Frey Foundation
The Frey Foundation is a family foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, established in 1974 and endowed in 1988. Founded by the late Edward J. and Frances T. Frey—Edward J. Frey founded Foremost Insurance Co., the nation's leading insurer of mobile homes and recreational vehicles—the foundation is committed to working together to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families, organizations, and communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$162.4M
+10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.8M
-13.4% YoY
Grant Count
195
-4.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-9.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Frey Foundation's priorities are:
- Nurturing community arts
- Community capital projects
- Enhancing the lives of children and their families
- Encouraging civic progress
- Protecting the environment
- Strengthening philanthropy
The foundation's grant-making focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 170 grants totaling approximately $5.1 million in 2023.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $50,000 to $500,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, Colorado, and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $147.7 million to $162.4 million (2023-2024)
Annual Giving: $4.78 million to $5.14 million
Revenue (2023): $1,037,790
Expenses (2023): $8,879,633
Minimum Annual Charitable Spending: The foundation's minimum annual charitable spending is typically 5% of the foundation's average assets over the previous 12 months.
Contact Information:
- Address: 40 Pearl Street NW, Suite 1100, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3028
- Phone: 616-451-0303
- Website: freyfdn.org
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $162,397,904 | $147,686,324 | $132,169,982 |
| Revenue | $907,876 | $1,037,790 | $10,252,540 |
| Expenses | $7,453,999 | $8,879,633 | $7,809,037 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,730,528 | $7,424,479 | $7,646,444 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,518,376 | $1,830,683 | $8,779,261 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,812,924 | $6,779,390 | $7,004,817 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Frey Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Children's Healing Center ($100,000), Downtown Grand Rapids Inc ($75,000), Diatribe Inc ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Acrosstown Repertory Theater Gainesville, FL | General Fund | $500 |
| Amplify GR Grand Rapids, MI | Boston Square Community Ownership Pilot | $21,500 |
| AOPA Foundation Frederick, MD | General operating support | $500 |
| AQUME Foundation Wyoming, MI | 2024 Annual Gold Gala | $1,000 |
| Arbor Circle Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $1,500 |
| Arts Marketplace at Studio Park Grand Rapids, MI | Business Development Resources for Women and Minority Owned Small Businesses | $10,000 |
| Be Cafe ADA, MI | General Operating | $4,000 |
| Beaver Island Community School Beaver Island, MI | Childcare Landscape Assessment | $2,400 |
| Blandford Nature Center Grand Rapids, MI | Acorns to Oak | $2,000 |
| Blandford Nature Center Grand Rapids, MI | General operating support | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Holly Johnson: President
- Mary Frey Bennett: Vice Chair
- Carol Wolfe: Director
- Lynnette J Robinson: Program Director / Program Officer
- Tyler J. Crawford: Chief Financial and Operations Officer
- Christina B Gill: Executive Assistant / Program Assistant
- Sarah J Mix: Program Associate
The foundation employs 7-8 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Frey Foundation fund?
The Frey Foundation's priorities are: 1. Nurturing community arts 2. Community capital projects 3. Enhancing the lives of children and their families 4. Encouraging civic progress 5. Protecting the environment 6. Strengthening philanthropy The foundation's grant-making focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from Frey Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $50,000 to $500,000. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Grand Action Foundation 20: $500,000 (Acrisure Amphitheater in Downtown Grand Rapids) • Grand Valley State University: $500,000 (Fully Endow the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy) • Davenport University: $315,000 (Casa Latina Program) The foundation made 170 grants totaling approximately $5.1 million in 2023. **Organizational Values:** The foundation emphasizes trustworthiness, transparency, …
Where does Frey Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, Colorado, and Florida.
What size grants does Frey Foundation award?
In 2024, Frey Foundation awarded 195 grants totaling $4.8M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Frey Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Frey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Frey Foundation's EIN?
Frey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7094777. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frey 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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