Lavery Foundation
The Lavery Foundation is a private foundation based in Jackson, Michigan. It financially supports organizations working to make a positive difference in the community, with stated focus areas that include economic development, education, youth development, arts and cultural development, and animal welfare.
Lavery Foundation at a glance
In short: Lavery Foundation gave $47K across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Michigan. 39% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $47,300
- +99.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- +230.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,433
- -39.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $750
- Total assets
- $1,015,543
- +3.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (13 of 33, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (94% 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 Lavery Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 830 Browns Lake Road, Jackson, MI 49201
Phone: (517) 937-6158
Website: https://www.lavery.foundation
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lavery Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jackson County Parks ($16K). Together the top 10 received $35K.
Grant Size Distribution
125 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 125 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan. Massachusetts, Colorado, and Tennessee each accounted for 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lavery Foundation open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 33 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $869; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $875 repeat.
- 15% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 44% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% 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 (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 $24K (2023) to $84K (2021). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $47K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson County Parks Jackson, MI | General Fund | $16,000 |
| Jackson Interfaith Shelter Jackson, MI | General | $5,000 |
| Jackson Young Professionals Jackson, MI | General | $3,000 |
| Grow Jackson Jackson, MI | General | $2,500 |
| Jackson Symphony Orchestra Jackson, MI | General Fund | $2,500 |
| Together We Make a Difference Jackson, MI | General | $2,000 |
| Acnm Foundation Cambridge, MA | General | $1,000 |
| Air Force Academy Foundation Air Force Academy, CO | General Fund | $1,000 |
| Arts Culture Alliance Knoxville, TN | General Fund | $1,000 |
| Ella Sharp Museum Jackson, MI | General Fund | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,015,543 | $6,454 | $50,328 | $47,300 | 33 | $47,300 | $4,093 | $49,045 |
| 2023 | $978,449 | $5,985 | $35,824 | $23,748 | 10 | $23,748 | $13,827 | $45,132 |
| 2022 | $875,221 | $15,961 | $64,095 | $53,187 | 29 | $53,187 | $22,442 | $47,511 |
| 2021 | $1,114,797 | $56,623 | $92,669 | $84,325 | 35 | $84,325 | $9,072 | $53,137 |
| 2020 | $1,076,282 | $1,002,945 | $43,990 | $37,903 | 18 | — | $8,195 | $27,621 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lavery Foundation reported a distributable amount of $49K 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 foundation identifies economic development, education, youth development, arts and cultural development, and animal welfare as areas of focus.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with a range of community roles. Jackson Interfaith Shelter says it provides temporary shelter and other essential resources to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Jackson Symphony Orchestra describes its aim as being an innovative and successful music arts organization. Grow Jackson says it empowers the community through gardens, fresh food access, and education, including hands-on food-growing experience for young people. Cascades Humane Society says it works to promote responsible animal treatment and quality animal care.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 33 grants totaling $47,300. Grants ranged from $100 to $16,000, with a median of $750. Notable awards included $16,000 to Jackson County Parks, $5,000 to Jackson Interfaith Shelter, $3,000 to Jackson Young Professionals, $2,500 each to Grow Jackson and Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and $2,000 to Together We Make a Difference.
The foundation’s website asks prospective organizations to submit a letter of intent to begin the application process and says it uses the Council of Michigan Foundations common letter of intent and application. Its 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kevin Lavery as president and Kathleen Lavery as vice president.
Lavery Foundation is led by Kevin Lavery, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kevin Lavery
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kathleen Lavery
Vice President
On filings since 2020
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 Lavery Foundation
How much does Lavery Foundation give each year?
Lavery Foundation gave $47K across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $24K across 10 grants.
What is Lavery Foundation's typical grant size?
Lavery Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $750, and its average grant was $1,433, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lavery Foundation that year got $869 on average.
Where does Lavery Foundation give grants?
Lavery Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Jackson, MI (22 grants) and Ann Arbor, MI (2 grants).
Does Lavery Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Lavery Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lavery Foundation's largest grantees?
Lavery Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jackson County Parks ($16,000), Jackson Interfaith Shelter ($5,000) and Jackson Young Professionals ($3,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lavery Foundation?
Lavery Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $47K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $49K (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 Lavery Foundation fund?
The foundation identifies economic development, education, youth development, arts and cultural development, and animal welfare as areas of focus. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lavery Foundation?
Lavery Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check lavery.foundation for any change to that policy.
What is Lavery Foundation's EIN?
Lavery Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3881800. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lavery 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
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