James a and Faith Knight Foundation
The James A. and Faith Knight Foundation is a private foundation based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, established in 1999 to honor James A. and Faith Knight. It supports nonprofit organizations, with giving focused on Jackson and Washtenaw Counties.
Key facts about James a and Faith Knight Foundation
In short: James a and Faith Knight Foundation gave $939K across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in Michigan. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 38-3465904
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $939,169
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- Average grant
- $22,361
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (8 of 42, 2024)
- Total assets
- $12,792,454
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website lists an application period of January 31 through September 30, 2026, and says applications received after…
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.8M
+2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$939K
+10.5% YoY
Grant Count
42
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-7.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James a and Faith Knight Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is James a and Faith Knight Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 42 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). 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 says it seeks to make a difference in the organizations and communities it serves. Its priorities include unrestricted general operating support; programs that care for animals, protect ecosystems, or educate people about ecological communities; and programs that advance women’s and girls’ economic self-sufficiency, public-policy and advocacy efforts, human rights, and equality.
Its 2024 grants illustrate support for organizations working in varied areas. Food Gatherers describes its mission as alleviating hunger and addressing its root causes in Washtenaw County. Children’s Healing Center says it provides a safe, engaging environment for children with weakened immune systems. Planned Parenthood of Michigan describes its work as ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health care through services, education, and advocacy. Neutral Zone describes itself as a youth-driven community focused on creativity, equity, and justice.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 42 grants totaling $939,169. Awards ranged from $1,500 to $57,300, with a median grant of $20,000. It reported 35 grants totaling $849,837 in 2023 and 33 grants totaling $961,100 in 2022.
Review Cycle
The website lists an application period of January 31 through September 30, 2026, and says applications received after the deadline will be deferred to the first quarter of 2027. The 2024 filing lists October 31 as the deadline.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from James a and Faith Knight Foundation
Ready to take the next step with James a and Faith Knight Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that its giving is focused on Jackson and Washtenaw Counties in Michigan. All 2024 grant dollars were reported as going to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $748K (2019) to $961K (2022). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $939K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Women's Center of Southeast Michiga ($57K). Together the top 10 received $390K.
Grant Size Distribution
173 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 156 grants of 173 (90%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Women's Center of Southeast Michiga Ann Arbor, MI | To Help Provide Free or Affordable M | $57,300 |
| Children's Healing Center Ypsilanti, MI | To Help with Costs Associated with T | $50,000 |
| Food Gatherers Ann Arbor, MI | To Help with General Operating Expen | $50,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | To Help Provide General Operating Su | $45,000 |
| Michigan League of Conservation VOT Ann Arbor, MI | To Support the Engagement and Educa | $40,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valle Ann Arbor, MI | To Help with Cost Associated with Wo | $35,000 |
| Neutral Zone Ann Arbor, MI | To Help Support the After School DRO | $30,000 |
| Safehouse Center Ann Arbor, MI | To Help Provide General Operating Su | $30,000 |
| Bird Center of Washtenaw County Ann Arbor, MI | To Help with the General Operating E | $28,000 |
| 826 Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | To Help with General Operating Expen | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants reported | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $939,169 | 42 |
| 2023 | $849,837 | 35 |
| 2022 | $961,100 | 33 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,792,454 | $12,517,276 | $12,234,571 |
| Revenue | $1,383,661 | $1,304,972 | $766,675 |
| Expenses | $182,277 | $175,211 | $1,134,473 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,005,150 | $928,310 | $1,024,352 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,286,038 | $1,208,808 | $650,406 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,004,603 | $916,693 | $901,948 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 22, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Carol Knight-Drain as president, Scott Drain as treasurer, and Christopher Ballard as secretary.
James a and Faith Knight Foundation is led by Carol A. Knight-Drain, President on every filing since 2019; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carol A. Knight-Drain
President
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$20K (2019) → $35K (2024)
Scott Drain
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$10K (2019) → $10K (2024)
Christopher Ballard
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $35K, to Carol Knight-Drain (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: James A And Faith Knight Foundation
Mailing address: 180 Little Lake Drive Suite 6B, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: (734) 769-5653
Email: www.communitygrants.org
Website: https://knightfoundationmi.org
Frequently asked questions about James a and Faith Knight Foundation
How much does James a and Faith Knight Foundation give each year?
James a and Faith Knight Foundation gave $939K across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $850K across 35 grants.
What is James a and Faith Knight Foundation's typical grant size?
James a and Faith Knight Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $22,361, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James a and Faith Knight Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does James a and Faith Knight Foundation give grants?
James a and Faith Knight Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ann Arbor, MI (29 grants), Ypsilanti, MI (7 grants) and Jackson, MI (2 grants).
Does James a and Faith Knight Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 55% of James a and Faith Knight Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James a and Faith Knight Foundation's largest grantees?
James a and Faith Knight Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Women's Center of Southeast Michiga ($57,300), Children's Healing Center ($50,000) and Food Gatherers ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is James a and Faith Knight Foundation?
James a and Faith Knight Foundation reported $12.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James a and Faith Knight Foundation fund?
The foundation says it seeks to make a difference in the organizations and communities it serves. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James a and Faith Knight Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing 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 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.
Does James a and Faith Knight 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.
Here's the math on researching James a and Faith Knight Foundation by hand.
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