (4) Budget precisely — Stay within the $75K cap, keep indirect costs at or below 20%, cap hard equipment at $5K, and exclude physician salaries. Budget violations can disqualify strong proposals. (5) Demonstrate global health impact — The Foundation increasingly prioritizes global health equity and low-resource settings; proposals addressing underserved populations or surgical access disparities have strong alignment. (6) Plan for dissemination — Grantees must present findings at Intuitive headquarters (travel covered) and submit publications; design your study with publishable endpoints from the start. Contact grants@intuitive-foundation.org with questions before applying.
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Supports clinical research at non-profit institutions worldwide focused on robotic-assisted surgery outcomes. Up to $75,000 per project with two funding cycles per year.
Provides salary and benefits for 6-12 month fellowships at institutions with active robotic surgical programs. Focus areas include Colorectal, General Surgery, and Thoracic.
Funds research on robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedures and outcomes at non-profit institutions.
Clinical training fellowships focused on robotic bronchoscopy procedures.
Sponsors high school FIRST Robotics teams globally. Since 2006, has provided grants to 889 teams across Australia, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey, and the US.
Open-source surgical simulation and training platform developing low-cost procedural training modules for clinicians in low-resource settings. Over 15 modules freely available.
Matches employee donations across 2,000+ causes, totaling $7 million in 2024.
In fiscal year 2024, the Intuitive Foundation awarded 104 grants totaling $14 million, with a median grant size of $51,822 and a range from $5,000 to $2.82 million. The largest grants went to professional medical societies and collaborative research organizations: American Online Giving Foundation ($2.82M), European Society of Coloproctology ($1.86M), and The GOG Foundation ($749.8K). Clinical research grants cap at $75,000 per project with strict budget rules — indirect costs limited to 20%, ha.
Intuitive Foundation has distributed a total of $24.6M across 235 grants. The median grant size is $33K, with an average of $105K. Individual grants have ranged from $183 to $2M.
The Intuitive Foundation operates as a corporate foundation funded by Intuitive Surgical, the maker of the da Vinci robotic surgery system. Its grantmaking strategy directly supports the ecosystem around robotic-assisted surgery — funding clinical research that validates outcomes, training the next generation of robotic surgeons through fellowships, and building STEM pipelines through FIRST Robotics. The Foundation uses a two-stage LOI-to-full-application model with biannual cycles (January and .
Intuitive Foundation is headquartered in SUNNYVALE, CA. While based in CA, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 23 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romain Denis | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Mark Rubash | BOARD CHAIR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Victor Chow | TREASURER | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Lonnie M Smith | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Wendy Cheng | SECRETARY | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Dr Myriam J Curet | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Dr Catherine Mohr | PRESIDENT | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
N/A
Total Assets
$122.7M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$109.5M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
N/A
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
235
Total Giving
$24.6M
Average Grant
$105K
Median Grant
$33K
Unique Recipients
176
Most Common Grant
$30K
of 2022 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Of RefugeOUTREACH PHILANTHROPY GRANT: CITY OF REFUGE WORKFORCE INNOVATION HUB THIS PROGRAM WILL INCREASE MINORITY AND FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN STEM PROFESSIONS BY PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS IN ATLANTAS WESTSIDE TO RECEIVE EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND FULL WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT THAT PREPARES THEM TO FIND AND MAINTAIN MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A LIVING WAGE. | Atlanta, GA | $50K | 2022 |
| American College Of SurgeonsTRAINING RESEARCH GRANT: AN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH INVESTIGATION OF THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF THE FIRST HANDS-ON SURGICAL ERGONOMICS EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALIZED ERGONOMIC INTERVENTIONS AT AN INTERNATIONAL SURGICAL MEETING. | Chicago, IL | $30K | 2022 |
