Michigan Municipal League Foundation
The Michigan Municipal League Foundation is a public charity based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the philanthropic arm of the Michigan Municipal League. Founded in 1991, it supports innovative work in Michigan communities through partnerships, grants, and programs, and provides fiscal sponsorship and project support in Michigan Municipal League member communities.
Michigan Municipal League Foundation at a glance
In short: Michigan Municipal League Foundation gave $72K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $12K). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $72,000
- +121.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +500.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,000
- -63.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $1,870,355
- -43.7% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Michigan Municipal League Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Bridge Builders applications are handled through the program. The Foundation’s 2023 cycle required online applications; the current program information lists the programs as open but does not specify the application method.
- Review Cycle
- July 24, 2026, for the currently listed Bridge Builders Neighborhood and Main Street Microgrants.
- Deadline
- July 24, 2026, for the currently listed Bridge Builders Neighborhood and Main Street Microgrants.
- Next open deadline
- October 30, 2026 (Bridge Builders Neighborhood Microgrants)
- Contact
Mailing address: 1675 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone: (734) 662-3246
Website: https://mmlfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Michigan Municipal League Foundation
Bridge Builders Neighborhood Microgrants
Michigan Municipal League Foundation
Amount
Up to $1,000
Deadline
Expected ~October
Based on past cycles
George and Judith Goodman Scholarship
Michigan Municipal League Foundation
Amount
Up to $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
John Barr Leadership Education Scholarship
Michigan Municipal League Foundation
Amount
Up to $1,000 per award
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Michigan Municipal League Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Bay City ($20K). Together the top 6 received $72K.
Grant Size Distribution
696 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 692 grants of 696 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation provides fiscal sponsorship and project support in Michigan Municipal League member communities. Bridge Builders Microgrants are limited to those communities, described as including nearly every Michigan city and village as well as multiple urban townships. The 2025 grants listed in the filing went to communities in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Michigan Municipal League Foundation gives
- Giving fell 92% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2024) to $10.2M (2021). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $72K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bay City | Planning, design, and implementing the replacement of lead service lines | $20,000 |
| City of Dearborn | Planning, design, and implementing the replacement of lead service lines | $20,000 |
| City of Belleville | Support Improvement of Local Economy | $8,000 |
| City of Chelsea | Support Improvement of Local Economy | $8,000 |
| Village of Ortonville | Support Improvement of Local Economy | $8,000 |
| City of Utica | Support Improvement of Local Economy | $8,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,870,355 | $868,562 | $1,742,231 | $72,000 | 6 | $76,839 |
| 2024 | $3,321,413 | $2,728,795 | $2,553,491 | $32,556 | 1 | $50,394 |
| 2023 | $2,947,078 | $1,112,077 | $1,044,888 | $47,500 | Total only | $38,624 |
| 2022 | $1,727,892 | $1,553,176 | $1,592,141 | $904,696 | 2 | $23,182 |
| 2021 | $1,693,031 | $11,371,710 | $11,839,706 | $10,219,967 | 687 | $25,565 |
| 2020 | $1,072,924 | $6,079,219 | $5,531,948 | $2,194,741 | 43 | $26,688 |
| 2019 | $737,713 | $1,151,860 | $1,126,477 | $520,396 | 1 | $21,721 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to create and cultivate the resources, partnerships, and opportunities Michigan communities need to thrive. Its work includes community-led projects that foster connection and belonging, downtown placemaking, local leadership development, and support for municipal capacity.
The Foundation’s 2024 filing describes support for a project involving the City of Hamtramck, the Hamtramck School District, and the Hamtramck Parks Conservancy to plan the redevelopment of the Veteran’s Park Stadium District. It also describes a Wilson Foundation program to develop municipal capacity and capital supports for inclusive economic growth through entrepreneurship and small-business growth. Other described work includes the Subnational Diplomacy Initiative and MI Water Navigator, which the filing says is funded through the C.S. Mott Foundation and Joyce Foundation to help cities finance water improvements or access water-affordability resources. These are descriptions of the programs and organizations named in the filing, not statements of the Foundation’s own mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported six grants totaling $72,000. Awards ranged from $8,000 to $20,000, with a median of $8,000. Bay City and the City of Dearborn each received $20,000 for planning, designing, and implementing lead service line replacement. The City of Belleville, City of Chelsea, Village of Ortonville, and City of Utica each received $8,000 to support improvement of the local economy.
