Ferris Foundation
The foundation was established to advance the mission and goals of ferris state university by generating and managing private support for the university.
Ferris Foundation at a glance
In short: Ferris Foundation gave $9.5M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $9.5M), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,490,722
- +21.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,490,722
- +21.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,490,722
- Total assets
- $135,070,689
- +3.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Ferris Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ferris State University ($9.5M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Ferris Foundation gives
- Giving grew 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.7M (2021) to $9.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $9.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ferris State University Big Rapdis, MI | Support University | $9,490,722 |
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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 | $135,070,689 | $12,550,062 | $11,429,785 | $9,490,722 | 1 | $6,846,952 |
| 2024 | $131,149,686 | $10,812,102 | $8,371,228 | $7,808,230 | 1 | $5,807,833 |
| 2023 | $123,419,079 | $8,366,973 | $7,184,957 | $6,401,392 | 1 | $2,575,929 |
| 2022 | $118,188,680 | $12,993,679 | $7,975,969 | $7,346,934 | 1 | $5,768,248 |
| 2021 | $122,659,828 | $10,707,698 | $6,265,034 | $5,697,608 | 1 | $4,612,996 |
About Ferris Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Ferris Foundation is a public charity, based in Big Rapids, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $135.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $9.5M. Net investment income was $6.8M.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ferris Foundation is led by Bill Pink, President & Ferris State Un since 2025 (on filings since 2023); none of the 36 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bill Pink
President & Ferris State Un
President & Ferris State University → President & Ferris State Un, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Todd
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenifer Cutter
Chair
Board Member → Chair Elect, 2024
Chair Elect → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alton Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Kalinowski
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arlen-Dean Gaddy
Board Member
Chair Elect → Chair, 2024
Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Hancock
Board Member
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Granger
Board Member & Part-Year
Immediate Pa → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Board Member & Part-Year, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Howard C. Stross
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean K. Elder
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Engelman II
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Bailey
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Simon
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kurt Hofman
Board Member & Part-Year
Immediate Past-Chair → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Board Member & Part-Year, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Nawrocki
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Doyle
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Shaw
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Jones
Board Member & Professor of
Board Member → Board Member & Professor of Marketing, 2024
Board Member & Professor of Marketing → Board Member & Professor of, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas P. Scholler
Board Member
Secretary → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Visner
Board Member & Part-Year
Board Member → Board Member & Part-Year, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana King
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Pilgrim
Board Member & Professor of
Board Member → Board Member & Professor of Sociology, 2024
Board Member & Professor of Sociology → Board Member & Professor of, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Graves
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Bissett
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Russell Visner
Board Member & Part-Year
Board Member → Board Member & Part-Year, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Matheson
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dave Neitzer
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Amshey
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Mullins
Executive Board & Vice President of Adva
Executive Board & Vice President of Advancement → Executive Board & Vice President of Adva, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Placincki
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael J. Van Diepenbos
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Chadwick
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shane Napper
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darius Quinn
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Wheeler
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Hook
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Kevin Cross (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Barbara Benda (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jack Roberts (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jim Bachmeier (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Robert Murray (2021–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Terry Stewart (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tim Murphy (2021–2023) — Chair
- Former: Jennifer Shaw (2023) — Executive Director
- Former: David L. Eisler (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Adel Makki (2021) — Board Member
- Former: John Fenn (2021) — Board Member
- Former: John Hare (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Karl Linebaugh (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Paul M. Eichenberg (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Randall L. Phelps (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Friar (2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Ferris Foundation
How much does Ferris Foundation give each year?
Ferris Foundation gave $9.5M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.8M across 1 grant.
How large is Ferris Foundation?
Ferris Foundation reported $135.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.6M.
Where does Ferris Foundation operate?
Ferris Foundation has awarded grants in Michigan.
What is Ferris Foundation's EIN?
Ferris Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6115813. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Ferris Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Ferris 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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