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.
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
The foundation makes unrestricted grants to general funds of recipient organizations. In 2023, the foundation made nine grants totaling $613,000. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s range from $20,000 to $50,000 based on recent activity.
How to Apply
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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
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 |
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 include Detroit Symphony Orchestra ($55,000), Holocaust Memorial Center ($50,000), Jsl Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| DETROIT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTONS CO - PROJECT CLEAN SLATE DETROIT, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| DETROIT OPERA DETROIT, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DETROIT, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $55,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS HAGERSTOWN, MD | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| FRESH AIR SOCIETY BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUNDUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $40,000 |
| GESHER HUMAN SERVICES SOUTHFIELD, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $15,000 |
| GILDA'S CLUB OF METRO DETROIT ROYAL OAK, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $30,000 |
| GLOBAL GIVING WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $7,000 |
| HILLEL OF METRO DETROIT DETROIT, MI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO GENERAL FUND | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT SIMON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
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?
**Grant Activity & Patterns:** The foundation makes unrestricted grants to general funds of recipient organizations. In 2023, the foundation made nine grants totaling $613,000. Recent grants include: • Detroit Symphony Orchestra: $50,000 (2023) • The Zekelman Holocaust Center: $50,000 (2023) • Hillel of Metropolitan Detroit: $50,000 (2023) • New Day Foundation for Families: $20,000 (2025) • Pink Fund: $20,000 (2024) Grant sizes range from $20,000 to $50,000 based on recent activity. **Applicati…
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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