The John Martin Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The John Martin Foundation is a private foundation in San Francisco, California. In tax year 2025 it gave $10.0 million in 16 grants; the typical grant was $250,000 and the largest $5.5 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$10.0 million
- Number of grants16
- Typical grant$250,000
- Largest grant$5.5 million
- Assets$29.7 million
- New grantees15%
Giving in 2025 was down from $19.7 million the year before.
15% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $9.0 million | 17 | $52.4 million |
| 2024 | $19.7 million | 18 | $40.5 million |
| 2025 | $10.0 million | 16 | $29.7 million |
How to apply
The John Martin Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The John Martin Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 5 states, the most to Maryland. It also paid $1.4 million in 5 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 1 | $5.5 million |
| New York | 2 | $2.8 million |
| California | 3 | $1.5 million |
| Georgia | 4 | $1.0 million |
| Colorado | 1 | $1.0 million |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Institute of Human Virology University of Maryland School of Medicine | Endowments in honor of john c. Martin at institute of human virology: a.ihv chair professorship $5 million; b. Ihv annual lectureship $500,000 | $5.5 million |
| Myriad USA Inc | American friends of caprisa | $1.5 million |
| Aranda Org Inc | Extending the aranda model and enhancing stewardship and surveillance service to new countries | $1.3 million |
| Center for Disease Analysis Foundation Inc | Polaris observatory to support hepatitis elimination | $1.0 million |
| Pharmaccess Foundation | Improve quality of maternal and childcare through m-tiba care bundles | $1.0 million |
| The Scripps Research Institute | Clinical proof-of-concept of an affordable, oral cancer immunotherapy (ox-4224) in india for low- and middle-income countries | $1.0 million |
| Integral Global Consulting | Linkage to care and health education in underserved communities of islamabad, pakistan | $394,478 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | Support for asian liver center 2024-2027 | $250,000 |
| The Scripps Research Institute | Amended: endowed graduate fellowships | $250,000 |
| Task Force for Global Health Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination | Un group of friends to eliminate hepatitis 2025-2027 | $238,563 |
| Integral Global Consulting | Mitigation the spread of COVID-19 among garment factory and textile mill populations in bangladesh: phase ii translating results into sustained sector practice | $236,348 |
| Task Force for Global Health Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination | Un group of friends to eliminate hepatitis | $150,000 |
| The Global Hepatitis Association | 19th international symposium of viral hepatitis & liver diseases - global hepatitis summit 2025 | $150,000 |
| World Hepatitis Alliance | Community impact programme | $150,000 |
| Society on Liver Disease in Africa | Conference on liver disease in africa | $58,771 |
| Icalma | Antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis: a surveillance project from argentina and uruguay | $50,880 |
Officers and trustees
- Lillian Lou
- Taiyin Yang
- Clifford Samuel
Questions people ask
Does The John Martin Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The John Martin Foundation give?
$10.0 million in tax year 2025, across 16 grants, with a typical grant of $250,000.
Who runs The John Martin Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Lillian Lou (President & Director), Taiyin Yang (Secretary & Treasurer) and Clifford Samuel (Director).
What does The John Martin Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly health, education and international.