Margaret Dunning Foundation
The Margaret Dunning Foundation is a private foundation based in Traverse City, Michigan. It makes grants to organizations, with 90% of its 2025 grant dollars going to recipients in Michigan.
Margaret Dunning Foundation at a glance
In short: Margaret Dunning Foundation gave $1.1M across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in Michigan. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,112,000
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $33,697
- -13.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $25,238,919
- +1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (10 of 31, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (90% 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 Margaret Dunning Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written application stating its purpose. The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s website for restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s website for deadlines.
- Deadline
- The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s website for deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Mark Neithercut Neithercut Philanth
Mailing address: 125 Park Street Suite 375, Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone: (313) 568-9000
Website: https://www.margaretdunningfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Margaret Dunning Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hartland Consolidated Schools ($70K). Together the top 10 received $534K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 152 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to Michigan recipients, 4% to California, 4% to Florida, and 2% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Margaret Dunning Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 31 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $36K. How we count
Medians: $44K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 42% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2023) to $1.2M (2021). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hartland Consolidated Schools Howell, MI | Automotive Equipment for Hartland High School | $70,000 |
| South Redford School District Redford, MI | Equipment and facility renovations at the auto shop at thurston high school | $55,000 |
| Arc of Northwest Wayne County Redford Charter TWP, MI | Support for Replacing Its Hvac System | $50,000 |
| First Step Plymouth, MI | Facility Improvements at Its Wayne Shelter | $50,000 |
| Living and Learning Enrichment Center Northville, MI | Security Improvements | $50,000 |
| Methodist Children's Home Society Redford Township, MI | A playground at its child welfare facility in redford | $50,000 |
| Mi Work Matters Livonia, MI | Equipment for a new livonia-based vocational training caf for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities | $50,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $50,000 |
| Fitzgerald Public Schools Warren, MI | Automotive Equipment for Fitzgerald High School | $48,000 |
| Friends of the Penn Plymouth, MI | Facility Renovations at the Penn Theatre | $45,000 |
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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 | $25,238,919 | $1,925,878 | $1,646,161 | $1,112,000 | 33 | $1,389,993 | $1,817,188 | $1,391,511 |
| 2024 | $24,772,734 | $1,544,911 | $1,686,895 | $1,165,000 | 30 | $1,427,076 | $1,445,576 | $1,340,271 |
| 2023 | $24,777,638 | $526,883 | $1,169,872 | $1,088,000 | 29 | $1,337,784 | $807,353 | $1,250,481 |
| 2022 | $25,687,327 | $1,144,616 | $1,430,196 | $1,228,000 | 28 | $1,461,392 | $1,010,653 | $1,335,085 |
| 2021 | $26,086,761 | $2,523,201 | $1,796,757 | $1,230,500 | 32 | $1,460,878 | $2,384,728 | $1,402,435 |
| 2020 | $25,199,752 | $1,520,866 | $1,205,807 | $1,126,250 | 31 | — | $1,397,998 | $1,269,788 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Margaret Dunning Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants show support for a range of projects and organizations. For example, MI WORK MATTERS describes its mission as creating and advocating for meaningful paid employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Vision To Learn says it provides free eye exams and glasses to students and low-income communities. Friends of the Penn describes its mission as preserving and operating the historic Penn Theatre and promoting appreciation of cinematic, literary, and performing arts.
Other 2025 grantees include the Plymouth Historical Society, which says it preserves, teaches, and presents history, and New Hope Center for Grief Support, which says it provides education and support to people grieving the death of a loved one.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 33 grants totaling $1,112,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $70,000, with a median of $30,000. Among the largest were $70,000 to Hartland Consolidated Schools for automotive equipment at Hartland High School; $55,000 to South Redford School District for auto-shop equipment and facility renovations at Thurston High School; and $50,000 each to Arc of Northwest Wayne County, First Step, Living and Learning Enrichment Center, Methodist Children’s Home Society, MI WORK MATTERS, and Vision To Learn.
The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications should be written and state their purpose. The filing lists Mark Neithercut of Neithercut Philanth as the application contact.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert M. Stulberg as president and director; Robin Ferriby as secretary and director; Lois Stulberg as vice president and director; Robert Appel as treasurer and director; and Jeffrey Ragland as director.
Margaret Dunning Foundation is led by Robert M. Stulberg, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert M. Stulberg
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lois Stulberg
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Appel
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Ferriby
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Ragland
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Margaret Dunning Foundation
How much does Margaret Dunning Foundation give each year?
Margaret Dunning Foundation gave $1.1M across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 30 grants.
What is Margaret Dunning Foundation's typical grant size?
Margaret Dunning Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $33,697, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Margaret Dunning Foundation that year got $35K on average.
Where does Margaret Dunning Foundation give grants?
Margaret Dunning Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Plymouth, MI (5 grants), Detroit, MI (5 grants) and Northville, MI (2 grants).
Does Margaret Dunning Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Margaret Dunning Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donor Advised Funds" (6 grants).
Who are Margaret Dunning Foundation's largest grantees?
Margaret Dunning Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hartland Consolidated Schools ($70,000), Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan ($66,000 across 3 grants) and South Redford School District ($55,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Margaret Dunning Foundation?
Margaret Dunning Foundation reported $25.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (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 Margaret Dunning Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants show support for a range of projects and organizations. For example, MI WORK MATTERS describes its mission as creating and advocating for meaningful paid employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Margaret Dunning Foundation?
Submit a written application stating its purpose. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Margaret Dunning Foundation's EIN?
Margaret Dunning Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3352930. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 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 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Margaret Dunning Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/margaret-dunning-foundation-morg_9699c7ee1a314a4fa058c6ef38651c86
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383352930_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Margaret Dunning Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/margaret-dunning-foundation-morg_9699c7ee1a314a4fa058c6ef38651c86},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Margaret Dunning 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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