Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman
Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman is a private foundation based in Traverse City, Michigan. In 2025, it reported 16 grants totaling $1,772,662, all to recipients in Michigan.
Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman at a glance
In short: Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman gave $1.8M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $111K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,772,662
- +79.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +60.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $110,791
- +11.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,092,229
- -16.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% 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 Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. The filing lists Huntington National Bank as the contact, states that there is no form at present, and reports no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Huntington National Bank
Mailing address: 625 S Garfield Ave, Traverse City, MI 49686
Phone: (231) 941-6198
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alma College ($1.6M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 34 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman gives
- 27% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 303% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 467% of 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $410K (2023) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alma College Alma, MI | Charitable Gift Match | $1,500,000 |
| Alma College Alma, MI | General Fund | $100,000 |
| City Opera House Traverse City, MI | General Fund | $67,662 |
| Cadillac Rotary Charities Cadillac, MI | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Cherryland Humane Society Traverse City, MI | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Elk Rapids District Library Elk Rapids, MI | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Little Rascals Cat Sanctuary Inc Manistee, MI | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Oasis Family Resource Center Cadillac, MI | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Traverse City Philharmonic Traverse City, MI | General Fund | $10,000 |
| WCMU Public Media Mt Pleasant, MI | General Fund | $10,000 |
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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 | $5,092,229 | $865,049 | $1,849,353 | $1,772,662 | 16 | $1,792,166 | $811,353 | $383,599 |
| 2024 | $6,076,533 | $263,910 | $1,080,955 | $990,000 | 10 | $1,013,945 | $199,344 | $461,853 |
| 2023 | $6,893,578 | $207,717 | $490,380 | $410,000 | 4 | $431,346 | $148,683 | $430,380 |
| 2022 | $7,176,241 | $28,239 | $526,343 | $440,000 | 2 | $461,641 | $107,677 | $442,676 |
| 2021 | $7,652,042 | $295,277 | $530,150 | $440,000 | 2 | $463,711 | $229,926 | $486,819 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman reported a distributable amount of $384K 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 included support for Alma College, City Opera House, Cherryland Humane Society, libraries, public media organizations, and other charitable organizations.
Alma College describes its mission as preparing graduates “who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards.” Cherryland Humane Society says it provides a safe harbor for animals and works to find them responsible, loving, permanent homes while advancing animal well-being. The Women’s Resource Center describes its mission as protecting, sheltering, and empowering people impacted by domestic and sexual violence.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $1,772,662. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $1,500,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest awards were $1,500,000 to Alma College for a charitable gift match and $100,000 to Alma College for its general fund. Other notable grants included $67,662 to City Opera House and $10,000 each to several organizations, including Cherryland Humane Society and the Women’s Resource Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Huntington National Bank and Philip E. Rodgers Jr. as co-trustees.
Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Huntington National Bank
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$82K (2021) → $68K (2025)
Philip E. Rodgers Jr.
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $68K, to Huntington National Bank (Co-Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman
How much does Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman give each year?
Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman gave $1.8M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $990K across 10 grants.
What is Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman's typical grant size?
Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $110,791, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman give grants?
Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Traverse City, MI (6 grants), Alma, MI (2 grants), Cadillac, MI (2 grants) and Manistee, MI (2 grants).
Does Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman's largest grantees?
Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman's largest 2025 grantees include Alma College ($1,600,000 across 2 grants), City Opera House ($67,662) and Cadillac Rotary Charities ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman?
Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $384K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Alma College, City Opera House, Cherryland Humane Society, libraries, public media organizations, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman's EIN?
Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1163711. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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 June 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-g-and-helen-i-zimmerman-morg_7addc9404a7c47ad9cbfb565a53570d8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_831163711_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-g-and-helen-i-zimmerman-morg_7addc9404a7c47ad9cbfb565a53570d8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. 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 Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman'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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