Michelson Foundation

The Michelson Foundation (EIN 46-4978561) is a private family foundation headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, chaired by Michael W. Michelson. It operates as a highly discretionary grantmaker with no public-facing website, no formal grant application portal, and no published deadlines. Its sole publicly disclosed application instruction is that "applications should be made as a formal written request" submitted to Susan P. Doell, Secretary/Treasurer.

This approach is characteristic of relationship-driven family foundations where the board — consisting of Michael W. Michelson (Chairman), Susan P. Doell (Secretary/Treasurer), Kate M. Goldkamp, and Laura E. Michelson Sievers — personally directs all grantmaking. All four board members serve without compensation. The foundation was incorporated in 2014 and has maintained steady annual giving ever since, averaging 8–19 grants per year.

The foundation's geographic disbursements span the country, with primary concentrations in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania — suggesting a network of institutional relationships with major East Coast cultural, civic, and research organizations rather than a local Arizona focus. Secondary giving appears in California, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.

Key strategic insight for grant seekers: This foundation does not respond to cold solicitations in the traditional sense. Success requires either a pre-existing relationship with a board member or a warm introduction. The connection to Better Angels Society (Ken Burns-affiliated documentary history organization) and the Metropolitan Opera suggests board members who are personally invested in American culture, history, and the performing arts.

The Michelson Foundation's grant history reveals a consistent multi-sector giving pattern across arts and culture, education, civic/policy, and medical research.

Grant size distribution (from 990-PF data): - Range: $5,000 – $166,667 - Median grant: approximately $32,500 - 2024 total disbursements: $381,467 across 8 grants - 2023 total: approximately $371,667 (8 grants) - Historical range: 8–19 grants per year over 2014–2024

Documented 2024 grantees: - Better Angels Society — $166,667 (documentary film / American history education, Ken Burns affiliated) - Metropolitan Opera — $50,000 (recurring; performing arts) - Ertz Family Foundation — $50,000 (Eagles NFL family foundation; autism and civic) - American Enterprise Institute — $35,000 (center-right policy research, Washington DC) - Eagles Autism Foundation — $30,000 (autism research and care, Philadelphia) - Teach for America — $25,000 (education equity)

Historical grantees include: Mayo Clinic (cardiovascular research and leukemia — multiple years), additional performing arts organizations, historic preservation, and creative writing programs.

Pattern summary: The foundation reliably makes 8–19 grants annually, concentrating its largest gifts ($50,000–$166,667) on recurring institutional partners in performing arts and civic history. Mid-range gifts ($25,000–$50,000) go to education and policy organizations. Smaller grants ($5,000–$25,000) fill out the portfolio in human services and medical research. Repeat grantees (Metropolitan Opera, Mayo Clinic) suggest the foundation values ongoing relationships over one-time project support.

Revenue model: The foundation is funded almost entirely by investment income — 99.3% of 2024 revenue ($447,942) came from dividends. Total assets are approximately $15.4 million (2024 990 filing). The foundation is a true spend-down or steady-state private foundation at current asset levels.

The Michelson Foundation (Scottsdale, AZ) is a small-to-mid-size family foundation by national standards. The following comparison contextualizes it against comparable private family foundations with mixed arts/education/civic portfolios:

Key differentiators: 1. Smaller asset base than Arizona peers (Flinn, Piper) but nationally-scoped giving 2. No geographic restriction to Arizona despite Scottsdale address 3. Arts/civic portfolio is more aligned with major East Coast institutions than local AZ nonprofits 4. Much smaller than the broader Gary K. Michelson philanthropic empire but operated independently by Michael W. Michelson 5. No public website — highly unusual even among small family foundations — indicating very low interest in unsolicited applications

Based on 990-PF filings and public database records through 2024:

2024 (8 grants, $381,467 total): The largest single grant went to Better Angels Society ($166,667), the documentary film organization affiliated with Ken Burns that supports American historical storytelling. This was followed by Metropolitan Opera ($50,000), Ertz Family Foundation ($50,000), American Enterprise Institute ($35,000), Eagles Autism Foundation ($30,000), and Teach for America ($25,000).

2023 (8 grants, ~$371,667): Similar portfolio with strong recurring institutional support.

2022 (17 grants): A significantly more active grantmaking year — more than double the number of awards, suggesting either a strategic shift toward fewer, larger grants in 2023–2024 or a period of portfolio consolidation.

2021 (12 grants): Mid-range year, consistent with the foundation's historical 8–19 grant cadence.

2020 (19 grants): The most active year on record, possibly reflecting a pandemic-response acceleration in giving.

Trend analysis: Grant count has declined sharply from 19 (2020) to 17 (2022) to 8 (2023–2024), while total annual disbursements have remained relatively stable (~$370–$380K). This indicates a clear consolidation strategy — fewer but larger grants to trusted institutional partners. New entrants to the portfolio are increasingly unlikely unless they have strong board connections.

Asset trend: The foundation's total assets declined from a reported historical peak of ~$47.3M to $15.4M (2024), suggesting either significant drawdown or a reclassification of holdings. If assets continue to decline at current disbursement rates, the foundation's active grantmaking lifespan may be limited to roughly 20–25 more years at current pace.

Given the Michelson Foundation's highly discretionary, relationship-driven model, the following strategies maximize the probability of success:

1. Identify your connection point. The four board members are Michael W. Michelson, Susan P. Doell, Kate M. Goldkamp, and Laura E. Michelson Sievers. Research whether any of your board members, major donors, or institutional partners have existing relationships with these individuals. A warm introduction through a mutual grantee (Better Angels Society, Metropolitan Opera, Mayo Clinic, AEI, Teach for America) is the most viable path.

2. Align tightly with documented giving areas. Priority sectors are: American history/documentary film, performing arts (opera), autism research/services, center-right policy research, education equity (Teach for America model), and medical research (cardiovascular/oncology). Environmental, international, housing, and social justice causes are not represented in the portfolio.

3. Write a formal, concise letter of inquiry. Address it to Susan P. Doell, Secretary/Treasurer at 10105 E Via Linda Suite 103 PMB 2799, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Phone: (650) 653-2406. The letter should be no more than 2 pages, describe the specific program, the requested amount, and tie explicitly to the foundation's documented interests.

4. Request a modest initial grant. The foundation's mid-range grants ($25,000–$35,000) appear most common for new grantees. Anchor your first ask between $15,000–$35,000 to match the median; larger amounts appear reserved for longstanding institutional partners.

5. Be prepared for no response. With 8 grants in 2024 against an unknown volume of inquiries, the foundation likely declines the vast majority of requests without acknowledgment. Do not follow up more than once after 6–8 weeks.

6. Position for a recurring relationship. Grantees like the Metropolitan Opera and Mayo Clinic appear to receive multi-year support. Emphasize your institutional track record and long-term mission alignment over one-time project needs.