Deroy Testamentary Foundation logo

Deroy Testamentary Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Southfield, MI EIN: 38-2208833 Website

The DeRoy Testamentary Foundation is a private foundation based in Southfield, Michigan. Its 2024 filing says that agencies it chooses are primarily in the Detroit metropolitan area and that it makes no grants to individuals. Its 2024 grants also included a $15 million award to an organization in Florida.

Deroy Testamentary Foundation at a glance

In short: Deroy Testamentary Foundation gave $16.4M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $914K), mostly in Florida. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$16,446,938
+597.0% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
18
-58.1% vs 2023
Average grant
$913,719
+1565.1% vs 2023
Median grant
$60,750
Total assets
$24,765,016
-39.5% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
28% first-time grantees (5 of 18, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Florida (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Deroy Testamentary Foundation

How to Apply

Contact Julie Rodecker. Applications and materials may vary depending on the nature of the request.

Review Cycle
Monthly cutoff dates.
Deadline
Monthly cutoff dates.
Contact

Application contact: Julie Rodecker
Mailing address: 26999 Central Park Blvd 160, Southfield, MI 48076
Phone: (248) 827-0920
Website: https://deroyfoundation.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Deroy Testamentary Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Inspirational Futures Foundation Inc: $15.0MInspirational FuturesFoundation Inc$15.0MDeroy Education Partners: $500KDeroy Education Partners$500KZekelman Holocaust Center: $180KZekelman Holocaust Center$180KGesher Human Services: $125KGesher Human Services$125KCranbrook Educational Community: $117KCranbrook EducationalCommunity$117KMichigan Humane Society: $100KMichigan Humane Society$100KShaw Festival Foundation: $75KShaw Festival Foundation$75KFresh Air Society: $75KFresh Air Society$75KBarbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute: $72KBarbara Ann Karmanos CancerInstitute$72KCollege for Creative Studies: $50KCollege for Creative Studies$50K

The largest 2024 recipient was Inspirational Futures Foundation Inc ($15.0M). Together the top 10 received $16.3M.

Grant Size Distribution

259 grants across all recorded years

199<$50K35$50–100K18$100–250K2$250–500K3$500K–1M$1–5M2$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 199 grants of 259 (77%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation states that agencies it chooses are primarily in the Detroit metropolitan area. In 2024, its reported grant-dollar distribution by recipient state was 91% Florida, 8% Michigan, and 0% New York. The Florida share included the $15 million grant to Inspirational Futures Foundation Inc.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.

Cities

DetroitSouthfieldBloomfield HillsPontiacWest BloomfieldBirminghamAnn ArborNew YorkBingham FarmsEast LansingFarmington HillsHillsdaleInterlochenRoyal OakTroyDearbornDearborn HeightsLapeerOak ParkRochester

Is Deroy Testamentary Foundation open to new grantees?

28%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 18 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3M; repeat grants $99K. How we count

Medians: $75K first-time, $50K repeat.

  • 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 622% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M79 grants2020 64 grants2021 55 grants2022 43 grants2023 18 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2021) to $17.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $16.4M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Inspirational Futures Foundation Inc N Palm Beach, FLCharitable$15,000,000
Deroy Education Partners West Bloomfield, MICharitable$500,000
Zekelman Holocaust Center Farmington Hills, MICharitable$180,000
Gesher Human Services Southfield, MICharitable$125,000
Cranbrook Educational Community Bloomfield Hills, MICharitable$116,680
Michigan Humane Society Detroit, MICharitable$100,000
Shaw Festival Foundation Buffalo, NYCharitable$75,000
Fresh Air Society Bloomfield Hills, MICharitable$75,000
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit, MICharitable$71,500
College for Creative Studies Detroit, MICharitable$50,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$24,765,016$1,288,593$17,338,055$16,446,93818$16,816,688$870,573$1,624,104
2023$40,960,231$3,916,541$3,382,346$2,359,57643$2,777,720$3,330,416$2,085,311
2022$40,332,268$2,450,654$17,904,470$16,961,65355$17,337,628$1,889,813$2,459,170
2021$55,782,089$8,967,991$3,462,662$2,276,72264$2,696,681$8,322,793$2,981,801
2020$50,288,477$972,144$3,416,676$2,463,73179—$761,232$2,613,180

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Deroy Testamentary Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including education, human services, animal welfare, health care, and the arts.

