Healers. Pioneers.
Disruptive Philanthropists.
About Michelson Philanthropies
As a network of private operating foundations, Michelson Philanthropies creates transformative opportunities, makes positive impact investments, and fosters strategic partnerships supporting vulnerable or underserved communities. Reflecting the passions and interests of Dr. Gary K. Michelson and his wife, Alya Michelson, Michelson Philanthropies catalyzes sustainable, scalable, replicable solutions to a host of challenges facing society.
Our Board
Dr. Gary K. Michelson
Dr. Gary K. Michelson, M.D. is a board certified orthopedic spinal surgeon, an inventor who holds nearly 1,000 patents throughout the world, the founder and funder of three private foundations, recipient of numerous medical and humanitarian awards, and one of only a small group of individuals to ever be inducted into both the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Inventors.
Alya Michelson
Co-Chair
Alya Michelson is an artist, philanthropist, and journalist who is passionate about uplifting women’s and immigrant stories. An immigrant herself from Russia, Alya led an awarded career in journalism before moving to the United States and launching a career as an artist working in multiple genres. Today, she serves as co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies and is developing a new project that celebrates global citizenship by highlighting how the immigrant experience strengthens the American story.
“We try to be involved in areas where nobody else wants to go. Where it is not prestigious or popular. Where it is hard. We try to be innovative in philanthropy and lead with the principles that Dr. Michelson applied to all his devices and discoveries: Be innovative. Don’t be afraid to disrupt things, and be creative.”
– Alya Michelson
Executive Leadership
Geoffrey L. Baum
Geoffrey L. Baum
Executive Director, Michelson Philanthropies and Michelson Center for Public Policy
Geoffrey L. Baum is the executive director of Michelson Philanthropies and the Michelson Center for Public Policy. He coordinates the work of the Michelson 20MM Foundation, Michelson Found Animals Foundation, and Michelson Medical Research Foundation. Before joining Michelson, Geoffrey served in senior leadership roles at the University of Southern California, Claremont McKenna College, C-SPAN, and the Milken Institute. An energetic advocate for public higher education, Geoffrey is past president of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and served three terms on the Pasadena City College Board of Trustees.
Brett Yates
CEO, Michelson Found Animals Foundation
CFO & COO, Michelson Philanthropies
Brett Yates is chief executive officer of Michelson Found Animals Foundation and chief operations officer and chief financial officer of Michelson Philanthropies. With a rich background in finance, operations, and product development he oversees the planning and execution of various technology, community outreach, investment, and research programs that support underserved communities. Prior to joining Michelson Philanthropies, Brett held senior positions at companies ranging from startup to multinational conglomerates including J2Global and CoreLogic, a division of First American.
Phillip J. Kim
CEO, Michelson 20MM Foundation
Managing Director, Michelson Impact Ventures
Phillip Kim has led the education practice of Michelson Philanthropies since 2015. With a background in entrepreneurship and venture capital, he has overseen the development of the social impact investment platforms at Michelson 20MM and Michelson Found Animals, providing seed funding to more than 40 mission-aligned technology startups. Phillip is actively engaged in a number of entrepreneurship programs across the country, including those at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, MIT, and Stanford University.
Featured News
California’s Best Practices For Formerly Incarcerated Students Thriving on Campus
According to the Campaign for College Opportunity, over 1,000 students with prior incarceration are currently pursuing higher education at California's Community Colleges (CCC), California State University (CSU), and University of California (UC) campuses. Kenia...
Roser Vento-Tormo’s Michelson Prize Finalist Research: Decoding the Human Immune System
Roser Vento-Tormo was drawn to immunology by the simple question it poses: “How exactly do the cells of our body fight against the universe of pathogens we encounter every day?” For Vento-Tormo, a researcher in the Cellular Genetics program at the Wellcome...
Michelson Prize Finalist Dr. Joshua Tan’s Research Explores the Power of Monoclonal Antibodies to Treat Diseases
Dr. Joshua Tan, a finalist for the 2023 Michelson Philanthropies & Science Prize for Immunology, is working towards identifying powerful monoclonal antibodies to combat diseases like COVID-19. The coronavirus pandemic has been present in our lives...
Championing Stories and Addressing Inequality: FirstGen Grants Support and Uplift Immigrant Women
Announcing the FirstGen Grantees: The Foundation for California Community Colleges and the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers To mark International Women’s Day 2023, FirstGen is honored to announce the recipients of its inaugural $25,000 FirstGen...
2023 Digital Equity Spark Grants Webinar
The 2023 Digital Equity Spark Grants funding cycle is now open from February 27th to March 13th for organizations doing work in California. In this webinar, Michelson 20MM hosts Ryan Kulas-Erikson, Director of Programs and Operations, and Cristal Mojica, Digital...
Breaking New Ground: Dr. Aleksandar Obradovic’s Research on Precision Immunotherapy Wins 2023 Michelson Prize
Dr. Aleksandar Obradovic's innovative approach to combining drugs to treat resistant cancer patients has earned him the prestigious 2023 Michelson Philanthropies & Science Prize for Immunology and $30,000. Dr. Obradovic, associate research scientist in the...