Detroit Lions Charities
Detroit Lions Charities is a public charity based in Allen Park, Michigan, and the nonprofit community funding extension of Detroit Lions, Inc. The organization says it invests in strategic partnerships to empower youth and supports organizations pursuing community well-being, education, cancer support, and domestic violence prevention. It was formed in 1990 and received a “Detroit Lions Foundation” d/b/a in fiscal year 2020.
Detroit Lions Charities at a glance
In short: Detroit Lions Charities gave $1.4M across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $54K), mostly in Michigan. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,351,752
- -9.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $54,070
- -27.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $36,750
- Total assets
- $2,726,907
- +35.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (9 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Detroit Lions Charities
- How to Apply
-
The organization says its board reviews requests from other 501(c)(3) organizations for community work in Detroit and surrounding areas and selects those to support in the current year. It monitors grant spending through budget-to-actual reviews and board oversight.
- Contact
Mailing address: 222 Republic Drive, Allen Park, MI 48101
Phone: (313) 216-4050
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Detroit Lions Charities funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Henry Ford Health System ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
119 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 119 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s stated grantmaking includes Detroit and surrounding areas, as well as programs benefiting children and youth in Michigan and certain nationwide initiatives. In 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 7% to North Carolina, and 2% to Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Detroit Lions Charities open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 25 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $65K repeat.
- 40% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $982K (2023) to $1.9M (2021). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Ford Health System Detroit, MI | To Support Cancer Patients | $200,000 |
| Alternatives for Girls Detroit, MI | Social justice inspire change - to support the detroit community | $182,130 |
| Playworks Detroit, MI | To Support Youth Physical Activity Programs | $100,000 |
| United Way of North Carolina Cary, NC | To Support Disaster Relief | $100,000 |
| Lomas Brown Jr Foundation Waterford, MI | Social justice inspire change - to support the community | $81,130 |
| The Yunion Detroit, MI | Social justice inspire change - to support the detroit community | $80,130 |
| City Year Inc Detroit, MI | To Support the Detroit Community | $80,000 |
| Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program Detroit, MI | Social justice inspire change - to support the detroit community | $79,130 |
| Life Remodeled Detroit, MI | Social justice inspire change - to support the detroit community | $79,130 |
| Wayne County Sheriffs Reserve Foundation Detroit, MI | To Support the Detroit Community | $70,000 |
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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 | $2,726,907 | $2,685,469 | $2,075,942 | $1,351,752 | 25 | $12,480 |
| 2024 | $2,006,868 | $2,840,600 | $2,172,393 | $1,492,995 | 20 | — |
| 2023 | $731,014 | $2,073,701 | $1,969,126 | $982,203 | 17 | — |
| 2022 | $661,259 | $1,820,325 | $1,810,558 | $1,575,389 | 29 | $6,718 |
| 2021 | $597,744 | $1,884,442 | $2,225,723 | $1,942,193 | 28 | $71,856 |
| 2020 | $1,198,820 | $1,724,891 | $2,047,763 | $1,362,220 | 26 | $57,672 |
| 2019 | $2,187,586 | $1,691,190 | $1,991,382 | $1,665,333 | 20 | $89,233 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Detroit Lions Charities describes its mission as empowering youth for lasting, transformative change in Detroit through strategic partnerships. Its stated programs include grants supporting metropolitan Detroit community wellness; Detroit-area youth activities involving exercise, healthy eating, and transportation; nationwide mental and physical well-being initiatives; Michigan’s High School Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs; and support for schools through its Touchdown in Your Town program.
The organization says it considers requests from other 501(c)(3) organizations for community work in Detroit and surrounding areas. Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Henry Ford Health System received a grant to support cancer patients; Alternatives for Girls works with homeless and high-risk youth; and the Detroit Police Athletic League provides athletic and youth enrichment opportunities. Other grantees include organizations focused on youth development, neighborhood revitalization, and disaster relief.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Detroit Lions Charities reported 25 grants totaling $1,351,752. Grants ranged from $7,000 to $200,000, with a median of $36,750.
Among the largest reported grants were $200,000 to Henry Ford Health System to support cancer patients; $182,130 to Alternatives for Girls for social justice and Detroit community support; $100,000 each to Playworks for youth physical activity programs and United Way of North Carolina for disaster relief; and $81,130 to the Lomas Brown Jr Foundation for social justice and community support. Other notable grants included $80,130 to The Yunion, $80,000 to City Year Inc, $79,130 each to Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program and Life Remodeled, and $70,000 to Wayne County Sheriffs Reserve Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Martha F. Ford, president; Rodney P. Wood and Kelly Kozole, vice presidents; Allison Maki, treasurer; and Jay B. Colvin, secretary. Trustees listed are Elizabeth Kontulis, Martha P. Morse, Sheila F. Hamp, and William C. Ford Jr.
Detroit Lions Charities is led by Martha F. Ford, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Martha F. Ford
President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Kontulis
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha P. Morse
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sheila F. Hamp
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William C. Ford Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allison Maki
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay B. Colvin
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Kozole
Vice President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rodney P. Wood
Vice President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jennifer McCollum (2019–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Lauren Claybourne (2019–2020) — Assistant Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Detroit Lions Charities
How much does Detroit Lions Charities give each year?
Detroit Lions Charities gave $1.4M across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 20 grants.
What is Detroit Lions Charities's typical grant size?
Detroit Lions Charities's median grant in 2025 was $36,750, and its average grant was $54,070, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Detroit Lions Charities that year got $28K on average.
Where does Detroit Lions Charities give grants?
Detroit Lions Charities gives mostly in Michigan: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (16 grants).
Does Detroit Lions Charities give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Detroit Lions Charities's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support the Detroit Community" (12 grants) and "To Support the Community" (4 grants).
Who are Detroit Lions Charities's largest grantees?
Detroit Lions Charities's largest 2025 grantees include Henry Ford Health System ($200,000), Alternatives for Girls ($182,130) and Playworks ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Detroit Lions Charities?
Detroit Lions Charities reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.7M.
What does Detroit Lions Charities fund?
Detroit Lions Charities describes its mission as empowering youth for lasting, transformative change in Detroit through strategic partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Detroit Lions Charities?
The organization says its board reviews requests from other 501(c)(3) organizations for community work in Detroit and surrounding areas and selects those to support in the current year. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Detroit Lions Charities's EIN?
Detroit Lions Charities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2945709. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Detroit Lions Charities's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Detroit Lions Charities funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/detroit-lions-charities-morg_850b52dbac9c4ca4997a3e687756f664
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382945709_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Detroit Lions Charities funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/detroit-lions-charities-morg_850b52dbac9c4ca4997a3e687756f664},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Detroit Lions Charities'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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