Graham R Putnam Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Dexter, MI EIN: 36-4188818

The Graham R Putnam Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Dexter, Michigan. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable, religious, and educational organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Michigan.

Key facts about Graham R Putnam Family Foundation

In short: Graham R Putnam Family Foundation gave $281K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Michigan. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
36-4188818
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$281,000
Grants made (2025)
30
Average grant
$9,367
Median grant
$5,500
New grantees (estimate)
27% first-time grantees (8 of 30, 2025)
Total assets
$3,063,375
Primary geography
Michigan (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
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. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.1M

-4.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$281K

-1.7% YoY

Grant Count

30

+15.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9K

-14.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Graham R Putnam Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $292K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Graham R Putnam Family Foundation open to new grantees?

27%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 8 of 30 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $11K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $9K repeat.

  • 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 251% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working in areas such as housing, reproductive health care, hunger and poverty relief, education, disaster relief, and religious activities.

The grantees describe their work in varied ways. Planned Parenthood of Michigan says it works to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health care through medical services, education, and advocacy. Faith in Action says it provides essential support to alleviate hunger and poverty. Community Action House describes providing food, clothing, shelter, and opportunities for families and individuals. Other supported organizations include Growing Hope, which describes fostering an equitable and sustainable local food system, and Washtenaw Literacy, which provides free literacy support through volunteer tutors.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 30 grants totaling $281,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $25,000, with a median of $5,500. Notable grants included $25,000 each to Habitat for Humanity in Ann Arbor and Planned Parenthood of Michigan; $20,000 each to United Methodist Committee on Relief and Faith in Action; and $17,000 to West Side Church. Other grants included $15,000 each to the University of Michigan Alumni Association, the American Red Cross, and Chelsea First United Methodist; and $10,000 each to Encore Musical Theater, the University of Michigan, Resilience, and Hope Western Prison Education Program.

How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, Michigan recipients received 86% of grant dollars. Recipients in Georgia received 7%, Indiana 3%, Illinois 2%, and California 2%.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.

Cities

Ann ArborChelseaHollandAtlantaRiver ForestLansingYpsilantiDexterIndianapolisFort WayneGrand HavenOaklandHowellNew YorkWashingtonWixom

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K11 grants2021 11 grants2022 11 grants2023 26 grants2024 30 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $71K (2023) to $286K (2024). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $281K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Habitat for Humanity: $25KHabitat for Humanity$25KPlanned Parenthood of Michigan: $25KPlanned Parenthood of Michigan$25KUnited Methodist Commitee on Relief: $20KUnited Methodist Commitee onRelief$20KFaith in Action: $20KFaith in Action$20KWest Side Church: $17KWest Side Church$17KUniversity of Michigan Alumni Assoc: $15KUniversity of Michigan AlumniAssoc$15KAmerican Red Cross: $15KAmerican Red Cross$15KChelsea First United Methodist: $15KChelsea First United Methodist$15KEncore Musical Theater: $10KEncore Musical Theater$10KUniversity of Michigan Marsal School of Education: $10KUniversity of Michigan MarsalSchool of Education$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was Habitat for Humanity ($25K). Together the top 10 received $172K.

Grant Size Distribution

89 grants across all recorded years

88<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 89 (99%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Habitat for Humanity Ann Arbor, MICharitable$25,000
Planned Parenthood of Michigan Ann Arbor, MICharitable$25,000
United Methodist Commitee on Relief Atlanta, GACharitable$20,000
Faith in Action Chelsea, MICharitable$20,000
West Side Church Ann Arbor, MIReligious$17,000
University of Michigan Alumni Assoc Ann Arbor, MIEducational$15,000
American Red Cross Ann Arbor, MICharitable$15,000
Chelsea First United Methodist Chelsea, MICharitable$15,000
Encore Musical Theater Dexter, MICharitable$10,000
University of Michigan Marsal School of Education Ann Arbor, MIEducational$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grant total Grant count
2025 $281,000 30
2024 $286,000 26
2023 $71,000 11
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$3,063,375$3,204,350$1,101,052
Revenue$157,107$2,367,481$78,149
Expenses$285,090$291,175$76,521
Qualifying Distributions$281,000$286,000$71,000
Net Investment Income$155,189$291,132$43,175
Distributable Amount$291,543$242,467$79,728

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 1, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 9, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 12, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Kathryn Andersen Putnam as President, Elise A Putnam as Treasurer, and Elaine A True and Miles G Putnam as Directors.

Graham R Putnam Family Foundation is led by Kathryn Andersen Putnam, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Kathryn Andersen Putnam

    President

    Director → President, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Elaine A. True

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Miles G. Putnam

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Elise A. Putnam

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Graham R. Putnam (2021–2023) — Director

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.

Contact

Mailing address: 7645 Blue Gentian Ct, Dexter, MI 48130
Phone: (708) 829-9594

Frequently asked questions about Graham R Putnam Family Foundation

How much does Graham R Putnam Family Foundation give each year?

Graham R Putnam Family Foundation gave $281K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $286K across 26 grants.

What is Graham R Putnam Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Graham R Putnam Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,500, and its average grant was $9,367, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Graham R Putnam Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Graham R Putnam Family Foundation give grants?

Graham R Putnam Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ann Arbor, MI (11 grants), Holland, MI (5 grants), Ypsilanti, MI (3 grants) and Chelsea, MI (2 grants).

Does Graham R Putnam Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Graham R Putnam Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (22 grants) and "Educational" (4 grants).

Who are Graham R Putnam Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Graham R Putnam Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Habitat for Humanity ($25,000), Planned Parenthood of Michigan ($25,000) and United Methodist Commitee on Relief ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Graham R Putnam Family Foundation?

Graham R Putnam Family Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $281K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $292K (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 Graham R Putnam Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working in areas such as housing, reproductive health care, hunger and poverty relief, education, disaster relief, and religious activities. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Graham R Putnam Family 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 Graham R Putnam Family Foundation's EIN?

Graham R Putnam Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4188818. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Does Graham R Putnam 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 September 2026.

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