California · Grantmakers

Foundations That Fund Medical Research in California

Imperigo has identified 572 funders that made 3,872 grants totaling $1.3B to 289 medical research organizations in California, with a median grant of $27K. Every figure below is drawn from IRS Form 990 filings through 2025.

Medical Research Funding in California

Total granted $1.3B
Funders 572
Grants 3,872
Organizations funded 289

Top Funders — page 1 of 4

1. Dechomai Foundation Inc
2 grants to 1 organization · largest $70.1M · through 2024 · 8.8% of their giving
$135.1M
2. Gary and Mary West Health Endowmentinc
2 grants to 1 organization · largest $23.0M · through 2020 · 72.3% of their giving
$45.5M
3. The Livestrong Foundation
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $2.5M · through 2019 · 19.1% of their giving
$2.5M
4. Foundation For Research In Infectious Diseases
7 grants to 1 organization · largest $435K · through 2022 · 100.0% of their giving
$1.8M
5. Rady Children's Hospital Foundation San Diego
6 grants to 1 organization · largest $6.5M · through 2024 · 2.9% of their giving
$12.1M
6. The San Francisco Foundation
34 grants to 10 organizations · largest $4.9M · through 2024 · 1.4% of their giving
$16.7M
7. Silicon Valley Community Foundation
85 grants to 35 organizations · largest $6.9M · through 2024
$53.9M
8. Cd Access C/O John S Balisy & Company
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $847K · through 2023 · 92.4% of their giving
$847K
9. Riverpsykhe Inc
3 grants to 1 organization · largest $590K · through 2024 · 37.5% of their giving
$726K
10. Mackenzies Mission
6 grants to 1 organization · largest $125K · through 2025 · 30.1% of their giving
$515K
11. Gates Philanthropy Partners
2 grants to 1 organization · largest $2.0M · through 2020 · 3.8% of their giving
$2.1M
12. Marin Community Foundation
44 grants to 15 organizations · largest $2.3M · through 2024
$7.9M
13. Lifegift Organ Donation Center
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $250K · through 2019 · 41.7% of their giving
$250K
14. The Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation
6 grants to 1 organization · largest $95K · through 2024 · 13.1% of their giving
$375K
15. Soccer for Hope
4 grants to 2 organizations · largest $100K · through 2024 · 24.6% of their giving
$215K
16. The San Diego Foundation
46 grants to 14 organizations · largest $1.2M · through 2024
$4.9M
17. Michelson Center for Public Policy
3 grants to 1 organization · largest $100K · through 2024 · 72.5% of their giving
$184K
18. American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology
6 grants to 1 organization · largest $30K · through 2025 · 100.0% of their giving
$150K
19. The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Inc
2 grants to 1 organization · largest $500K · through 2023 · 2.5% of their giving
$1.0M
20. Pulmonary Education & Research Foundation
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $123K · through 2020 · 100.0% of their giving
$123K
21. Families for Fragile X Inc
2 grants to 1 organization · largest $70K · through 2024 · 38.5% of their giving
$120K
22. William M Yarbrough Foundation % Lawrence Elisco
4 grants to 1 organization · largest $75K · through 2023 · 12.6% of their giving
$175K
23. Archewell Foundation
3 grants to 1 organization · largest $100K · through 2024 · 7.1% of their giving
$300K
24. Planetree Health Library
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $100K · through 2025 · 22.3% of their giving
$100K
25. SHC Foundation
2 grants to 1 organization · largest $60K · through 2024 · 58.6% of their giving
$95K

Funders are ordered by how much of their overall giving goes to medical research work in California, not by dollar totals alone — a foundation that concentrates its giving here is usually a better prospect than a larger one for which this is a rounding error. 16 of the funders counted here are donor-advised fund sponsors, which grant on behalf of individual donors and accept no applications; they are marked and ranked last.

Other Causes Funded in California

About This Data

A grant appears here when a funder reported it on its IRS Form 990 and the recipient organization is classified under the NTEE group covering medical research work, with an address in California. Grants are counted from the 2025 filing year backward.

Some 990 grant schedules list a recipient by name and address without an EIN, and those grants cannot be matched to a classification — so the totals above represent identifiable medical research funding in California, not every dollar that reached the sector. Figures are a floor, not a ceiling.

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Research California funders in depth

Full grant histories, recipient lists, officer compensation, multi-year financials, and exports for every foundation Imperigo tracks.