| American Online Giving FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS DESIGNATED CHARITIES | Newark, DE | $2M | 2022 |
| The Gog Foundation-021022-Research GrantA RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF ROBOTIC VERSUS OPEN RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY FOR CERVICAL | Philadelphia, PA | $750K | 2022 |
| Operation SmileTRAINING GRAND CHALLENGE | Virginia Beach, VA | $500K | 2022 |
| Paediatric SurgicalTRAINING GRAND CHALLENGE | Kampala | $500K | 2022 |
| Fundacion Herrera LlerandiTRAINING GRAND CHALLENGE | Ciudad | $498K | 2022 |
| Pan-African AcademyTRAINING GRAND CHALLENGE | Palatine, IL | $483K | 2022 |
| The Gog Foundation-052722-Grant Payment-Pi Mary SharpA RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF ROBOTIC VERSUS OPEN RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY FOR CERVICAL | Philadelphia, PA | $375K | 2022 |
| Johns Hopkins UniversityDA VINCI RESEARCH KIT DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT | Baltimore, MD | $220K | 2022 |
| First-M20017-Fy 22 First Team SupportFIRST ROBOTIC COMPETITION REAM SUPPORT | Manchester, NH | $201K | 2022 |
| SagesROBOTIC RESEARCH GRANT, FOR PERIOD 2022 - 2023 | Los Angeles, CA | $180K | 2022 |
| Nyu Langone HealthROBOTIC SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP (NEW), SURGICAL SPECIALTY: GENERAL; FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR: DR. TANUJA DAMANI | New York, NY | $150K | 2022 |
| Emory UniversityGENERAL SUPPORT | Atlanta, GA | $150K | 2022 |
| Health Career CollaborativeAREA OF IMPACT: HS STUDENTS FROM LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, LEVERAGES THE VOLUNTEERISM OF MEDICAL STUDENTS TO TEACH SCIENCE AND HEALTH TO STUDENTS IN UNDERSERVED HIGH SCHOOLS | Burlingame, CA | $135K | 2022 |
| Royal College Of SurgicalTRAINING GRAND CHALLENGE | Dublin | $129K | 2022 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterROBOTIC SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP, FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR: DR. MIGUEL A BURCH; SURGICAL SPECIALTY: GENERAL | Los Angeles, CA | $126K | 2022 |
| Research Foundation Of The AscrsROBOTIC RESEARCH GRANT, FOR PERIOD 2021 - 2022 | Oakbrook Terrace, IL | $120K | 2022 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Robotic Surgical FellowshipROBOTIC SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP | Los Angeles, CA | $107K | 2022 |
| The European- African Hepato- Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-Ahpba)IMPACT OF A EUROPEAN TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ROBOT PANCREATODUODENECTOMY USING A VIDEO DATABANK, DA VINCI SIMULATOR AND ROBOT BIOTISSUE ANASTOMOSES ON CLINICAL OUTCOMES (LEARNBOT): A PAN-EUROPEAN PROSPECTIVE STUDY | Glasgow | $104K | 2022 |
| University Of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusROBOTIC SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP (RENEWAL), SURGICAL SPECIALTY: GENERAL; FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR: DR. AKSHAY P. CHAUHAM | Aurora, CO | $102K | 2022 |
| American Association For Thoracic Surgery (Aats)PARTIAL SALARY SUPPORT FOR A 1-YEAR TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP FOR TWO FELLOWS., NOT ROBOTIC SURGERY | Beverly, MA | $100K | 2022 |
| Khan AcademyAREA OF IMPACT: PRE-MED STUDENTS, DEVELOPMENT OF UP-TO-DATE VIDEO MATERIALS FOR THE MCAT TEST PREP COURSE | Sunnyvale, CA | $100K | 2022 |
| Ted Rogers Scholarship Fellowship Program At Famu-FsuOUTREACH PHILANTHROPY GRANT: ENHANCING ACCESS TO STEM EDUCATION, CAREER READINESS AND STRENGTHENING PATHWAYS TO STUDENT SUCCESS THE PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE CRITICAL NEED FOR RESOURCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN RESEARCH WITH A PRIMARY GOAL OF GUIDING THESE STUDENTS TOWARDS POSTGRADUATE STUDIES. HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY (HBCU'S) HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN UNDER FUNDED AND LACK THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF ITS STUDENT POPULATION. | Tallahassee, FL | $81K | 2022 |
| Kingston Health Sciences CentreGENERAL SUPPORT | Kingston | $80K | 2022 |
| Society Of Laparoendoscopic Surgery And Robotic SurgeonsROBOTIC SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP -FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR DR. | Miami, FL | $77K | 2022 |
| Stanford UniversityESTABLISHING A MINIMUM STANDARDIZED DATASET TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE SURGICAL QUALITY IN CONFLICT AND LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS, CONTACT - DR. SHERRY WREN | Redwood City, CA | $75K | 2022 |
