Road to Michigan's Future
Road to Michigan's Future is a public charity filing Form 990, based in Lansing, Michigan. Formed in 2020, it describes its work as educational research and analysis intended to inform the public about public policies and issues affecting Michigan residents’ quality of life.
Key facts about Road to Michigan's Future
In short: Road to Michigan's Future gave $715K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $71K), mostly in District of Columbia. 70% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 84-4298056
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $714,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- Average grant
- $71,450
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 70% first-time grantees (7 of 10, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,023,112
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
+152.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$715K
-20.6% YoY
Grant Count
10
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$71K
-60.3% YoY
Is Road to Michigan's Future open to new grantees?
70%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 10 grantees (70%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $89K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 organization’s stated mission is “to conduct educational research and analysis to inform the public on public policies and issues of concern to and affecting the quality of life for Michigan residents; to provide an understanding of how current policy initiatives will affect the well-being of Michigan.”
Its 2024 filing describes communications and consulting, as well as events, research, and staff expenses, as activities promoting its mission. Among its 2024 grantees, Story Network Foundation describes its own mission as educating the public and combating misinformation on issues including healthcare, immigration, gun control, climate change, and equal rights. Detroit Unity Fund describes its own mission as organizing, registering, canvassing, and mobilizing Black Americans to vote.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Road to Michigan's Future reported 10 grants totaling $714,500. Grant amounts ranged from $9,500 to $450,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
For 2024 grant dollars, the reported recipient-state shares were 63% for Washington, DC; 25% for Michigan; 7% for North Carolina; and 5% for an unidentified state category.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $436K (2021) to $11.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $715K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Story Network Foundation ($450K). Together the top 10 received $715K.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 32 (53%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Story Network Foundation Washington, DC | Combating misinformation on gun control issues | $450,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan Lansing, MI | General Support | $60,000 |
| The Voting Project Charlotte, NC | General Support | $50,000 |
| Detroit Association of Black Associates Detroit, MI | Non-partisan voter education grant | $45,000 |
| The Nile Group | General Support | $25,000 |
| Metro Equity Action Fund Mount Clemens, MI | Non-partisan voter education grant | $25,000 |
| Freedom Institute for Economic Social Justice and People Empowerment Detroit, MI | General Support | $25,000 |
| Detroit Unity Fund Detroit, MI | General Support | $15,000 |
| Capital Marketing & Management | General Support | $10,000 |
| Michigan Deserves Better Fund Lansing, MI | General Support | $9,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,023,112 | $7,784,920 | $4,752,971 | $714,500 across 10 grants |
| 2023 | $1,991,163 | $4,894,000 | $3,121,391 | $900,000 across 5 grants |
| 2022 | $218,554 | $12,943,468 | $19,207,402 | $11,340,000 across 7 grants |
The 2024 filing also reports program service expenses of $1,128,106 for communications, $91,506 for consulting, $46,535 for cybersecurity, and $31,940 for surveying.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,023,112 | $1,991,163 | $218,554 |
| Revenue | $7,784,920 | $4,894,000 | $12,943,468 |
| Expenses | $4,752,971 | $3,121,391 | $19,207,402 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard Wiener as President; John D Cherry as Treasurer; Robert Emerson as Secretary; Emily Eccleton as Director of Fundraising Partnerships; John M Gettys as Deputy Compliance and Operations Director; Brieann E Sauer as Finance Director; Amanda J Stitt as Strategic Director; and Heather N Ricketts as Compliance and Operations Director.
Road to Michigan's Future is led by Richard Wiener, President on every filing since 2020; 5 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard Wiener
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda J Stitt
Strategic Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$240K (2024)
Brieann E Sauer
Finance Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$135K (2024)
Emily Eccleton
Director of Fundraising Partnerships
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$117K (2024)
Heather N Ricketts
Compliance & Operations Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$251K (2024)
John M Gettys
Deputy Compliance & Operations Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$112K (2024)
John D. Cherry Jr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Emerson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $251K, to Heather N Ricketts (Compliance and Operations Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 12284, Lansing, MI 48901
Phone: (517) 927-5179
Frequently asked questions about Road to Michigan's Future
How much does Road to Michigan's Future give each year?
Road to Michigan's Future gave $715K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $900K across 5 grants.
What is Road to Michigan's Future's typical grant size?
Road to Michigan's Future's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $71,450, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Road to Michigan's Future that year got $89K on average.
Where does Road to Michigan's Future give grants?
Road to Michigan's Future gives mostly in District of Columbia: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (25%) and North Carolina (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (3 grants) and Lansing, MI (2 grants).
Does Road to Michigan's Future give general operating support?
Yes: 70% of Road to Michigan's Future's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Road to Michigan's Future's largest grantees?
Road to Michigan's Future's largest 2024 grantees include Story Network Foundation ($450,000), Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan ($60,000) and The Voting Project ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Road to Michigan's Future?
Road to Michigan's Future reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.8M.
What does Road to Michigan's Future fund?
The organization’s stated mission is “to conduct educational research and analysis to inform the public on public policies and issues of concern to and affecting the quality of life for Michigan residents; to provide an understanding of how current policy initiatives will affect the well-being of Michigan.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Road to Michigan's Future?
Road to Michigan's Future has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Road to Michigan's Future's EIN?
Road to Michigan's Future's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4298056. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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