Michelson 20MM Foundation

02/17/2026

Tomorrow, join us for the Open Educational Resources ( ) Spark Grants Informational Webinar to learn about this year’s funding opportunity. Members of the grant committee will be available to answer questions, provide an overview of the application process, and highlight past awardees.

🗓️ February 18th
⏰ 11:00 AM–12:00 PM PT

Register: https://20mm.org/event/2026-oer-spark-grants-informational-webinar/

02/13/2026

💡 Have an idea to expand OER or Zero Textbook Cost degrees?

Join us for the OER Spark Grants Informational Webinar on February 18th from 11:00 AM–12:00 PM PT to learn about this year’s funding opportunity.

We’ll cover:

✔️ Funding priorities and focus areas
✔️ How to align your project with our goals
✔️ Live Q&A with the grant committee

📣 Applications open March 2nd–16th. Don’t miss this chance to learn more!

👉 Register here: https://20mm.org/event/2026-oer-spark-grants-informational-webinar/

02/12/2026

Michelson Philanthropies is proud to announce the appointment of Phillip J. Kim as Executive Director.

A leader within the Michelson ecosystem since 2009, Phillip brings deep institutional knowledge and a track record of turning bold ideas into measurable impact. Alongside an executive team with more than 50 years of combined service, he will guide our work across education, public policy, medical research, and animal welfare.

We look forward to this next chapter grounded in experience, driven by mission, and focused on lasting systemic change.

Pictured left to right: Phillip J. Kim (Executive Director); Miguel León (Managing Director, Michelson 20MM Foundation); Mayra Lombera (Chief Policy Officer); Jennifer Naitaki (Managing Director, Michelson Found Animals Foundation); Darice Bailey (Chief Financial & Operations Officer).

Read more: https://www.michelsonphilanthropies.org/michelson-philanthropies/executive-director-announcement/

02/06/2026

🎉 We’re excited to announce the 2025 Student Basic Needs Spark Grantees!

Congratulations to California Competes (California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy), NextGen Policy (NextGen Policy), and Raise The Barr (Raise The Barr, Founded by Anthony Barr)—three organizations tackling housing instability, food insecurity, and access to paid career pathways through innovative, systems-level solutions.

Their work shows what’s possible when we invest in student stability, dignity, and opportunity. We’re proud to support these efforts and look forward to sharing more as their work unfolds.

👉 Learn more about the grantees: https://20mm.org/news/announcing-the-2025-student-basic-needs-spark-grantees/

02/05/2026

The Michelson Open Educational Resources (OER) Spark Grants funding cycle opens March 2nd–March 16th, and we’re hosting an informational webinar to help applicants learn more.

📚 OER Spark Grants Informational Webinar
🕚 February 18 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM PT

Join us to:
-Learn about this year’s focus areas and funding priorities
-Understand how your project can align with our goals
-Ask questions directly to the grant committee

Whether you’re working on OER implementation, research, public awareness, or policy efforts, this session is a great place to start.
👉 Register here: https://20mm.org/event/2026-oer-spark-grants-informational-webinar/

01/06/2026

👏CSU Channel Islands' Open CI program saved students almost $1.8 million in textbook costs in just one semester. This is a major win for college affordability and for students who deserve access to high-quality learning materials without financial barriers.

We’re proud to support CSUCI’s ongoing commitment to open education and the launch of Open CI’s CAopenEd through a Spark Grant.

Business, Cultural, Education, Government, Local, News, Youth CSUCI Open CI program saves students almost $1.8 million in textbook costs over one semester by Community Contributor • January 20, 2022 • Comments Off on CSUCI Open CI program saves students almost $1.8 million in textbook costs ...

12/30/2025

As we close out 2025, we’re reflecting on a year defined by collaboration, resilience, and progress.

From expanding digital equity and advancing justice reform to strengthening zero-textbook-cost pathways, student basic needs, and intellectual property education, this year showed what’s possible when students, communities, and partners lead the way.

