Detroit Children's Fund
The mission of the Detroit Children's Fund is to make high-potential investments to expand successful schools, greatly improve lower performing schools, and discover and develop talented educators so that every child in detroit has the opportunity to receive an excellent education.
Detroit Children's Fund at a glance
In short: Detroit Children's Fund gave $3.8M across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $945K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,779,262
- +94.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $944,816
- +288.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $838,731
- Total assets
- $6,420,927
- -10.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Detroit Children's Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New Paradign for Education ($2.1M). Together the top 4 received $3.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 15 grants of 53 (28%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Detroit Children's Fund gives
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2023) to $4.2M (2021). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Paradign for Education Detroit, MI | Additional staff, coaching & development building imporvements and surveys to charter schools; retention bonuses; construction of a school pantry and laundry facility | $2,091,051 |
| Detroit Public Schools Community District Detroit, MI | Coach and support data-driven leadership practices achieve aggressive academic gains in ela and math | $1,500,000 |
| Jalen Rose Leadership Academy Detroit, MI | Fund jrla's senior classes with curricular and technological resources; retention bonuses | $177,461 |
| Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI | Tuition and Supplies for Charter School Enrollees | $10,750 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,420,927 | $3,870,493 | $5,636,326 | $3,779,262 | 4 | $297,490 |
| 2024 | $7,180,205 | $6,258,931 | $3,501,419 | $1,947,188 | 8 | $232,019 |
| 2023 | $4,366,327 | $4,550,837 | $4,215,795 | $1,942,778 | 10 | $54,125 |
| 2022 | $4,764,612 | $6,678,705 | $5,521,426 | $3,064,740 | 15 | $1,822 |
| 2021 | $3,755,230 | $5,131,419 | $5,902,341 | $4,198,784 | 16 | $2,043 |
About Detroit Children's Fund
Based on IRS filings
Detroit Children's Fund is a public charity, based in Detroit, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $3.8M. Net investment income was $297K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Detroit Children's Fund is led by Kc Crain, Board Chair & Director on every filing since 2021; 5 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kc Crain
Board Chair & Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irma Hamilton
Director of School Programs & Partnerships
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$146K (2025)
Adam Levinson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anup Popat
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arn Tellem
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Emerson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darienne Driver
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Tinsley
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jesse Venegas
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelle Ilitch
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Maibach
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Douglas
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Barra
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tonya Allen
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ray Scott
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Perlman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Karmanos
Partner
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$160K (2021) → $252K (2025)
Latwila Ainsworth-Comfort
Partner
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$136K (2023) → $206K (2025)
Lisa Laurin
Chief Development Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$114K (2023) → $141K (2025)
Suzanne Mitchell
Controller
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$142K (2025)
Former officers (11)
- Former: Craig Buchholz (2021–2023) — Director -
- Former: Phil Cooley (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Tui Roper (2021–2023) — Former Partner -
- Former: Wright Lassiter III (2021–2023) — Director -
- Former: Misha Stredrick (2023) — Achievement Director -
- Former: Carol Goss (2021–2022) — Director -
- Former: Gretchen Davidson (2021–2022) — Director -
- Former: Jack Elsey (2021–2022) — Partner & CEO -
- Former: Jacques Panis (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Matt Simoncini (2021) — Director
- Former: Pernilla Ammann (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $252K, to Nick Karmanos (Partner). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Detroit Children's Fund
How much does Detroit Children's Fund give each year?
Detroit Children's Fund gave $3.8M across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.9M across 8 grants.
What is Detroit Children's Fund's typical grant size?
Detroit Children's Fund's median grant in 2025 was $838,731, and its average grant was $944,816, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Detroit Children's Fund give grants?
Detroit Children's Fund gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (3 grants).
Does Detroit Children's Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Detroit Children's Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Detroit Children's Fund?
Detroit Children's Fund reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.9M.
What is Detroit Children's Fund's EIN?
Detroit Children's Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2499615. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Detroit Children's Fund funds
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