Hackett Family Foundation
The Jim & Kathy Hackett Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It says its mission is to inspire hope in people society is leaving behind and help them rise above the limitations of their circumstances. Its grantmaking supports education, healthcare, and basic needs, with 2025 grants going to organizations in several states.
Key facts about Hackett Family Foundation
In short: Hackett Family Foundation gave $765K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 87-3913508
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $765,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- Average grant
- $33,261
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $2,950,747
- Primary geography
- Michigan (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website lists April 3–May 31 as the application cycle; this is a past cycle.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. 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
$3.0M
-3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$765K
+218.8% YoY
Grant Count
23
+228.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
-3.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hackett Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $180K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Hackett Family Foundation gives
- 13% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 512% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 439% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to inspire hope in those society is leaving behind, one person or family at a time, and help them unlock their promise and rise above their circumstances. Its focus areas are education, healthcare, and basic needs. The foundation describes education support as providing scholarships, resources, and support to people who would not otherwise have access, especially women and young girls of color. Healthcare support includes services for vulnerable people, people with mental health challenges, victims of domestic abuse, and animals. Basic-needs support includes food, housing essentials, and other family needs for people living in poverty.
Its stated grant criteria emphasize serving people with the least leverage, optimistic ideas, and programs expected to deliver tangible results. Among its 2025 grantees, Community Action House describes its work as providing area families and individuals with food, clothing, shelter, and opportunities to build skills for a stable and prosperous life. Emmanuel Hospice describes its mission as providing spiritual and physical care to create a peaceful experience for people who are dying and their loved ones. The Santa Fe Institute describes its work as interdisciplinary research to advance understanding of complex systems.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $765,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $125,000, with a median of $15,000. All listed 2025 grant purposes were general operating support. The largest awards included $125,000 to Eastern Kentucky University, $100,000 each to Grand Valley State University and West Michigan United Way, $90,500 to Strickland Global Leadership, and $75,000 to Design Museum in Chicago.
Review Cycle
The website lists April 3–May 31 as the application cycle; this is a past cycle.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Western Michigan, Central Ohio, and Southern California as the regions it serves. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio, with 51% of grant dollars going to Michigan recipients, 16% to Kentucky, 12% to Pennsylvania, 10% to Illinois, and 8% to Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $125K (2022) to $765K (2025). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $765K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Eastern Kentucky University ($125K). Together the top 10 received $625K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 33 (76%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY | General Operating | $125,000 |
| Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI | General Operating | $100,000 |
| West Michigan United Way Grand Rapids, MI | General Operating | $100,000 |
| Strickland Global Leadership Pittsburgh, PA | General Operating | $90,500 |
| Design Museum in Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating | $75,000 |
| Madison County Food Pantry London, OH | General Operating | $39,500 |
| Community Action House Holland, MI | General Operating | $30,000 |
| First Presbyterian Child Center London, OH | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Pine Rest Christian Mental Grand Rapids, MI | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Football Alumni of America Ann Arbor, MI | General Operating | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,950,747 | $718,120 | $834,423 | $765,000 (23 grants) |
| 2024 | $3,067,050 | $1,377,649 | $292,363 | $240,000 (7 grants) |
| 2023 | $1,981,764 | $118,671 | $237,220 | $125,000 (1 grant) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,950,747 | $3,067,050 | $1,981,764 |
| Revenue | $718,120 | $1,377,649 | $118,671 |
| Expenses | $834,423 | $292,363 | $237,220 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $787,463 | $266,766 | $201,410 |
| Net Investment Income | $968,629 | $229,239 | $58,947 |
| Distributable Amount | $179,505 | $151,345 | $123,631 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James P Hackett as president, J Patrick Hackett Jr as treasurer, Melissa M Hackett as secretary, Alexandra Ketchum-Hackett as assistant secretary, and Marilyn Elder as executive director.
Hackett Family Foundation is led by Marilyn Elder, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marilyn Elder
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
$33K (2025)
James P. Hackett
President
President & Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Patrick Hackett Jr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa M. Hackett
Secretary
Secretary → Secrety, 2024
Secrety → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexandra Ketchum-Hackett
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Alexandra Ketchum (2021–2023) — Assistant Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $33K, to Marilyn Elder (Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 37 Ottawa Ave Nw Suite 603, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: (616) 850-0806
Website: https://www.hackettfamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Hackett Family Foundation
How much does Hackett Family Foundation give each year?
Hackett Family Foundation gave $765K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $240K across 7 grants.
What is Hackett Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Hackett Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $33,261, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Hackett Family Foundation give grants?
Hackett Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Kentucky (16%) and Pennsylvania (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (11 grants) and London, OH (2 grants).
Does Hackett Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Hackett Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Hackett Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Hackett Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Eastern Kentucky University ($125,000), Grand Valley State University ($100,000) and West Michigan United Way ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Hackett Family Foundation?
Hackett Family Foundation reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $787K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $180K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Hackett Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to inspire hope in those society is leaving behind, one person or family at a time, and help them unlock their promise and rise above their circumstances. Its focus areas are education, healthcare, and basic needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hackett Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hackett Family Foundation's EIN?
Hackett Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3913508. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Hackett Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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