The grantees describe their work in their own terms. Gesher Human Services says it provides workforce development, behavioral health, and inclusion programming for people across Metro Detroit while also meeting needs in the Jewish community. Cranbrook Educational Community says it provides education and encourages creativity and innovation. Michigan Humane Society says it works to improve and save lives through care, community engagement, and animal advocacy. The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute describes its work as cancer care, research, and education; College for Creative Studies says it educates visual artists and designers and nurtures creativity.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $16,446,938. Grant amounts ranged from $258 to $15 million, with a median grant of $60,750. The largest awards included $15 million to Inspirational Futures Foundation Inc. in North Palm Beach, Florida; $500,000 to DeRoy Education Partners in West Bloomfield, Michigan; and $180,000 to Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Other grants included $125,000 to Gesher Human Services, $116,680 to Cranbrook Educational Community, and $100,000 to Michigan Humane Society.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Julie Rodecker as president/chairperson, Gregg Watkins as vice president/treasurer, and Ryan Smith as secretary/program director.

Deroy Testamentary Foundation is led by Julie Rodecker, President & Chairperson since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Julie Rodecker

    President & Chairperson

    President & Trustee → President & Chairperson, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $188K (2020) → $218K (2024)

  • Ryan Smith

    Secretary & Program Director

    Trustee → Secretary & Program Director, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    12 hrs/week

    $29K (2022) → $32K (2024)

  • Gregg D. Watkins

    Vice President & Treasurer

    Secretary, Chief Invest Officer & Trustee → Vice President & Treasurer, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    35 hrs/week

    $82K (2020) → $138K (2024)

Former officers (5)
  • Former: Marian Keidan Seltzer (2020–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Gregg D. Watkins - (2021) — Secretary, Chief Invest Officer, Trustee, Vice President, Treasurer & Trustee
  • Former: Julie Rodecker - (2021) — President & Trustee
  • Former: Marian Keidan Seltzer - (2021) — Vice President, Treasurer, Trustee & Trustee
  • Former: Ryan Smith - (2021) — Trustee, Secretary & Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Julie Rodecker — President/Chairperson: $218KJulie RodeckerPresident/Chairperson$218KGregg Watkins — Vice President/Treasurer: $138KGregg WatkinsVice President/Treasurer$138KRyan Smith — Secretary/Program Director: $32KRyan SmithSecretary/Program Director$32K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $218K, to Julie Rodecker (President/Chairperson). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Deroy Testamentary Foundation

How much does Deroy Testamentary Foundation give each year?

Deroy Testamentary Foundation gave $16.4M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.4M across 43 grants.

What is Deroy Testamentary Foundation's typical grant size?

Deroy Testamentary Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $60,750, and its average grant was $913,719, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Deroy Testamentary Foundation that year got $3M on average.

Where does Deroy Testamentary Foundation give grants?

Deroy Testamentary Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Michigan (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (5 grants), Bloomfield Hills, MI (3 grants) and Southfield, MI (2 grants).

Does Deroy Testamentary Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Deroy Testamentary Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (18 grants).

Who are Deroy Testamentary Foundation's largest grantees?

Deroy Testamentary Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Inspirational Futures Foundation Inc ($15,000,000), Deroy Education Partners ($500,000) and Zekelman Holocaust Center ($180,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Deroy Testamentary Foundation?

Deroy Testamentary Foundation reported $24.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Deroy Testamentary Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including education, human services, animal welfare, health care, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Deroy Testamentary Foundation?

Contact Julie Rodecker. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Deroy Testamentary Foundation's EIN?

Deroy Testamentary Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2208833. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Deroy Testamentary Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/deroy-testamentary-foundation-morg_388a1ab13403443aa4d44605b431b3b0

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382208833_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Deroy Testamentary Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/deroy-testamentary-foundation-morg_388a1ab13403443aa4d44605b431b3b0},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Deroy Testamentary 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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