Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation
The Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Michigan.
Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation gave $50K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Michigan. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $50,000
- -36.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -6.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,571
- -31.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $937,793
- +13.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (5 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation
- 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 for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3781 Darlington Rd South, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
Phone: (248) 258-6783
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was YMCA of Metro Detroit ($13K). Together the top 10 received $45K.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 76 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 10% to recipients in Tennessee, and 2% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 14 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 74% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $47K (2022) to $104K (2019). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $50K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YMCA of Metro Detroit Detroit, MI | To put judeo-christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all | $13,000 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Mott Giving Team | $5,000 |
| Breakthrough Foundation Memphis, TN | To Promote Education | $5,000 |
| The Chadtough Foundation Saline, MI | Fund research and bring awareness to pediatric brain tumors | $5,000 |
| Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars Foundation Detroit, MI | To Promote Education | $5,000 |
| Detroit Children's Center Detroit, MI | To help children and families shape their own futures. | $2,500 |
| Detroit Zoological Society Royal Oak, MI | To demonstrate extraordinary leadership in conservation, animal welfare, education and environmental sustainability | $2,500 |
| Forgotten Harvest Oak Park, MI | To Relieve Hunger in the Detroit Metropolitan Community | $2,500 |
| Senior Mens Club of Birmingham Foundation Birmingham, MI | To Promote Education and Cultural Engagement | $2,500 |
| Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Detroit, MI | Improvement, operation, maintenance, security, programming and expansion of the detroit river walk and associated green spaces. | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation?
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 | $937,793 | $165,700 | $52,490 | $50,000 | 14 | $51,245 | $16,231 | $69,207 |
| 2024 | $824,583 | $89,382 | $84,759 | $78,500 | 15 | $78,500 | $15,973 | $57,624 |
| 2023 | $819,961 | $90,665 | $56,930 | $52,250 | 16 | $52,250 | $75,790 | $47,136 |
| 2022 | $786,226 | $145,278 | $51,415 | $47,000 | 16 | $47,000 | $29,881 | $45,222 |
| 2021 | $692,363 | $10,907 | $55,749 | $50,500 | 15 | $50,500 | $10,907 | $44,547 |
| 2020 | $737,205 | $140,251 | $117,398 | $80,000 | 10 | — | $8,947 | $62,811 |
| 2019 | $2,062,352 | $546,379 | $120,015 | $104,000 | 28 | — | $581,488 | $86,943 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $69K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education, hunger relief, health research, youth and family services, conservation, and community spaces.
Grantees describe their own work in varied ways. Forgotten Harvest says its mission is to relieve hunger in Metro Detroit and prevent nutritious food waste. The Detroit Zoological Society says it aims to connect people, animals, and the natural world so all can thrive. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy describes its work as establishing, improving, operating, maintaining, and expanding the Detroit Riverwalk and associated green spaces. Beyond Basics says it offers reading, writing, art, and enrichment programs to students in metropolitan Detroit and across Michigan.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $50,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $13,000, with a median of $2,500.
Notable grants included $13,000 to YMCA of Metro Detroit; $5,000 each to the University of Michigan, Breakthrough Foundation, the ChadTough Foundation, and Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars Foundation; and $2,500 each to Detroit Children’s Center, Detroit Zoological Society, Forgotten Harvest, and Senior Men’s Club of Birmingham Foundation. Other reported grants included $2,000 to Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and Capuchin Soup Kitchen, and $1,000 to Lafayette College. Beyond Basics also reported receiving $1,000 in 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joanne S. Carter as president and chairman; John C. Carter as vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer; and Megan E. Carter and David J. Carter as vice presidents and directors.
Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation is led by Joanne S. Carter, President & Chairman since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joanne S. Carter
President & Chairman
Vice President & Director → President & Chairman, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David J. Carter
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan E. Carter
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John C. Carter
Vice Chairman, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Caroline Schwartz (2019) — Vice President & Secretary
- Former: Robert G. Schwartz (2019) — President & Treasurer
- Former: Robert G. Schwartz Jr. (2019) — Vice President & Director
- Former: Tracy Scwartz Parks (2019) — Vice President & Director
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 Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation
How much does Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation give each year?
Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation gave $50K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $79K across 15 grants.
What is Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,571, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation give grants?
Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (6 grants).
Does Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Promote Education" (3 grants).
Who are Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include YMCA of Metro Detroit ($13,000), University of Michigan ($5,000) and Breakthrough Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation?
Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation reported $938K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $69K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education, hunger relief, health research, youth and family services, conservation, and community spaces. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation's EIN?
Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3386282. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Joanne and John Carter Family 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 22, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
FCA Foundation
Auburn Hills, MI
FCA Foundation supports charitable organizations, with its 2024 grant funding literacy and college-and-career programs in Toledo, Ohio. Its giving varies widely: the 2024 grant was $25,000, while grants in 2023 and 2022 totaled about $13 million each. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$396K
Grants
1
Total Given
$25K
Edward C and Linda Dresner Levy
Reston, VA
The foundation supports cancer research and has also funded health, education, arts and culture, early-childhood programs, Jewish studies, and Israel advocacy. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $2 million, with a median of $12,500; 89% of grant dollars went to Michigan, with smaller amounts going to organizations in other states. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$20.9M
Grants
50
Total Given
$8.9M
Deroy Testamentary Foundation
Southfield, MI
The DeRoy Testamentary Foundation funds organizations in areas including education, human services, animal welfare, health care, and the arts; its chosen agencies are primarily in the Detroit metropolitan area, though it made a major 2024 grant in Florida. In 2024, grants ranged from $258 to $15 million, with a median of $60,750. It provides application information by request through Julie Rodecker; the profile does not explicitly state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$24.8M
Grants
18
Total Given
$16.4M
Marjorie and Maxwell Jospey
Birmingham, MI
The foundation supports charitable organizations across community development, health, human services, arts and culture, and wildlife and nature, with most of its giving in Michigan. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $40,000, with a median of $2,500. It accepts requests by brochure and IRS determination letter, with no stated deadlines.
Assets
$4.4M
Grants
53
Total Given
$246K
Marvin and Betty Danto Family Foundation
Troy, MI
In 2025, the foundation supported preselected charitable organizations working in areas including music, health, human services, education, and Jewish community life; most grant dollars went to Michigan, followed by New York. Grants ranged from $3,000 to $385,000, with a median of $20,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$3.0M
The Carls Foundation
Bloomfield Hills, MI
The Carls Foundation primarily funds children’s health, welfare, and recreation programs, along with natural-area and historic preservation, and related capital projects, mainly in Michigan. Its website describes typical grants of $5,000–$50,000, though its 2024 median grant was $100,000. It accepts requests year-round and has no formal application or required letter of inquiry.
Assets
$128.7M
Grants
39
Total Given
$6.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joanne-and-john-carter-family-foundation-morg_7f18e72d0e9e49b1b090bb476802f306
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133386282_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joanne-and-john-carter-family-foundation-morg_7f18e72d0e9e49b1b090bb476802f306},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation'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.
Joanne and John Carter Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?