The Foundation also offers Bridge Builders Microgrants for projects in Michigan Municipal League member communities. Neighborhood Microgrants of up to $1,000 support collaborative, creative neighborhood projects; Main Street Microgrants of up to $5,000 support downtown placemaking that brings together residents, artists, and small businesses. Main Street applications must include a lead artist, at least three locally owned small businesses within a four-block radius, and a letter of support from a local government official. Eligible applicants include individuals, informal groups, and neighborhood organizations for Neighborhood Microgrants; Main Street eligibility includes downtown development authorities, commercial improvement districts, municipal governments, local businesses, and nonprofits.
A separate Tim Doyle Scholarship helps newly elected local officials participate in the Michigan Municipal League Elected Officials Academy Core Weekender seminar. It covers training costs for eligible officials; it is not described as a grant program for outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael McGee as director and chairperson beginning in May 2025, Steve Habusta as director and secretary beginning in May 2025, and Nathan Triplett as vice chair for part of the year. It also lists Khalfani Stephends as treasurer and Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees liaison, Beth Beaudin-Seiler as director, and Cody Mayer and Daniel Mahoney as directors. Carla Gribbs, Janet Pasco, and Linh Song are listed in roles that ended in May 2025.
Michigan Municipal League Foundation is led by Helen Davis Johnson, President on the 2025 filing; none of the 20 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Helen Davis Johnson
President
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carla Gribbs
Chairperson
Vice Chair → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael McGee
Director & Chairperson
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Leich
Director -
Director → Director -, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Lockwood
Director
Chair → Chairman, 2020
Chairman → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeanette Pierce
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Acosta
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Beaudin-Seiler
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Habusta
Director & Secretary
Director → Director & Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cody Mayer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Mahoney
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Irma Hayes
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Ambrozy
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Baron
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Gilmartin
Ex-Officio
Executive Director of Mi Municipal League → Executive Director of Mi Municipal Leag, 2020
Executive Director of Mi Municipal Leag → Ex-Officio, 2021
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Triplett
Vice Chair -
Director → Vice Chairman, 2021
Vice Chairman → Vice Chair -, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Stuart
Board-Liason -
Board-Liason → Board-Liason -, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linh Song
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet Pasco
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Khalfani Stephends
Treasurer - Mml Board of Trustees Liaison
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Barbara Holt (2019–2024) — Director - Part-Year
- Former: Jenee Velasquez (2019–2024) — Secretary - Part-Year
- Former: Robert Collier (2019–2024) — Director - Part-Year
- Former: Helen Davis-Johnson (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Marlon Brown (2020–2024) — Director - Part-Year
- Former: Mike McGee (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Sandy Ambrozy (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: John Barr (2019–2023) — Director - Part-Year
- Former: Myron Frasier (2019–2023) — Director - Part-Year
- Former: Kerry Ebersole-Singh (2021–2023) — Director - Part-Year
- Former: Janette Pasco (2023) — Director
- Former: Gisgie Davila Gendreau (2019–2020) — President -
- Former: Michelle Hodges (2019–2020) — Director -
- Former: Susan Baldwin (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: James Buck (2019) — Emeritus
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Michigan Municipal League Foundation
How much does Michigan Municipal League Foundation give each year?
Michigan Municipal League Foundation gave $72K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $33K across 1 grant.
What is Michigan Municipal League Foundation's typical grant size?
Michigan Municipal League Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $12,000, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Does Michigan Municipal League Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Michigan Municipal League Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Improvement of Local Economy" (4 grants).
Who are Michigan Municipal League Foundation's largest grantees?
Michigan Municipal League Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Bay City ($20,000), City of Dearborn ($20,000) and City of Belleville ($8,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Michigan Municipal League Foundation?
Michigan Municipal League Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $869K.
What does Michigan Municipal League Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to create and cultivate the resources, partnerships, and opportunities Michigan communities need to thrive. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Michigan Municipal League Foundation?
Bridge Builders applications are handled through the program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Michigan Municipal League Foundation make grants?
The Foundation provides fiscal sponsorship and project support in Michigan Municipal League member communities. Bridge Builders Microgrants are limited to those communities, described as including nearly every Michigan city and village as well as multiple urban townships. The 2025 grants listed in the filing went to communities in Michigan.
What is Michigan Municipal League Foundation's EIN?
Michigan Municipal League Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3019434. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Michigan Municipal League Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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