Foundations & Grantmakers in Michigan
4,173 grantmakers in Michigan reported grants on their latest 990s. The 1,800 that made at least 5 grants gave $3.3B. The largest by giving are WK Kellogg Foundation, The Kresge Foundation and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Looking for open funding opportunities instead? Browse Michigan grants
Foundation giving in Michigan at a glance
Active grantmakers
4,173
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$3.3B
from the 1,800 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$17K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$81K
per grantmaker
Top 10 foundations in Michigan by annual giving
| # | Funder | City | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WK Kellogg Foundation | Battle Creek | $303.9M | 1,818 |
| 2 | The Kresge Foundation | Troy | $170.0M | 800 |
| 3 | Charles Stewart Mott Foundation | Flint | $166.4M | 834 |
| 4 | The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation | Detroit | $141.2M | 413 |
| 5 | The Gilbert Family Foundation | Detroit | $112.9M | 140 |
| 6 | Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan | Detroit | $105.1M | 938 |
| 7 | United Way for Southeastern Michigan | Detroit | $81.1M | 360 |
| 8 | William Davidson Foundation | Birmingham | $59.6M | 94 |
| 9 | Jewish Federation of Detroit | Bloomfield Hills | $47.4M | 86 |
| 10 | United Jewish Foundation | Bloomfield Hills | $43.6M | 274 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 7 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Most common focus areas
- Education 217 · 26%
- Human Services 108 · 13%
- Health 91 · 11%
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building 63 · 8%
- Religion Related 44 · 5%
- Environment & Animals 43 · 5%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (44% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Community foundations in Michigan
- Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan $105.1M · 938 grants
- Community Foundation of Greater Flint $30.5M · 170 grants
- Grand Rapids Community Foundation $22.0M · 377 grants
- Kalamazoo Community Foundation $21.4M · 282 grants
- Community Foundation for Muskegon County $12.4M · 202 grants
- Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Inc $10.9M · 197 grants
- Berrien Community Foundation Inc $9.2M · 201 grants
- Fremont Area Community Foundation $8.8M · 137 grants
Showing the largest 8 of 45 with at least 10 grants.
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2025).
Most open to new grantees in Michigan
Foundations based in Michigan whose latest grant list had the largest share of organizations they had not funded in any earlier year on file.
| # | Funder | First-time grantees | Grantees | Avg first grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebert Memorial Scholarship Fund | 96% (25) | 26 in 2025 | $3K |
| 2 | The Auto Club Group Foundation | 88% (65) | 74 in 2024 | $6K |
| 3 | Wayne State University Research and Technology Park in the City of Detroit | 81% (26) | 32 in 2024 | $32K |
| 4 | Aptiv Foundation Inc | 80% (40) | 50 in 2024 | $18K |
| 5 | Priority Health Total Health Foundation | 77% (20) | 26 in 2024 | $72K |
| 6 | Fraternal Order of Police #126 | 76% (16) | 21 in 2024 | $1K |
| 7 | Frankenmuth Insurance Foundation | 76% (68) | 90 in 2024 | $4K |
| 8 | Hastings Mutual Insurance Company Charitable Foundation | 74% (23) | 31 in 2024 | $6K |
| 9 | Mary and George Herbert Zimmerman | 73% (43) | 59 in 2025 | $6K |
| 10 | Michigan Student Assembly of the University of Michigan | 69% (22) | 32 in 2024 | $10K |
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990 and 990-PF grant lists. Only foundations with at least 20 grants in each of the last three years (and 20 distinct grantees in the latest), a filing from the last 2 years, and first grants averaging at least $1K are ranked; grants to individuals are left out, and recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed grantee can look new. How we calculate this.
Showing 1,800 grantmakers in Michigan with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
WK Kellogg Foundation
Battle Creek, MI
Assets
$481.0M
Grants
1,818
Total Given
$303.9M
The Kresge Foundation
Troy, MI
Assets
$4.0B
Grants
800
Total Given
$170.0M
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Flint, MI
Assets
$3.8B
Grants
834
Total Given
$166.4M
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation
Detroit, MI
Assets
$896.5M
Grants
413
Total Given
$141.2M
The Gilbert Family Foundation
Detroit, MI
Assets
$53.1M
Grants
140
Total Given
$112.9M
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Detroit, MI
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
938
Total Given
$105.1M
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Detroit, MI
Assets
$59.9M
Grants
360
Total Given
$81.1M
William Davidson Foundation
Birmingham, MI
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
94
Total Given
$59.6M
Jewish Federation of Detroit
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Assets
$46.5M
Grants
86
Total Given
$47.4M
United Jewish Foundation
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Assets
$761.7M
Grants
274
Total Given
$43.6M
THE PETER and JOAN SECCHIA FAMILY INC
Grand Rapids, MI
Assets
$40.6M
Grants
78
Total Given
$42.0M
Ford Philanthropy
Dearborn, MI
Assets
$221.0M
Grants
207
Total Given
$41.6M
Michigan Health Endowment Fund
Brighton, MI
Assets
$589.1M
Grants
148
Total Given
$36.0M
The Bellis Foundation
Troy, MI
Assets
$597K
Grants
20
Total Given
$32.5M
The Ronda E Stryker and William D
Kalamazoo, MI
Assets
$40.9M
Grants
143
Total Given
$30.6M
Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Flint, MI
Assets
$313.9M
Grants
170
Total Given
$30.5M
Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation
Troy, MI
Assets
$52.2M
Grants
7
Total Given
$30.3M
The Samuel and Jean Frankel Jewish Heritage Foundation
Troy, MI
Assets
$176.4M
Grants
16
Total Given
$29.8M
West Michigan Partnership for Children
Dorr, MI
Assets
$11.2M
Grants
5
Total Given
$27.3M
Detroit Public Schools Foundation
Detroit, MI
Assets
$30.9M
Grants
8
Total Given
$27.3M
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
Detroit, MI
Assets
$17.4M
Grants
27
Total Given
$23.8M
Michigan State Bar Foundation
Lansing, MI
Assets
$56.9M
Grants
55
Total Given
$22.1M
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Grand Rapids, MI
Assets
$483.6M
Grants
377
Total Given
$22.0M
Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Kalamazoo, MI
Assets
$698.6M
Grants
282
Total Given
$21.4M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Questions about foundations in Michigan
What are the largest foundations in Michigan?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are WK Kellogg Foundation ($303.9M across 1,818 grants), The Kresge Foundation ($170.0M) and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation ($166.4M). Together the top 10 account for 38% of the $3.3B given by the 1,800 grantmakers in Michigan that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical foundation grant in Michigan?
The typical grant is about $17K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $81K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Are there community foundations in Michigan?
Yes. We found 45 community foundations in Michigan with grant activity. The largest by giving are Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Community Foundation of Greater Flint and Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Community foundations pool gifts from many local donors and usually run open grant rounds for nonprofits in their area, which makes them a good first stop for local funding.
How do I find Michigan foundations that accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations in Michigan from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.