Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation
The Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation is a private foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Its stated mission is to honor its founders by supporting programs with significant, long-term, positive impact on people in the Kalamazoo community.
Key facts about Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation
In short: Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation gave $1.8M across 89 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Michigan. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 38-3323820
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,787,980
- Grants made (2025)
- 89
- Average grant
- $20,090
- Median grant
- $12,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (13 of 89, 2025)
- Total assets
- $26,094,854
- Primary geography
- Michigan (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applications are considered twice a year, typically in spring and fall. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The foundation’s website lists a September 21, 2026 deadline for fall consideration; that deadline has passed.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26.1M
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+10.9% YoY
Grant Count
89
+15.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-4.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 89 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 48% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website identifies arts and culture, health and human services, and education—particularly Jewish religious education—as areas its founders hold dear. It says it seeks projects that benefit people who are less fortunate financially or physically, reach a significant number of people in the community, pursue long-term change rather than short-term relief, and support people living in the Kalamazoo community.
Its 2025 grants included support for a range of organizations and purposes. For example, Heritage Community of Kalamazoo received $150,000 for its Thrive Together Campaign; Kalamazoo Valley Community College received $80,000 for Valley Food Share; and Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center received $70,000 for a roof campaign. The grantees describe their work in varied ways: Cheff says it improves lives through the therapeutic use of horses; Community Healing Centers says it helps children, families, and adults heal from trauma, addiction, and behavioral and mental health disorders; and Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes says it feeds hungry people and engages the community in the fight to end hunger.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 89 grants totaling $1,787,980. Awards ranged from $434 to $150,000, with a median grant of $12,000. Other notable 2025 grants included $60,000 to Community Healing Centers for inpatient services, $55,000 to the Young Women’s Christian Association for general operating expenses, $50,000 to Kalamazoo Community Foundation for Rx Kids Kalamazoo, and $40,000 to Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for Kalamazoo Kids in Tune.
The foundation’s website says applications are reviewed by administrators before being submitted to the board. It invites applicants to complete a grant application; the 2025 filing states that no designated application is necessary. The filing says there are no restrictions on awards. The website says capital campaign requests receive additional scrutiny and are generally limited to no more than 15% of the total campaign goal.
Review Cycle
The foundation’s website lists a September 21, 2026 deadline for fall consideration; that deadline has passed. It lists March 29, 2027 for spring consideration, with a board meeting scheduled for April 26, 2027. The 2025 filing separately states that the spring submission deadline is March 1.
How to Apply
Applications are considered twice a year, typically in spring and fall. The website invites applicants whose projects align with its mission and guidelines to complete a grant application. The 2025 filing lists Greenleaf Trust Co. Okun Foundation as the contact for application inquiries and says no designated application is necessary.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it supports people living within the Kalamazoo community. Its 2025 grant dollars went primarily to Michigan recipients: 99% in Michigan and 1% in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 89 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $913K (2020) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 89 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Heritage Community of Kalamazoo ($150K). Together the top 10 received $645K.
Grant Size Distribution
363 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 337 grants of 363 (93%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage Community of Kalamazoo Kalamazoo, MI | Thrive Together Campaign | $150,000 |
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo, MI | Valley Food Share | $80,000 |
| Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center Augusta, MI | Roof Campaign | $70,000 |
| Community Healing Centers Kalamazoo, MI | Inpatient Services | $60,000 |
| Young Women's Christian Association Kalamazoo, MI | General Operating Expense | $55,000 |
| Kalamazoo Community Foundation Kalamazoo, MI | RX Kids Kalamzoo | $50,000 |
| YMCA of Kalamazoo Kalamazoo, MI | Programming | $50,000 |
| Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes Kalamazoo, MI | Grocery Pantry | $45,000 |
| Congregation of Moses Kalamazoo, MI | Programming | $44,980 |
| Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Kalamazoo, MI | General Suppoer | $40,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,094,854 | $2,525,775 | $2,191,752 | $1,787,980 | 89 |
| 2024 | $25,760,831 | $2,990,887 | $1,971,968 | $1,612,630 | 77 |
| 2023 | $24,741,912 | $9,558,546 | $1,573,379 | $1,330,257 | 69 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $26,094,854 | $25,760,831 | $24,741,912 |
| Revenue | $2,525,775 | $2,990,887 | $9,558,546 |
| Expenses | $2,191,752 | $1,971,968 | $1,573,379 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,812,499 | $1,621,416 | $1,276,057 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,473,888 | $485,817 | $573,604 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,847,306 | $1,723,003 | $1,172,019 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website lists Christopher Middleton as board president and Rosalice Hall as board secretary and treasurer. It also lists Paul Davidoff, Robert Lando, Sydney Parfet, and Rae Lee Howard as directors.
Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation is led by Chris Middleton, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chris Middleton
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paul Davidoff
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rob Lando
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sydney Parfet
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rae Lee Howard
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Rosalice Hall
Secretary
On filings since 2020
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.
Contact
Application contact: Greenleaf Trust Co Okun Foundation
Mailing address: 211 S Rose Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Phone: (269) 388-9800
Website: https://theokunfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation
How much does Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation give each year?
Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation gave $1.8M across 89 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 77 grants.
What is Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation's typical grant size?
Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,000, and its average grant was $20,090, across 89 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation give grants?
Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Kalamazoo, MI (66 grants), Portage, MI (8 grants), Augusta, MI (3 grants) and Battle Creek, MI (2 grants).
Does Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 89) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Programming" (16 grants), "Charitable" (5 grants) and "Education" (3 grants).
Who are Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation's largest grantees?
Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Heritage Community of Kalamazoo ($150,000), Kalamazoo Valley Community College ($80,000) and Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center ($70,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation?
Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation reported $26.1M 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 $1.8M (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 Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website identifies arts and culture, health and human services, and education—particularly Jewish religious education—as areas its founders hold dear. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation?
Applications are considered twice a year, typically in spring and fall. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation's EIN?
Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3323820. 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.
Here's the math on researching Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation by hand.
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