Higher Hopes Foundation Inc
Higher Hopes Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. It supports nonprofit organizations through donations, with 2025 grantmaking concentrated in Michigan.
Higher Hopes Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Higher Hopes Foundation Inc gave $123K across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $123,106
- +88.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,759
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,676
- +0.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Higher Hopes Foundation Inc
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 210 W Pickard St, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: (989) 546-4097
Website: https://www.higherhopesgiving.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Higher Hopes Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Last Prisoner Project ($17K). Together the top 10 received $55K.
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 105 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 81% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 14% to Colorado, 3% to North Carolina, and 1% each to New York and Indiana. The foundation’s website describes its giving as supporting local nonprofits in communities where its businesses operate.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
Cities
How Higher Hopes Foundation Inc gives
- 16% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $65K (2024) to $123K (2025). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $123K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Last Prisoner Project Denver, CO | General Operations | $17,219 |
| Angels of Hope Shelby Township, MI | General Operations | $6,000 |
| Paws for Humanity Three Oaks, MI | General Operations | $5,000 |
| Autoimmune Association Clinton Township, MI | General Operations | $4,000 |
| Great Lakes Bay Pride (Bay) Bay City, MI | General Operations | $4,000 |
| Ladies of Hope Ministries Charlotte, NC | General Operations | $4,000 |
| Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan Farmington Hills, MI | General Operations | $4,000 |
| Turning Point Mt Clemens, MI | General Operations | $4,000 |
| Headwaters Land Conservancy Gaylord, MI | General Operations | $3,887 |
| Affirmations Community Center Ferndale, MI | General Operations | $3,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,676 | $133,960 | $132,391 | $123,106 | 70 | $132,391 | $548 |
| 2024 | $1,662 | $74,850 | $74,943 | $65,230 | 35 | $65,230 | $396 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Higher Hopes Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $548 for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website says it believes in community and aims to support community growth through donations and volunteerism. It describes its giving as supporting causes aligned with its values and creating local impact.
Its 2025 grants included general-operations support for organizations working in varied areas. For example, Last Prisoner Project describes its mission as cannabis criminal justice reform; Turning Point says it empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence; and Headwaters Land Conservancy says it works to protect natural areas in northeast Michigan. Other grantees include organizations whose stated missions address LGBTQ+ community connection, veteran support, food and essential needs, and temporary housing.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 70 grants totaling $123,106. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $17,219, with a median of $1,000. In 2024, it reported 35 grants totaling $65,230. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 70 grants totaling $123,106.
The largest 2025 grant was $17,219 to Last Prisoner Project for general operations. Other notable grants included $6,000 to Angels of Hope, $5,000 to Paws for Humanity, and $4,000 each to Autoimmune Association, Great Lakes Bay Pride, Ladies of Hope Ministries, Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan, and Turning Point. The foundation also gave $3,887 to Headwaters Land Conservancy and $3,000 to Affirmations Community Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Julie Moorehead as board chair/president, Scott Moorehead as vice president, Stephanie Kern as treasurer, Katie Wiley as secretary, and Brelynn Woodrick as assistant to the board chair. Directors listed are Daniel Johnson, Molly VanSyckle, Matthew Weiland, Zach Shepp, and Mike Stump.
Higher Hopes Foundation Inc is led by Julie Moorehead, Board Chair & President on every filing since 2024; none of the 12 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Julie Moorehead
Board Chair & President
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Weiland
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Molly Vansyckle
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alex Dana
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Buczysnki
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Stump
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zach Shepp
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Wiley
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Moorehead
Vice President
President → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Kern
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brelynn Woodrick
Assistant to the Board Chair
On filings since 2024
25 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jeff Buczynski (2023) — Director
- Former: Zachary Shepp (2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "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 Higher Hopes Foundation Inc
How much does Higher Hopes Foundation Inc give each year?
Higher Hopes Foundation Inc gave $123K across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $65K across 35 grants.
What is Higher Hopes Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Higher Hopes Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,759, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Higher Hopes Foundation Inc give grants?
Higher Hopes Foundation Inc gives mostly in Michigan: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (8 grants), Muskegon, MI (7 grants), Mount Pleasant, MI (3 grants) and Kalamazoo, MI (3 grants).
Does Higher Hopes Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Higher Hopes Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (70 of 70) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Higher Hopes Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Higher Hopes Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Last Prisoner Project ($17,219), Angels of Hope ($6,000) and Paws for Humanity ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Higher Hopes Foundation Inc?
Higher Hopes Foundation Inc reported $2K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $132K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $548 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Higher Hopes Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s website says it believes in community and aims to support community growth through donations and volunteerism. It describes its giving as supporting causes aligned with its values and creating local impact. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Higher Hopes Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Higher Hopes Foundation Inc's EIN?
Higher Hopes Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-3309903. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Does Higher Hopes Foundation Inc 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.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Higher Hopes Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/higher-hopes-foundation-inc-morg_3b51efa517f6467382252f3aa9620af7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_923309903_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Higher Hopes Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/higher-hopes-foundation-inc-morg_3b51efa517f6467382252f3aa9620af7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Higher Hopes Foundation Inc'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.
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