Alternative Foundation
Alternative Foundation is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $390K. Net investment income was $252K.
Alternative Foundation at a glance
In short: Alternative Foundation gave $390K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $78K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $389,742
- +19.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $77,948
- +43.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $4,868,728
- -7.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who Alternative Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages ($135K). Together the top 5 received $390K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 23 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Alternative Foundation gives
- Giving grew 44% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 189% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $227K (2020) to $390K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $390K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages Redford, MI | Charitable Event | $134,742 |
| Bailey Park Project Detroit, MI | General & Unrestricted | $80,000 |
| NW Goldberg Cares Detroit, MI | General & Unrestricted | $80,000 |
| Detroit Food & Entrepreneurship Academy Detroit, MI | General & Unrestricted | $70,000 |
| Midnight Golf Program Detroit, MI | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,868,728 | $323,049 | $741,649 | $389,742 | 5 | $666,572 | $251,672 | $352,902 |
| 2024 | $5,287,328 | $299,770 | $676,525 | $325,000 | 6 | $606,665 | $231,630 | $343,800 |
| 2023 | $5,664,083 | $3,035,382 | $580,109 | $250,000 | 3 | $547,396 | $52,892 | $171,835 |
| 2022 | $3,208,810 | $62,581 | $784,511 | $270,000 | 3 | $739,823 | $33,873 | $195,404 |
| 2021 | $3,930,740 | $656,657 | $688,640 | $386,719 | 6 | $644,652 | $113,029 | $221,678 |
| 2020 | $3,962,723 | $4,347,590 | $577,125 | $226,789 | 7 | — | $23,026 | $201,117 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Alternative Foundation reported a distributable amount of $353K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Alternative Foundation is led by Rachel Alternative, Director, Secretary & Treasurer since 2022 (on filings since 2020) — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rachel Alternative
Director, Secretary & Treasurer
Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer → Director, Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$206K (2020) → $103K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $103K, to Rachel Alternative (Dir, Sec, Treas).
Frequently asked questions about Alternative Foundation
How much does Alternative Foundation give each year?
Alternative Foundation gave $390K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $325K across 6 grants.
What is Alternative Foundation's typical grant size?
Alternative Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $80,000, and its average grant was $77,948, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Alternative Foundation give grants?
Alternative Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (4 grants).
Does Alternative Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of Alternative Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Alternative Foundation's largest grantees?
Alternative Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages ($134,742), Bailey Park Project ($80,000) and NW Goldberg Cares ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Alternative Foundation?
Alternative Foundation reported $4.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $667K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $353K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Alternative Foundation's EIN?
Alternative Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-3128471. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 September 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Alternative Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Alternative Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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