This work is powered by lived experience, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped turn ideas into action. We’re excited to carry this momentum into 2026.

Explore our 2025 Year in Review:

Michelson 20MM advanced digital equity, OER, justice reform, student basic needs, and IP access in 2025 to make higher education more equitable.

12/23/2025

As California shifts toward rehabilitative models and alternatives to incarceration, Designing Justice + Designing Spaces is leading the way with an innovative approach to reentry housing.

With a Michelson , DJDS is developing trauma-informed, community-rooted housing near college campuses that supports justice-impacted students pursuing higher education. Their “bridge ownership” model connects public funding, real estate, higher education, and reentry programs to unlock unspent resources and turn stable housing into a foundation for long-term success.

This work goes beyond housing—it centers healing, dignity, and opportunity, while creating a scalable model that could benefit students across California. Learn more: https://20mm.org/news/designing-justices-bridge-ownership-model-redefines-reentry-housing/

12/16/2025

Join us in welcoming the 2025 California Student Parent Pooled Fund grantees! 🎉

make up a significant portion of California’s college students, balancing coursework with caregiving, work, and often long commutes. This year’s grantees are advancing research, advocacy, and systems change to better support student parents and their families statewide.

👏 Congratulations to:
Mt. SAC, who will strengthen transfer pathways across Southern California
Western Governors University (WGU), who will elevate the needs of online student parents
Young Invincibles, who will advance equity through leadership development and policy advocacy

We are grateful for their commitment to build a coordinated movement that elevates parent voices and drives policy solutions that improve access to essential supports.

Learn more: https://20mm.org/news/statewide-supports-2025-student-parent-pooled-fund-grantees/

Thank you to our funding partners: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, ECMC Foundation, R&S Kayne Foundation, Stupski Foundation, and The Ichigo Foundation.

12/15/2025

We are proud to share our 2025 Year in Review, which highlights meaningful progress across digital equity, open educational resources, smart justice, student basic needs, student leadership, and intellectual property education.

This year, our team and partners:
-Protected and expanded efforts across California
-Strengthened pathways and advanced adoption
-Supported landmark justice reform and incarcerated firefighter advocacy
-Expanded supports for student parents and students experiencing housing insecurity
-Elevated student-led research and statewide policy leadership
-Grew inclusive pathways into the innovation economy through The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property

Across all pillars, we worked alongside educators, students, community leaders, and advocates to advance solutions that make higher education more accessible and equitable for every learner.

We’re grateful to everyone who contributed to this year’s progress, and we look forward to building on this momentum in 2026.

Explore the impact:

Michelson 20MM advanced digital equity, OER, justice reform, student basic needs, and IP access in 2025 to make higher education more equitable.

12/15/2025

👋 Today is the final day to submit a proposal for the funding cycle!

College completion is only the beginning of a student’s future, economic stability is what sustains success. Our Student Basic Needs Spark Grants support innovative, scalable solutions that expand economic mobility for students across California.

We’re seeking projects that strengthen equitable economic mobility and long-term student stability. This includes connecting low-income and first-generation students to meaningful career pathways, strengthening post-graduation housing and employment supports, and embedding basic needs programs as permanent institutional functions.

By shifting from short-term aid to systemic change, we can help every student graduate into stability.

Apply by December 15: https://20mm.org/spark-grants/

12/10/2025

In California, 3 in 5 community college students face housing insecurity, and nearly half experience food insecurity. These challenges aren’t individual failures, they’re systemic barriers that demand systemic solutions.

Through the 2025 Student Basic Needs Spark Grant cycle, we’re funding projects that systemic approaches and actionable strategies for higher education systems to address student housing and food insecurity. This will help ensure that students can focus on learning instead of surviving.

From policy alignment with AB 79 to cross-campus benefit coordination and scalable financing models, we’re looking for ideas that will have a lasting impact on students.

Apply by December 15th for up to $25,000: https://20mm.org/spark-grants/