Aa Van Elslander Foundation
The A.A. Van Elslander Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2016 to honor the philanthropic legacy of Art Van Elslander. Based in Birmingham, Michigan, the foundation provides grants to qualified charitable organizations within Michigan. The foundation represents a continuation of Mr. Van Elslander's lifetime commitment to philanthropy, with combined impact from both the foundation and his personal giving exceeding $100 million.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.6M
-32.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.0M
+136.6% YoY
Grant Count
26
+13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$308K
+109.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Aa Van Elslander Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports non-profit organizations qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that benefit Michigan communities in the following areas:
- Children
- Health and Human Services
The foundation favors organizations that are lean, entrepreneurial, and seek to be self-sustainable.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an annual inquiry window. Grant inquiries are accepted September 1 - September 30 only. Applicants must review eligibility requirements before submitting inquiries.
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation exclusively funds organizations and programs within the State of Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $18,653,761
- Total Revenues: $915,889
- Total Expenses: $3,869,550
- Investment Income and Dividends: $488,074
- Total Liabilities: $0
Staff: 0 employees (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,646,359 | $18,653,761 | $21,607,530 |
| Revenue | $2,391,891 | $915,889 | $717,578 |
| Expenses | $8,399,293 | $3,869,550 | $7,291,453 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,100,000 | $3,587,994 | $6,995,782 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,073,199 | $652,504 | $517,481 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,003,517 | $1,118,875 | $1,355,566 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
109 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Aa Van Elslander Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Full Circle Foundation ($4,000,000), Benjamin's Hope ($1,000,000), Say Detroit ($550,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BENJAMIN'S HOPE HOLLAND, MI | HUMANITARIAN | $1,000,000 |
| CAMP CASEY FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| DOWNTOWN BOXING GYM DETROIT, MI | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| DUTTON FARM ROCHESTER HILLS, MI | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $165,000 |
| HAND2HAND JENISON, MI | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| KIDS ON THE GO ST CLAIR SHORES, MI | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| LIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER NORTHVILLE, MI | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| MOTOR CITY MITTEN MISSION ST CLAIR SHORES, MI | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| NEW DAY FOUNDATION FOR FAMILIES ROCHESTER HILLS, MI | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| PROVINCE OF ST JOSEPH OF CAPUCHIN ORDER DETROIT, MI | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gary A Van Elslander - Trustee
- Diane E Wells - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARY A VAN ELSLANDER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DIANE E WELLS | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| GARY A VAN ELSLANDER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant grants to support its mission areas:
**$2.5 Million Grant** to New Day Foundation for Families for transformative family services
A.A. Van Elslander Foundation Awards Transformative $2.5 Million ...**$2 Million Gift** to Henry Ford Health for philanthropic support
Henry Ford Health Receives $2M Philanthropic Gift from A.A. Van Elslander**$1.5 Million Gift** to Beyond Basics to advance literacy initiatives in Detroit, including support for Denby High School
A.A. Van Elslander Foundation Gifts $1.5M to Beyond Basics to Advance Literacy**$1 Million Grant** to SAY Detroit for the Annex project
The Van Elslander Family Foundation, a related multigenerational foundation established by Art and Mary Ann Van Elslander's children and grandchildren, continues the family's philanthropic legacy by supporting children and human services in Michigan.
A.A. Van Elslander Foundation Awards Transformative $2.5 Million ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Aa Van Elslander Foundation fund?
The foundation supports non-profit organizations qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that benefit Michigan communities in the following areas: • **Children** • **Health and Human Services** The foundation favors organizations that are lean, entrepreneurial, and seek to be self-sustainable.
How do I apply for a grant from Aa Van Elslander Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $4,000,000 • Since inception in 2016, the foundation has contributed more than $30 million to charitable organizations • Total giving in 2023: $8,010,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Province of St Joseph of the Capuchin Order: $700,000 (Operations Support) • Motor City Mitten Mission: $250,000 (Operations Support) • The New Day Foundation for Families: $250,000 (Operations Support) **Application Process:** The foundation ma…
Where does Aa Van Elslander Foundation make grants?
The foundation exclusively funds organizations and programs within the **State of Michigan**.
What size grants does Aa Van Elslander Foundation award?
In 2024, Aa Van Elslander Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $8.0M — an average of about $308K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Aa Van Elslander Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Aa Van Elslander Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Aa Van Elslander Foundation's EIN?
Aa Van Elslander Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3973354. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Aa Van Elslander Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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