James a and Faith Knight Foundation
The James A. and Faith Knight Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1999 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The foundation was created to honor the memory of James A. and Faith Knight and to carry on their legacy through philanthropic support to organizations and communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$939K
+10.5% YoY
Grant Count
42
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-7.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation aims to make a difference in the organizations and communities it serves. The foundation supports organizations that demonstrate good nonprofit practices, including sound financial management, developed governance practices, and clarity of mission. The foundation places particular attention on gender, diversity, and outcomes in its grantmaking decisions.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts grant applications through the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation's NonProfit Portal. For 2025, the application process opens January 31st through September 30, 2025. Applications received after the deadline will be deferred to the first quarter of 2026.
Review Cycle
will be deferred to the first quarter of 2026.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, with a particular focus on the Ann Arbor area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $12.5–$12.8 million
- Total Revenue: $1.3 million
- Total Expenses: $175,000
- Total Giving: $939,169
- Total Liabilities: $3,010
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
173 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from James a and Faith Knight Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Women's Center of Southeast Michiga ($57,300), Children's Healing Center ($50,000), Food Gatherers ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 826 MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR, MI | TO HELP WITH GENERAL OPERATING EXPEN | $25,000 |
| ANN ARBOR ACTIVE AGAINST ALS ANN ARBOR, MI | TO HELP SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION STAFF | $12,500 |
| ANN ARBOR SUMMER FESTIVAL ANN ARBOR, MI | TO HELP WITH GENERAL OPERATING EXPEN | $15,000 |
| ANN ARBOR YMCA ANN ARBOR, MI | TO HELP WITH GENERAL OPERATING EXPEN | $10,000 |
| APPLE PLAYSCHOOLS ANN ARBOR, MI | TO HELP WITH OPERATING EXPENSES FOR | $15,000 |
| ARBOR HOSPICE ANN ARBOR, MI | TO HELP WITH THE GENERAL OPERATING E | $15,000 |
| AVALON HOUSING INC ANN ARBOR, MI | TO HELP WITH THE GENERAL OPERATING E | $20,000 |
| BIRD CENTER OF WASHTENAW COUNTY ANN ARBOR, MI | TO HELP WITH THE GENERAL OPERATING E | $28,000 |
| CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY ANN ARBOR, MI | TO HELP IMPROVE AND EXPAND DIGITAL M | $16,119 |
| CHILDREN'S HEALING CENTER YPSILANTI, MI | TO HELP WITH COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH T | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Carol Knight-Drain serves as Board President and can be contacted at carol@KnightFoundationMI.org regarding funding priorities, grant decisions, and application status.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROL KNIGHT-DRAIN | PRESIDENT | 20 | $35,000 |
| SCOTT DRAIN | TREASURER | 10 | $10,000 |
| CHRISTOPHER BALLARD | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has funded notable community projects including:
Grant Programs - Ann Arbor Area Community FoundationRutherford Pool in Ypsilanti
Ann Arbor Skatepark
Food Gatherers
Habitat for Humanity Women Build
The Ark
The foundation awarded a $15,000 grant to Friends of AAPS Libraries for audiobooks.
Friends of AAPS Libraries awarded $15000 grant for audiobooksSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James a and Faith Knight Foundation fund?
The foundation aims to make a difference in the organizations and communities it serves. The foundation supports organizations that demonstrate good nonprofit practices, including sound financial management, developed governance practices, and clarity of mission. The foundation places particular attention on gender, diversity, and outcomes in its grantmaking decisions. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy and Voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from James a and Faith Knight Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,500–$57,300 • The foundation made 33 grants in 2023 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Food Gatherers: $50,000 (general operating expenses) • Planned Parenthood of Michigan: $45,000 (general operating support) • Peace Neighborhood Center: $40,000 (organizational support) **Application Process:** The foundation accepts grant applications through the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation's NonProfit Portal. For 2025, the application process opens Januar…
Where does James a and Faith Knight Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, with a particular focus on the Ann Arbor area.
What size grants does James a and Faith Knight Foundation award?
In 2024, James a and Faith Knight Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $939K — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is James a and Faith Knight Foundation's EIN?
James a and Faith Knight Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3465904. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James a and Faith Knight Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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