Happy Buddha Foundation
Happy Buddha Foundation is a private foundation, based in Traverse City, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $287K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $28K. Net investment income was $9K.
Happy Buddha Foundation at a glance
In short: Happy Buddha Foundation gave $28K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $28,000
- -25.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,600
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $287,345
- -6.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Happy Buddha Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Grand Traverse Conservation District ($25K). Together the top 5 received $28K.
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 39 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Happy Buddha Foundation gives
- Giving grew 78% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 187% of 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2019) to $38K (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $28K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse Conservation District Traverse City, MI | Ottawa Crossing | $25,000 |
| American Cancer Society Lansing, MI | General | $1,000 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Bentley Fund for Public Outreach - 339248 | $1,000 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy Traverse City, MI | Conservancy Fund | $500 |
| Leelanau Conservancy Leland, MI | General | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $287,345 | $11,205 | $30,192 | $28,000 | 5 | $28,020 | $8,712 | $14,972 |
| 2024 | $306,332 | $59,120 | $38,843 | $37,500 | 7 | $37,520 | $21,619 | $13,790 |
| 2023 | $286,055 | $49,108 | $23,670 | $22,250 | 8 | $22,270 | $11,378 | $12,461 |
| 2022 | $260,617 | $59,515 | $16,963 | $15,750 | 7 | $15,770 | $22,284 | $12,187 |
| 2021 | $218,065 | $37,397 | $31,111 | $30,250 | 12 | $30,270 | $1,267 | $13,530 |
| 2020 | $211,779 | $39,411 | $19,487 | $18,685 | 10 | — | $2,574 | $10,124 |
| 2019 | $191,855 | $40,260 | $11,186 | $10,500 | 8 | — | $3,503 | $9,747 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Happy Buddha Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Happy Buddha Foundation is led by Harvey Calcutt, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Harvey Calcutt
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn A. Prugh
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Park
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Happy Buddha Foundation
How much does Happy Buddha Foundation give each year?
Happy Buddha Foundation gave $28K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $38K across 7 grants.
What is Happy Buddha Foundation's typical grant size?
Happy Buddha Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $5,600, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Happy Buddha Foundation give grants?
Happy Buddha Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Traverse City, MI (2 grants).
Does Happy Buddha Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 40% of Happy Buddha Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Happy Buddha Foundation's largest grantees?
Happy Buddha Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Grand Traverse Conservation District ($25,000), American Cancer Society ($1,000) and Regents of the University of Michigan ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Happy Buddha Foundation?
Happy Buddha Foundation reported $287K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $28K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Happy Buddha Foundation's EIN?
Happy Buddha Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2401287. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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