Defoe Family Foundation
Defoe Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in West Olive, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2018 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $950K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $14K. Net investment income was $159K.
Key facts about Defoe Family Foundation
In short: Defoe Family Foundation gave $14K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 38-3505281
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $14,059
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- Average grant
- $4,686
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $949,798
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$950K
+46.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$14K
-87.9% YoY
Grant Count
3
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-83.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Defoe Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $87K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Defoe Family Foundation gives
- Giving fell 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 16% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Ready to take the next step with Defoe Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2018 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2024) to $116K (2023). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $14K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Harbor Humane Society ($6K). Together the top 3 received $14K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 16 (94%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harbor Humane Society West Olive, MI | Operations | $6,059 |
| May Flower Church Grand Rapids, MI | Operations | $5,000 |
| Renew Therapeutic Riding Center Holland, MI | Operations | $3,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $949,798 | $649,130 | $691,088 |
| Revenue | $322,877 | $79,578 | $59,057 |
| Expenses | $22,209 | $121,536 | $35,152 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,059 | $116,476 | $26,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $158,975 | $24,786 | $2,737 |
| Distributable Amount | $87,363 | $62,976 | $59,256 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS May 15, 2019)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 28, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Defoe Family Foundation is led by James B. Defoe, President, Treasurer & Trustee on every filing since 2018; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James B. Defoe
President, Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2018
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carl W. Dufendach
Trustee
Assistant Secretary & Vice President of → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2018
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle M. Defoe
Trustee
On filings since 2018
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas J. Defoe
Trustee
On filings since 2018
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susanne R. Defoe
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2018
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2024. "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 Defoe Family Foundation
How much does Defoe Family Foundation give each year?
Defoe Family Foundation gave $14K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $116K across 4 grants.
What is Defoe Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Defoe Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,686, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Defoe Family Foundation give grants?
Defoe Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Defoe Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Defoe Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (3 grants).
How large is Defoe Family Foundation?
Defoe Family Foundation reported $950K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $14K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $87K (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 is Defoe Family Foundation's EIN?
Defoe Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3505281. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching Defoe Family Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Defoe Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Michigan
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Flint, MI
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation funds nonprofits working in civil society, youth engagement, environmental sustainability, and Flint-area community development, in Flint and communities around the world. Its 2024 grants had a median of $55,000, though awards ranged widely; it does not accept unsolicited funding requests and supports preselected organizations.
Assets
$3.8B
Grants
834
Total Given
$166.4M
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation funds education, health care, and human services, including college scholarships, with most support benefiting working- and middle-class families in specified Minnesota and Florida counties; it also makes some national grants. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $50 to $10 million. It plans to move to invitation-only grantmaking in 2027; whether it currently accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$218.3M
Grants
1,431
Total Given
$47.9M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Pat & Herb Eldean Family Foundation
Holland, MI
Assets
$357K
Grants
22
Total Given
$21K
WK Kellogg Foundation
Battle Creek, MI
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation funds work to help children, families, and communities thrive, including early education, health equity, food systems, family economic well-being, and racial equity. In 2025, its grants ranged from $50 to nearly $5 million, with a median of $100,000; it funds across the United States, with long-term commitments in several states and communities, as well as parts of Mexico and Haiti. It accepts unsolicited proposals online at any time.
Assets
$481.0M
Grants
1,818
Total Given
$303.9M
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Detroit, MI
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan funds nonprofits working in economic opportunity, health equity, youth and education, arts and culture, and public space and the environment across seven southeast Michigan counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though awards varied widely; organizations begin with a brief proposal, and selected applicants are invited to submit a full application.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
938
Total Given
$105.1M
The Kresge Foundation
Troy, MI
The Kresge Foundation funds nonprofit operations, projects, and planning across arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and community development, with a focus on equity and opportunity in U.S. cities—especially Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans, and Fresno. Its 2024 grants ranged from $150 to $5 million, with a median of $140,000. Program teams most often invite applicants, though some programs issue open calls or RFPs; unsolicited requests are not described as generally accepted.
Assets
$4.0B
Grants
800
Total Given
$170.0M
DTE Energy Foundation
Detroit, MI
DTE Energy Foundation funds community transformation, human needs, economic development, education, employment, and environmental initiatives, primarily in Michigan. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $10,000, though amounts ranged from $100 to $1.2 million. Its general application process is invitation-only, but it has offered open calls for specific Michigan programs.
Assets
$129.1M
Grants
442
Total Given
$15.8M
The Skillman Foundation
Detroit, MI
The Skillman Foundation funds Detroit organizations working on education systems change, youth development, and community services that support Detroit youth. Its 2024 grants had a median of $10,000 and ranged from $50 to $500,000; it generally proactively invites partnership applications, though it welcomes connections from organizations and currently accepts applications to its $2,500–$10,000 President’s Discretionary Fund.
Assets
$418.5M
Grants
416
Total Given
$17.8M
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation
Detroit, MI
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation funds active lifestyles, preparation for success, caregiver support, entrepreneurship and economic development, and nonprofit-sector innovation in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. Its 2024 median grant was $100,000, though awards vary widely. It accepts applications year-round through an initial Letter of Inquiry; selected organizations are invited to submit a full proposal.
Assets
$896.5M
Grants
413
Total Given
$141.2M
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Community Foundation funds nonprofits and eligible public or fiduciary-sponsored organizations working in education, health, neighborhoods, arts and culture, economic prosperity, and the environment, with an emphasis on equity and reducing barriers. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,065 to $2.36 million, with a median of $23,000, and primarily serve Kent County and West Michigan; eligible applicants can submit an online pre-application for projects fitting its priorities.
Assets
$483.6M
Grants
377
Total Given
$22.0M
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Detroit, MI
United Way for Southeastern Michigan funds basic needs, youth opportunity, family financial stability, and racial-equity work, primarily across Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, though amounts varied widely; listed opportunities include specific funds, but the profile does not state a general policy on unsolicited requests.
Assets
$59.9M
Grants
360
Total Given
$81.1M
More Funders in Michigan
Defoe Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?