Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Grosse Pointe Park, MI EIN: 38-3426007

The Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation is a private foundation based in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. Its 2024 grants supported medical research and patient care, education, suicide prevention, arts and culture, food assistance, and other human services.

Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation at a glance

In short: Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation gave $269K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Minnesota. 5% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$268,980
-32.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
21
-16.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$12,809
-20.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,000
Total assets
$30,865
-18.4% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
5% first-time grantees (1 of 21, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Minnesota (74% 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 Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 15230 Windmill Pointe Drive, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230
Phone: (248) 420-1831

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

Who Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Mayo Clinic: $200KMayo Clinic$200KCarmichaels Area School District: $30KCarmichaels Area SchoolDistrict$30KKevin's Song Foundation: $10KKevin's Song Foundation$10KHolt Public School Plays & Musicals Program: $6KHolt Public School Plays &Musicals Program$6KCedarwood Waldorf School: $3KCedarwood Waldorf School$3KEpilepsy Foundation of Michigan: $3KEpilepsy Foundation ofMichigan$3KCapuchin Soup Kitchen: $2KCapuchin Soup Kitchen$2KGleaners Community Food Bank: $2KGleaners Community Food Bank$2KThe Salvation Army: $2KThe Salvation Army$2KDetroit Institute of Arts: $1KDetroit Institute of Arts$1K

The largest 2024 recipient was Mayo Clinic ($200K). Together the top 10 received $258K.

Grant Size Distribution

137 grants across all recorded years

129<$50K$50–100K8$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 137 (94%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation is based in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. In 2024, recipients were located in Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Oregon. Minnesota received 74% of grant dollars, Michigan 13%, Pennsylvania 12%, and Oregon 1%.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

DetroitGrosse Point FarmsGrosse PointeSouthfieldGrosse Pointe FarmsCarmichaelsDoylestownMount PleasantOak ParkRochesterRoyal OakArlingtonGrosse Pointe ParkWixomCincinnatiHoltMaryland HeightsAnn ArborBozemanBingham Farms

Is Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation open to new grantees?

5%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 1 of 21 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $13K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $1K repeat.

  • 95% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 34% 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 (2019–2024). 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$200K$400K$600K39 grants2019 30 grants2020 30 grants2021 31 grants2022 25 grants2023 21 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $269K (2024) to $451K (2019). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $269K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Mayo Clinic Rochester, MNSupport for medical research, patient care and training of new physicians$200,000
Carmichaels Area School District Carmichaels, PASupport for Education$30,000
Kevin's Song Foundation Grosse Point Farms, MISuicide Awareness and Prevention$10,000
Holt Public School Plays & Musicals Program Holt, MILighting Enhancements in the Margaret Livensparger Theater$5,980
Cedarwood Waldorf School Portland, ORSupport of imaginative thinking and creativity in the classroom$2,500
Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan Southfield, MISupport for research and programs for individuals with epilepsy$2,500
Capuchin Soup Kitchen Detroit, MISupport for programs providing food to those in need$2,000
Gleaners Community Food Bank Detroit, MISupport for Programs Providing Food to the Hungry$2,000
The Salvation Army Southfield, MISupport for Programs to Meet Human Needs$2,000
Detroit Institute of Arts Detroit, MISupport for the Fine Arts$1,000
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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$30,865$260,022$268,980$268,98021$268,980$22$3,845
2023$37,823$400,031$401,100$401,10025$401,100$31$2,765
2022$38,892$317,155$343,329$341,20031$343,329$26$4,004
2021$65,066$451,623$408,619$407,00030$408,619$4$2,065
2020$22,062$402,386$399,884$398,00030—$2$1,968
2019$19,560$365,131$453,187$451,49039——$12,310

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K 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 show support for organizations working in several areas. For example, Mayo Clinic describes its mission as providing patient care, education, and research to contribute to health and well-being. Gleaners Community Food Bank says it provides households with access to nutritious food and related resources, while the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries describes its work as providing hope and support to people experiencing homelessness, abuse, or disadvantage. Other 2024 recipients included an education-supporting school district, a suicide-awareness and prevention foundation, and arts organizations.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation gave $268,980 through 21 grants. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest grants included $200,000 to Mayo Clinic for medical research, patient care, and physician training; $30,000 to Carmichaels Area School District for education; and $10,000 to Kevin’s Song Foundation for suicide awareness and prevention. Other grants included $5,980 to Holt Public School Plays & Musicals Program for theater lighting and $2,500 each to Cedarwood Waldorf School and Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Paul N. Lavins as president and treasurer; Kristin C. Francis as director and secretary; and Richard A. Polk SC and Ashley E. Benson as directors.

Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation is led by Paul N. Lavins, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Paul N. Lavins

    President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ashley E. Benson

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kristin C. Francis

    Director & Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard A. Polk Sc

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation

How much does Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation give each year?

Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation gave $269K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $401K across 25 grants.

What is Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation's typical grant size?

Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $12,809, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation that year got $3K on average.

Where does Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation give grants?

Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (13%) and Pennsylvania (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (6 grants), Southfield, MI (2 grants) and Grosse Pointe, MI (2 grants).

Does Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation's largest grantees?

Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mayo Clinic ($200,000), Carmichaels Area School District ($30,000) and Kevin's Song Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation?

Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation reported $31K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $269K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in several areas. For example, Mayo Clinic describes its mission as providing patient care, education, and research to contribute to health and well-being. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation's EIN?

Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3426007. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Does Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 7, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 29, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 13, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 30, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 25, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dolores-and-paul-lavins-foundation-morg_a332f938df3a4149aba0c28b363f1476

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383426007_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/dolores-and-paul-lavins-foundation-morg_a332f938df3a4149aba0c28b363f1476},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Dolores and Paul Lavins 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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