Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation
The Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation is a private foundation based in Rochester, Michigan. Its 2024 filing reports 22 grants totaling $462,500, primarily to organizations in Michigan.
Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation at a glance
In short: Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation gave $463K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), mostly in Michigan. 68% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $462,500
- +14.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +120.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,023
- -48.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $7,149,358
- -6.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 68% first-time grantees (15 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5585 Orchard Ridge Drive, Rochester, MI 48306
Phone: (248) 377-3826
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Wayne State University ($200K). Together the top 10 received $443K.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 62 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 2% to recipients in New York. The listed grants also include recipients in New Jersey and California, each representing 0% of grant dollars when rounded as reported.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation open to new grantees?
68%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 22 grantees (68%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 80% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $250K (2020) to $1.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $463K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne State University Detroit, MI | General Support | $200,000 |
| Beyond Basics Farmington Hills, MI | General Support | $50,000 |
| Detroit Goodfellows Detroit, MI | General Support | $50,000 |
| Forgotten Harvest Oak Park, MI | General Support | $50,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Rochester Rochester, MI | For Veteran Tribute Pavers | $22,800 |
| Justice for Lily Metamora, MI | General Support | $20,000 |
| New Wine Ministries Waterford, MI | General Support | $20,000 |
| Brilliant Detriot Detroit, MI | General Support | $10,000 |
| Detroit PBS Wixom, MI | General Support | $10,000 |
| Innocence Project New York, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Joe & Pamela Kay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,149,358 | $373,211 | $504,543 | $462,500 | 22 | $466,720 | $344,100 | $360,045 |
| 2023 | $7,625,633 | $908,674 | $458,341 | $404,000 | 10 | $404,000 | $571,976 | $341,137 |
| 2022 | $6,895,778 | $115,088 | $1,083,217 | $1,025,500 | 14 | $1,025,500 | $57,371 | $369,326 |
| 2021 | $8,134,584 | $858,402 | $356,053 | $256,500 | 9 | $256,520 | $533,292 | $373,610 |
| 2020 | $7,592,525 | $2,894,771 | $303,482 | $250,000 | 7 | — | $341,289 | $258,387 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation reported a distributable amount of $360K for 2024 — 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 available grant list shows support for organizations working in areas including hunger relief, education and reading, community services, arts, public media, and animal rescue. These are areas represented by the listed grantees, not a stated mission of the foundation. For example, Forgotten Harvest describes its mission as relieving hunger in Metro Detroit and preventing nutritious food waste; Beyond Basics describes programs that include reading, writing, and art for students in metropolitan Detroit and throughout Michigan. The Michigan Animal Rescue League says it provides care and sanctuary for dogs and cats, alongside adoption and community education.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $462,500. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $200,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Its largest grant was $200,000 to Wayne State University for general support. Other major grants included $50,000 each to Beyond Basics, Detroit Goodfellows, and Forgotten Harvest, all for general support; and $22,800 to the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester for veteran tribute pavers.
Other 2024 grants included $20,000 each to Justice for Lily and New Wine Ministries, and $10,000 each to Brilliant Detriot and Detroit PBS. The Innocence Project received $10,000 for general support. Among smaller grants, Histiocytosis Association received $2,000, The Greening of Detroit received $1,000, and the Michigan Animal Rescue League received $200.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joseph Kowalczyk as president/director, Pamela Pitchford as secretary/director, and Dorothea Predoehl as treasurer/director.
Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation is led by Joseph Kowalczyk, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joseph Kowalczyk
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dorothea Predoehl
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Pitchford
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation
How much does Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation give each year?
Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation gave $463K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $404K across 10 grants.
What is Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation's typical grant size?
Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $21,023, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation give grants?
Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (5 grants), Rochester, MI (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Pontiac, MI (2 grants).
Does Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 82% of Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation's largest grantees?
Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Wayne State University ($200,000), Beyond Basics ($50,000) and Detroit Goodfellows ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation?
Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation reported $7.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $467K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $360K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation fund?
The available grant list shows support for organizations working in areas including hunger relief, education and reading, community services, arts, public media, and animal rescue. These are areas represented by the listed grantees, not a stated mission of the foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation's EIN?
Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2302048. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Joe & Pamela Kay 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joe-and-pamela-kay-foundation-morg_6a363524b3e34b2fbd7d5f1e5e7fe8c0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_842302048_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joe \& Pamela Kay Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joe-and-pamela-kay-foundation-morg_6a363524b3e34b2fbd7d5f1e5e7fe8c0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Joe & Pamela Kay 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.
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