Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation
The Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2005 and based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to grantmaking and philanthropy.
Key facts about Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation
- EIN
- 20-3651333
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $613,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 41
- Average grant
- $14,951
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (13 of 41, 2024)
- Total assets
- $11,223,000
- Primary geography
- Michigan (82% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- No specific application procedures or guidelines are documented in available sources. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation's 41 itemized 2024 grants were Michigan (82%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (5 grants), West Bloomfield, MI (5 grants), Bloomfield Hills, MI (4 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 41 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation
- How to evaluate Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.2M
-2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$613K
-1.1% YoY
Grant Count
41
+20.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-18.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $650K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation demonstrates a commitment to supporting health-related causes, particularly cancer support services, as well as cultural, educational, and Jewish community organizations.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s range from $20,000 to $50,000 based on recent activity.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, with a particular emphasis on the Detroit metropolitan area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 41 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $11.5 million
- Total Revenues: $440,773
- Total Expenses: $766,438
- Investment Income and Dividends: $336,202
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,223,000 | $11,544,227 | $11,850,313 |
| Revenue | $447,135 | $440,773 | $65,209 |
| Expenses | $768,362 | $766,438 | $718,421 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $683,207 | $691,337 | $670,055 |
| Net Investment Income | $399,609 | $496,748 | $291,408 |
| Distributable Amount | $649,945 | $625,993 | $620,910 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Detroit Symphony Orchestra ($55,000), Holocaust Memorial Center ($50,000), JSL Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Detroit, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $55,000 |
| HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTER Farmington Hills, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $50,000 |
| JSL FOUNDATION West Bloomfield, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $50,000 |
| FRESH AIR SOCIETY Bloomfield Hills, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUNDUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $40,000 |
| HILLEL OF METRO DETROIT Detroit, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $40,000 |
| GILDA'S CLUB OF METRO DETROIT Royal Oak, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $30,000 |
| METRO FOOD RESCUE West Bloomfield, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| DETROIT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTONS CO - PROJECT CLEAN SLATE Detroit, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH ALLIANCE New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| THE PINK FUND Southfield, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation is led by Robert Simon, Director on the 2024 filing — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert Simon
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Scott A. Pietras (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Donald R. Simon (2020–2021) — President
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.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In November 2025, the Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to New Day Foundation for Families, marking the first grant the foundation has made to this organization. The grant was awarded in recognition of the growing need for cancer support services in Michigan.
DONALD R. AND ESTHER SIMON FOUNDATION AWARDS $20K GRANT TO NEW DAY FOUNDATIONIn 2024, the foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to Pink Fund to enhance digital accessibility for cancer patients and families.
DONALD R. AND ESTHER SIMON FOUNDATION AWARDS $20K GRANT TO NEW DAY FOUNDATIONSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation demonstrates a commitment to supporting health-related causes, particularly cancer support services, as well as cultural, educational, and Jewish community organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation?
No specific application procedures or guidelines are documented in available sources. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, with a particular emphasis on the Detroit metropolitan area.
What size grants does Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation award?
In 2024, Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $613K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $650K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation's EIN?
Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3651333. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.