Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation
The Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation is a private foundation based in Southfield, Michigan. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in Michigan and several other states.
Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation at a glance
In short: Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation gave $102K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $102,000
- -8.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +120.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,273
- -58.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,500
- Total assets
- $3,423,656
- +5.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (70% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 27777 Franklin Road 2500, Southfield, MI 48034
Phone: (248) 351-3000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Motown Historical Museum Inc ($54K). Together the top 10 received $100K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 50 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 14% to Nevada, 10% to Maryland, 3% to South Carolina, and 3% to Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
How Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation gives
- 18% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $77K (2020) to $162K (2019). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $102K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Motown Historical Museum Inc Detroit, MI | General Support | $54,000 |
| Glenelg Country School Inc Ellicott City, MD | General Support | $10,000 |
| Skillz Finest TNL Inc Detroit, MI | General Support | $10,000 |
| 100 Black Men of Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $5,000 |
| Black United Fund of Michigan Inc Detroit, MI | General Support | $5,000 |
| Aiken SC Chapter of the Links Inc Aiken, SC | General Support | $3,500 |
| Mastering Mindsets Las Vegas North Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $3,500 |
| Omega Hope Incorporated Saint Johns, FL | General Support | $3,500 |
| Tulips North Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $3,500 |
| Bison in Vegas HBCU Alumni Group Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $2,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,423,656 | $177,326 | $216,386 | $102,000 | 11 | $147,580 | $108,520 | $164,026 |
| 2024 | $3,247,523 | $197,076 | $227,892 | $112,000 | 5 | $160,057 | $129,241 | $157,782 |
| 2023 | $3,141,796 | $102,634 | $202,888 | $89,333 | 14 | $135,459 | $35,205 | $150,050 |
| 2022 | $2,933,677 | $22,077 | $261,557 | $142,500 | 12 | $192,230 | $16,156 | $160,733 |
| 2021 | $3,665,148 | $253,093 | $261,737 | $142,333 | 8 | $187,834 | $179,190 | $177,502 |
| 2020 | $3,542,140 | $232,740 | $186,265 | $77,000 | 1 | — | $165,737 | $160,401 |
| 2019 | $3,375,356 | $228,791 | $229,288 | $161,900 | 11 | — | $202,289 | $159,179 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own filing does not state a mission. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a historical museum, a school, and youth- and community-oriented organizations. Glenelg Country School describes its mission as cultivating a diverse community of learners who discover, contribute, thrive, and excel. 100 Black Men of Las Vegas says it creates environments where children and families are inspired to dream, challenged to achieve, and empowered to become self-sufficient shareholders in the community. Black United Fund of Michigan says it supports, develops, and implements youth empowerment programs through collaborative partnerships for underserved and underrepresented people.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $102,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $54,000, with a median of $3,500. The largest grants included $54,000 to Motown Historical Museum Inc. in Detroit for general support; $10,000 to Glenelg Country School Inc. for general support; and $10,000 to Skillz Finest TNL Inc. in Detroit for general support. Black United Fund of Michigan Inc. received $5,000 for general support, as did 100 Black Men of Las Vegas.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Elesha Bridgers as president and director, Robin Terry as treasurer and director, and Gwendolyn Nichole as secretary and director.
Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation is led by Elesha M. Bridgers, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elesha M. Bridgers
President & Director
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$28K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Robin R. Terry
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gwendolyn Nichole
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Gwendolyn Moore (2019) — Secretary & Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $70K, to Elesha Bridgers (President, Director).
Frequently asked questions about Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation
How much does Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation give each year?
Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation gave $102K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $112K across 5 grants.
What is Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation's typical grant size?
Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,500, and its average grant was $9,273, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation give grants?
Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Nevada (14%) and Maryland (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (3 grants), Las Vegas, NV (2 grants) and North Las Vegas, NV (2 grants).
Does Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation's largest grantees?
Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Motown Historical Museum Inc ($54,000), Glenelg Country School Inc ($10,000) and Skillz Finest TNL Inc ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation?
Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $148K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $164K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own filing does not state a mission. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a historical museum, a school, and youth- and community-oriented organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation's EIN?
Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2577667. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 4, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/esther-gordy-bullock-edwards-foundation-morg_da9c528d85434e3e80bc8376269a200f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_452577667_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/esther-gordy-bullock-edwards-foundation-morg_da9c528d85434e3e80bc8376269a200f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Esther Gordy Bullock Edwards 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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