Phil & Pat Willis Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Jackson, MI EIN: 20-8604545

Phil & Pat Willis Foundation is a private foundation, based in Jackson, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $157K. Net investment income was $81K.

Phil & Pat Willis Foundation at a glance

In short: Phil & Pat Willis Foundation gave $157K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$157,000
+60.2% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
9
-10.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$17,444
+78.0% vs 2024
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$1,278,096
-2.0% 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 September 2026.

Who Phil & Pat Willis Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2025

Michigan Theatre of Jackson: $50KMichigan Theatre of Jackson$50KJunior Achievement of Michigan: $35KJunior Achievement of Michigan$35KJackson Interfaith Shelter: $20KJackson Interfaith Shelter$20KGrass Lake Senior Center: $20KGrass Lake Senior Center$20KElla Sharp Museum: $10KElla Sharp Museum$10KCollege and Career Access Center: $7KCollege and Career AccessCenter$7KFamily Service Children's Aid: $5KFamily Service Children's Aid$5KWashtenaw Area Value Express: $5KWashtenaw Area Value Express$5KSoar Cafe Farms: $5KSoar Cafe Farms$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Michigan Theatre of Jackson ($50K). Together the top 9 received $157K.

Grant Size Distribution

36 grants across all recorded years

34<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 36 (94%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.

Cities

JacksonGrass LakeDexterEagleGrasss LakePleasant LakeProvidence

How Phil & Pat Willis Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 214% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K12 grants2021 1 grant2022 4 grants2023 10 grants2024 9 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2023) to $157K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $157K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Michigan Theatre of Jackson Jackson, MICapital Campaign$50,000
Junior Achievement of Michigan Jackson, MIGeneral Fund$35,000
Jackson Interfaith Shelter Jackson, MIGeneral Fund$20,000
Grass Lake Senior Center Grass Lake, MIGeneral Fund$20,000
Ella Sharp Museum Jackson, MIGeneral Fund$10,000
College and Career Access Center Jackson, MIGeneral Fund$7,000
Family Service Children's Aid Jackson, MIGeneral Fund$5,000
Washtenaw Area Value Express Dexter, MIGeneral Fund$5,000
Soar Cafe Farms Jackson, MIGeneral Fund$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$1,278,096$175,555$162,048$157,0009$158,500$81,085$141,206
2024$1,304,003$111,258$101,104$98,00010$98,921$107,497$112,833
2023$1,293,849$361,168$38,597$33,0004$33,339$87,922$107,850
2022$971,278$319,556$57,732$50,0001$50,921$318,634$87,864
2021$709,454$222,346$88,406$87,52612—$221,887$80,410

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Phil & Pat Willis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $141K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Phil & Pat Willis Foundation is led by Phil S. Willis, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Phil S. Willis

    President

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Richard Shefferly

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Theodore Cristoff

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel Machnik

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Patricia Willis

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Phil S. Willis IV

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Scott Willis

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    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.

Frequently asked questions about Phil & Pat Willis Foundation

How much does Phil & Pat Willis Foundation give each year?

Phil & Pat Willis Foundation gave $157K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $98K across 10 grants.

What is Phil & Pat Willis Foundation's typical grant size?

Phil & Pat Willis Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,444, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Phil & Pat Willis Foundation give grants?

Phil & Pat Willis Foundation 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 Jackson, MI (7 grants).

Does Phil & Pat Willis Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 89% of Phil & Pat Willis Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Phil & Pat Willis Foundation's largest grantees?

Phil & Pat Willis Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Michigan Theatre of Jackson ($50,000), Junior Achievement of Michigan ($35,000) and Jackson Interfaith Shelter ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Phil & Pat Willis Foundation?

Phil & Pat Willis Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $159K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $141K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Phil & Pat Willis Foundation's EIN?

Phil & Pat Willis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8604545. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Phil & Pat Willis 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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