12:00, 21 November 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Michael Milken’s path from financial innovator to one of the world’s most active philanthropists has luckily not gone unnoticed.
He first gained prominence for his pioneering work in high-yield finance in the 1970s and 1980s, a period that provided him with both the resources and perspective to pursue large-scale charitable work. According to his biography on his official website, personal experiences with cancer prompted his early interest in supporting medical research.
From this turning point, Mike shifted his attention toward initiatives that could improve public health, advance scientific discovery and expand educational opportunity.
Mike’s philanthropic portfolio is broad but unified by a belief in accelerating progress against life-threatening diseases.
As a proud prostate cancer survivor, Mike launched the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) in 1993, which has since become one of the world’s leading private funders of prostate cancer research.
He later founded FasterCures, a centre within the Milken Institute devoted to speeding up medical breakthroughs by removing scientific, regulatory and financial bottlenecks. Additionally, his commitment to medical research also led to co-founding the Melanoma Research Alliance, which supports cutting-edge investigations into melanoma treatments.
Through the Milken Institute more broadly, he has championed preventive health, healthy ageing and global public-health resilience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike used the Institute’s platform to help disseminate information and convene leaders through initiatives such as his public-health podcast series. The Institute was founded by Mike in 1991 as a bid to accelerating progress by bringing together experts and leaders to develop solutions for global challenges through research and policy initiatives,
In 2025, he opened the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, an educational institution designed to promote entrepreneurship, health, financial literacy and broad-based opportunity – themes that have defined much of his charitable work.
Central to Mike’s philanthropic identity is the Milken Family Foundation, which he co-founded with his brother Lowell in 1982. The Foundation supports medical research, public health, youth initiatives and education partnerships across the world.
One of its best-known programmes is the Milken Educator Awards which is often referred to as the “Oscars of Teaching” and recognises exceptional teachers with substantial prizes. Complementing this is the Milken Scholars Programme, created by Mike and his wife Lori, which provides long-term academic and mentoring support to high-achieving students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Across four decades, Mike Milken has stayed committed to philanthropic ventures that he truly believes in, often joining with his peers to make combined changes such as him and his wife joining Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett’s Giving Pledge in 2020.
Mike’s commitment to advancing science, strengthening schools and helping young people reach their potential is a powerful contribution, and it is great to see the results of that work improve society.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Prostate Cancer Foundation. This organisation accelerates research into prostate cancer, bringing together scientists, clinicians and patients to speed up breakthroughs. Learn more here.
FasterCures. This is a think-tank and advocacy group co-founded by Milken, dedicated to removing barriers in medical research so promising ideas can move faster from the lab to patients. Discover their work here.
Melanoma Research Alliance. This nonprofit organisation funds translational studies in melanoma, with the goal of improving diagnosis, treatment and understanding of this serious skin cancer. Find out more here.
