Gilbert Family Foundation
The Gilbert Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan. Founded by Dan and Jennifer Gilbert in 2015, it supports work to build opportunity for Detroiters and accelerate a cure for neurofibromatosis (NF), with its research efforts focused primarily on NF1.
Gilbert Family Foundation at a glance
- Revenue (2024)
- $18,965
- +2128.6% vs 2023
- Qualifying distributions (2024)
- $19,707
- -89.6% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $19,707
- -89.6% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Gilbert Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; its website says it sometimes issues RFPs.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1074 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226-1906
Phone: (313) 782-9500
Website: https://gilbertfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gilbert Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 112 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its opportunity-building work as focused on Detroit residents and Detroit communities. Its other stated focus is NF research; the supplied information does not specify a broader geographic scope for that work.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Gilbert Family Foundation gives
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2022) to $27.6M (2021). In 2022 it made 9 grants totaling $45K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Muscular Dystrophy Association Inc Chicago, IL | General | $10,000 |
| Ilitch Charities Inc Detroit, MI | General | $10,000 |
| Detroit Children's Fund Detroit, MI | General | $10,000 |
| Kadima Southfield, MI | General | $5,000 |
| Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Wynnewood, PA | General | $5,000 |
| Children's Tumor Foundation New York, NY | Scientific | $2,500 |
| Henry Ford Health System Detroit, MI | General | $1,500 |
| Cranbrook Educational Community Bloomfield Hills, MI | Educational | $500 |
| Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | General | $250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing is marked as the organization’s final return.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | $18,965 | $19,707 | — | — | $19,707 | — | $33 |
| 2023 | $1,836 | $851 | $189,317 | — | — | $189,317 | $720 | $65,288 |
| 2022 | $1,691,057 | $11,309,800 | $394,458 | $44,750 | 9 | $1,996,342 | $11,171,910 | $2,916,132 |
| 2021 | $122,833,560 | $20,538,766 | $53,406,336 | $27,590,787 | 63 | $28,836,656 | $7,537,569 | $5,626,270 |
| 2020 | $127,377,974 | $-1,439,658 | $15,328,279 | $13,545,534 | 40 | — | $1,815,696 | $5,937,030 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gilbert Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its mission as building opportunity for Detroiters and accelerating a cure for neurofibromatosis. Its Detroit work includes housing stability, economic mobility, public spaces, and arts and culture. Its NF research initiatives include gene therapy, vision restoration, brain tumor research, and next-generation NF1 models.
The 2022 grantees illustrate varied support. The Muscular Dystrophy Association describes its work as advancing research, care, and advocacy for people with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. Detroit Children’s Fund says it invests in schools and educators to expand access to excellent education for children in Detroit. Other 2022 recipients included Ilitch Charities, which supports children and family programs in health, recreation, and education; the Children’s Tumor Foundation, whose mission is to drive research, expand knowledge, and advance care for the NF community; and Henry Ford Health, which says its mission is to improve people’s lives through health care and healing.
Grantmaking
The filing reports nine grants totaling $44,750 in 2022. The listed recipients include the Muscular Dystrophy Association ($10,000), Detroit Children’s Fund ($10,000), Ilitch Charities ($10,000), Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation ($5,000), Kadima ($5,000), the Children’s Tumor Foundation ($2,500), Henry Ford Health System ($1,500), and Cranbrook Educational Community ($500). These listed amounts total $44,500; the filing reports nine grants, and the supplied recipient list names eight organizations.
The filings report no grants in 2023 or 2024. The foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited grant applications and sometimes issues requests for proposals. A Brain Tumor Initiative RFP dated January 2026 is a past announcement as of October 2, 2026; the supplied information does not state a deadline. In light of the final 2024 filing, these application details should not be treated as current instructions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Daniel B. Gilbert and Jennifer Gilbert as trustees, Matthew Rizik as treasurer, and Laura Grannemann as executive director.
Gilbert Family Foundation is led by Laura Grannemann, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Laura Grannemann
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel B. Gilbert
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Gilbert
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Rizik
Treasurer
Chief Tax Officer → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joyce Keller (2020–2021) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Gilbert Family Foundation
What does Gilbert Family Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its mission as building opportunity for Detroiters and accelerating a cure for neurofibromatosis. Its Detroit work includes housing stability, economic mobility, public spaces, and arts and culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gilbert Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; its website says it sometimes issues RFPs. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Gilbert Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation describes its opportunity-building work as focused on Detroit residents and Detroit communities. Its other stated focus is NF research; the supplied information does not specify a broader geographic scope for that work.
How much is Gilbert Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gilbert Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gilbert Family Foundation's EIN?
Gilbert Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0810541. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Gilbert Family 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Gilbert Family 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.
Gilbert Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?