Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation
The Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation is a private family foundation based in Birmingham, Michigan. Incorporated in 1962, the foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on education, youth programs, and human services, with a particular emphasis on supporting initiatives in Michigan and select communities in Massachusetts and New York.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$759K
+0.8% YoY
Grant Count
37
-9.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+11.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving is primarily directed toward:
- Education
- Youth programs
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Nature conservation and environmental initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation distributed $758,500 in total giving in its most recent fiscal year, with 69 grants awarded. Notable recent grants include:
Grant Range
approximately $78
Average Grant
approximately $78
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple states, with primary concentration in:
- Michigan (primary focus, including Detroit and Lansing)
- Massachusetts (including Boston)
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13.9–$16.2 million |
| Total Annual Giving | $758,500 |
| Total Expenses | $1.09 million |
| Total Revenue | $670,658 |
Tax Information:
- EIN: 38-6080075
- IRS 501(c)(3) status
- Year formed: 1962–1964
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
227 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Detroit Zoological Society ($100,000), Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy ($50,000), The Nature Conservancy ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AUTOMOTIVE HALL OF FAME DEARBORN, MI | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| BUILDING BEDS 4 KIDS OAK PARK, MI | SERVICES FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED | $10,000 |
| CHERRYLAND HUMANE SOCIETY TRAVERSE CITY, MI | ANIMAL CARE AND SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES DETROIT, MI | HIGHER EDUCATION | $25,000 |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION DETROIT, MI | EDUCATION SERVICES | $20,000 |
| DETROIT OPERA DETROIT, MI | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| DETROIT PAL DETROIT, MI | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVENCY DETROIT, MI | NATURE CONSERVATION AND PROMOTION | $10,000 |
| DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY ROYAL OAK, MI | ZOOLOGICAL SERVICES | $100,000 |
| FATHER FRED FOUNDATION TRAVERSE CITY, MI | GENERAL WELFARE SERVICES | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a board of trustees composed of family members, including:
- Katherine Polk Osborne - President, Treasurer, and Trustee
All trustees serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHERINE POLK OSBORNE | PRESIDENT/TREASURER/TRUSTE | 1 | — |
| ROBERTA N POLK | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| SUSAN P SCYPHERS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| STEPHEN R POLK | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| RYAN L POLK | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 260 E Brown St, Suite 280 Birmingham, MI 48009-6231 United States
Telephone: 248-385-5285
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving is primarily directed toward: • Education • Youth programs • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Nature conservation and environmental initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $2,500 to $100,000 • Average grant size: approximately $78 • Median grant size information available through recent filings **Recent Activity:** The foundation distributed $758,500 in total giving in its most recent fiscal year, with 69 grants awarded. Notable recent grants include: • Detroit Zoological Society: $100,000 (Zoological Services) • Rose Hill Center: $32,000 (Mental Health Services) • Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservan…
Where does Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple states, with primary concentration in: • **Michigan** (primary focus, including Detroit and Lansing) • **Massachusetts** (including Boston) • **New York**
What size grants does Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation award?
In 2024, Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $759K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation's EIN?
Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6080075. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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