Benson & Edith Ford Fund
The Benson & Edith Ford Fund is an independent private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan. Established in 1943 (originally incorporated as the Hotchkiss Fund), the foundation was named for Benson Ford (1919-1978), the second son of Edsel and Eleanor Ford, and his wife Edith. The foundation continues the Ford family's philanthropic legacy in Detroit and represents a significant commitment to community development through strategic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-17.3% YoY
Grant Count
24
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
-6.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses its giving on health, human services, education, arts, and culture. Based on recent grantmaking patterns, priority areas include:
- Youth Development: Teen programs and skill-building initiatives
- Human Services: Community programs and support services
- Education: Including scholarships and educational institutions
- Arts and Culture: Support for cultural institutions and creative endeavors
Grantmaking
The foundation made 39 grants in 2024, including:
Grant Range
s and Amounts:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily focused on Michigan, with particular emphasis on the Detroit area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Annual Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $16,412,281
- Annual giving: $1,400,000 (approximately)
- Total revenues: $1,450,414
- Total expenses: $1,440,163
Historical Financial Data (2023):
- Total assets: $16,412,281
- Total giving: $1,333,000
- Revenue: $1,070,000
- Expenses: $1,690,000
Grant Distribution: The foundation distributed 39 grants in 2024 with a giving rate of approximately 5.6% of assets.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
163 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lynn Ford Alandt: President (daughter of Benson and Edith Ford)
- Benson Ford Jr.: Vice President
- David P. Larsen: Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYNN F ALANDT | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| BENSON FORD JR | VICE-PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| DAVID P LARSEN | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| DAVID M HEMPSTEAD | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1901 St Antoine Street, 6th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 259-7777
EIN: 38-6066333
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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