Allen Foundation
The Allen Foundation is a private foundation based in Midland, Michigan. It supports projects that benefit human nutrition, with stated priorities in education, training, and research. Its 2025 filing lists 43 grants totaling $1,753,448.
Allen Foundation at a glance
In short: Allen Foundation gave $1.8M across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), mostly in Michigan. 49% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,753,448
- +10.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 43
- -4.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,778
- +15.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $28,041,197
- -1.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 49% first-time grantees (21 of 43, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (64% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Allen Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing directs applicants to contact Allen Foundation and follow the application instructions in the “How to Apply” section of its website. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing gives priority to projects benefiting human nutrition through education, training, and research.
- Review Cycle
- Submit materials before the foundation’s annual meeting in spring.
- Deadline
- Submit materials before the foundation’s annual meeting in spring.
- Contact
Application contact: Allenfoundation
Mailing address: PO Box 1606, Midland, MI 48641-1606
Phone: (989) 832-5678
Website: https://www.allenfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Allen Foundation
Who Allen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boston Children's Hospital ($200K). Together the top 10 received $862K.
Grant Size Distribution
223 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 161 grants of 223 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 64% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 20% to recipients in Massachusetts. Smaller shares went to Florida (4%), California (3%), and North Carolina (2%). The largest listed out-of-state award was $200,000 to Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Allen Foundation open to new grantees?
49%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 43 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $36K first-time, $39K repeat.
- 40% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2020) to $1.8M (2022). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Children's Hospital Boston, MA | Research | $200,000 |
| Hidden Harvest Saginaw, MI | Hunger Solutn Ctr Expansion | $100,000 |
| Food Rescue Traverse City, MI | Access to Fruits and VEG for Low Income | $100,000 |
| Brigham & Womens Hospital Boston, MA | Research | $99,718 |
| The Bridge Food Center Midland, MI | Back up Power for Food Ctr | $75,000 |
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Research | $62,470 |
| Grand Traverse Area Children's Gardent Traverse City, MI | Bloom Where You Are Planted | $60,000 |
| NMC Exteded Education & Training Traverse City, MI | Comm Nutrition Educatn | $60,000 |
| United Way of Midland County Midland, MI | Kitchen Expansion Regrow Together | $54,000 |
| Northwest Education Services Traverse City, MI | Farm to School Program | $51,074 |
Ready to take the next step with Allen Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,041,197 | $1,530,949 | $1,965,155 | $1,753,448 | 43 | $1,805,556 | $1,393,198 | $1,971,284 |
| 2024 | $28,375,736 | $2,746,989 | $1,786,031 | $1,582,941 | 45 | $1,622,293 | $2,613,251 | $1,754,557 |
| 2023 | $27,414,778 | $2,345,916 | $1,759,909 | $1,611,269 | 45 | $1,635,424 | $2,236,391 | $1,615,085 |
| 2022 | $26,812,294 | $1,433,220 | $1,994,668 | $1,814,764 | 50 | $1,836,846 | $1,331,121 | $1,642,757 |
| 2021 | $27,370,616 | $2,650,574 | $1,721,052 | $1,559,202 | 40 | $1,582,610 | $2,534,064 | $1,871,338 |
| 2020 | $26,362,876 | $1,299,240 | $1,671,231 | $1,540,501 | 39 | — | $1,196,554 | $1,524,488 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Allen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated priorities include funding relevant nutritional research; supporting education and training for mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth; training people to teach and demonstrate good nutritional practices; and disseminating information about healthful nutrition. Its 2025 filing gives priority to projects benefiting human nutrition in education, training, and research.
Its grantees include organizations working in food access, nutrition education, research, and community programs. For example, Hidden Harvest received $100,000 in 2025 for a hunger solutions center expansion, and Food Rescue received $100,000 for access to fruits and vegetables for people with low incomes. United Way of Midland County, which received $54,000, describes its mission as improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of the Midland community. Starfish Family Services, which received $50,000, describes its mission as strengthening families to create brighter futures for children.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 43 grants totaling $1,753,448. Awards ranged from $3,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $37,500. Among the largest awards were $200,000 to Boston Children’s Hospital for research; $100,000 each to Hidden Harvest and Food Rescue; and $99,718 to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for research. Other notable grants included $75,000 to The Bridge Food Center for backup power and $62,470 to the University of Florida for research.
The foundation’s 2023 annual report says its trustees began meeting twice a year to award grants because of the volume of requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gail Lanphear as board chair, Laurie Bouwman as secretary, Mark Ostahowski, MD, as president, and Charles Kendall as treasurer, financial vice president, and trustee. Other listed trustees are Heather Kelto, Ann F. Jay, Amanda Bouwman, Mike Woolhiser, Mogen McAllister, and McClain McAllister, who is listed as junior apprentice.
Allen Foundation is led by Mark Ostahowski MD, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark Ostahowski MD
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gail Lanphear
Board Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Bouwman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann F. Jay
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles Kendall
Treasurer, Fincial Vice President & Trustee
Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2024
Trustee & Treasurer → Treasurer, Fincial Vice President & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Kelto
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Woolhiser
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mogen McAllister
Trustee
Junior Apprentice → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Umbarger
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catie Newport-Bouwman
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maxwell McAllister
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Bouwman
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
McCLAIN MCALLISTER
Junior Apprentice
Junior Aprentice → Junior Apprentice, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: William Lauderbach (2020–2024) — Treasurer, Fincial Vice President & Trustee
- Former: LESLIE HILDEBRANDT PhD (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Mary Neely (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Allen Foundation
How much does Allen Foundation give each year?
Allen Foundation gave $1.8M across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 45 grants.
What is Allen Foundation's typical grant size?
Allen Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $40,778, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Allen Foundation that year got $36K on average.
Where does Allen Foundation give grants?
Allen Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Traverse City, MI (8 grants), Midland, MI (8 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants) and Interlochen, MI (2 grants).
Does Allen Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Allen Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 43) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Research" (5 grants).
Who are Allen Foundation's largest grantees?
Allen Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Boston Children's Hospital ($200,000), Hidden Harvest ($100,000) and Food Rescue ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Allen Foundation?
Allen Foundation reported $28.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Allen Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated priorities include funding relevant nutritional research; supporting education and training for mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth; training people to teach and demonstrate good nutritional practices; and disseminating information about healthful nutrition. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Allen Foundation?
The 2025 filing directs applicants to contact Allen Foundation and follow the application instructions in the “How to Apply” section of its website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Allen Foundation's EIN?
Allen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0152562. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Allen Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Allen Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/allen-foundation-morg_d9dcb2efc8e04805a657d85452465840
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510152562_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Allen Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/allen-foundation-morg_d9dcb2efc8e04805a657d85452465840},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Allen Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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