| Sunderland Royal Hospital And Newcastle Hospitals Nhs Foundation TrustROBOTIC SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP | Sunderland | $61K | 2022 |
| Portsmouth Nhs Trust Hospital - Clinical Outcomes-Based Research (Ous)CLINICAL OUTCOMES-BASED RESEARCH (OUS) | Portsmouth | $60K | 2022 |
| Northwell Health-Lenox Hill Hospital United StatesNOVEL UTILIZATION OF WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY TOQUANTITATIVELY ASSESS SURGEON PERFORMANCE DURING ROBOTIC SURGERY | New York, NY | $60K | 2022 |
| Stanford University - Dr PughINDIVIDUALIZED PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION FOR SURGEONS: USING BIOMETRIC ANALYTICS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF STRESSORS AND RECOVERY ON SURGEON PERFORMANCE AND SKILL ACQUISITION, PI - DR. PUGH | Redwood City, CA | $53K | 2022 |
| CetysOUTREACH PHILANTHROPY GRANT: ROBOTICS PROGRAM TO PROMOTE STEM EDUCATION IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF MEXICALI, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL PROMOTE LEARNING AND INTEREST IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN YOUNG STUDENTS AND GIRLS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ACCESS THIS TYPE OF INITIAL TRAINING. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO TEACH STEM WORKSHOPS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH OTHER SESSIONS IN OUR FACILITIES IN CETYS TO HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER LABORATORIES FROM THE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN INNOVA | Mexicali | $50K | 2022 |
| Mayo Clinic Otolaryngology Undergraduate Research Education Program (Urep)AREA OF IMPACT: MEDICAL STUDENTS, MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM FOR 2 STUDENTS FROM URM BACKGROUNDS | Rochester, MN | $50K | 2022 |
| Sunnyvale CommunityREAY TO LEARN EVENT | Sunnyvale, CA | $45K | 2022 |
| Seneca Family Of AgenciesCOMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY GRANT: CATALYST ACADEMY SENSORY ROOM: SUPPORTING TRAUMA-INFORMED EDUCATION FOR CONTRA COSTA COUNTY STUDENTS | Oakland, CA | $42K | 2022 |
| Society Of Black Academic Surgeons (Sbas)PROFESSIONAL COACHING, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR 6-7 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN 2-YEAR PROGRAM., PROFESSIONALS | Chicago, IL | $35K | 2022 |
| Americorps St LouisCOMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY GRANT: AMERICORPS ST. LOUIS - DISASTER RESPONSE TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT. ACSTL PLANS TO HAVE INCREASED CAPACITY AND EFFICIENCY BY UPDATING AND ACQUIRING NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DISASTER. | St Louis, MO | $33K | 2022 |
| Dfy One Health ServiceTRAINING GRAND CHALLENGE | Vasant Kunj | $30K | 2022 |
| Alzheimer'S AssociationCOMMUNITY PHILANTHRIOY GRANT: CENTRAL VALLEY LATINO OUTREACH PROJECT. THE ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION WILL HAVE INCREASED LATINO ENGAGEMENT BY 25% THROUGH INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, CARE CONSULTATION, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT GROUPS. SPECIFICALLY REACHING 500 CONSTITUENTS WITHIN ONE YEAR THROUGH EDUCATION AND CARE AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE HELPLINE. | San Jose, CA | $30K | 2022 |
| Singapore General Hospital (Sgh)INTERNATIONAL MULTI-CENTER STUDY ON ROBOTIC AND LAPAROSCOPIC LIVER RESECTIONS | Singapore | $30K | 2022 |
| The First Affiliated Hospital Of Xi'An Jiao Tong UniversityCLINICAL TRIAL ON RECTAL CANCER WITH ROBOTIC LATERAL LYMPH NODE DISSECTION | Xian | $30K | 2022 |
| Samsung Medical CenterROBOTIC SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP (NEW), SURGICAL SPECIALTY: GENERAL; FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR: DR. TANUJA DAMANI | Gangnamgu | $30K | 2022 |
| Primary Trauma Care FoundationGENERAL PURPOSE / SELF ADAPTION OF THE PRIMARY TRAUMA CARE TRAINING MATERIAL TO APPROPEDIA | Oxford | $30K | 2022 |
| University Of Southern CaliforniaCLINICAL OUTCOMES-BASED RESEARCH (APPLICATIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES) | Los Angeles, CA | $30K | 2022 |
| Yonsei University College Of MedicineIMPLEMENTATION OF REDUCED PORT ROBOTIC GASTRECTOMY USING DA VINCI SP, PI - DR. KIM, SOUTH KOREA | Seoul | $30K | 2022 |
| Massachusetts General HospitalOTHER | Boston, MA | $30K | 2022 |
| University Of British ColumbiaENHANCING TEAMWORK IN THE OPERATING ROOM | Vancouver | $30K | 2022 |
| University Of BaselVALIDATING THRESHOLD VALUES FOR ASSESSMENT OF GASTRIC CONDUIT PERFUSION WITH QUANTIFIED ICG FLUORESCENCE IMAGING, THERMAL IMAGING AND VISIBLE LIGHT SPECTROMETRY IN ESOPHAGEAL RECONSTRUCTION - A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY | Basel | $30K | 2022 |
MENLO PARK, CA
LOS ANGELES, CA
PALO ALTO, CA