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.
Road to Michigan's Future at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $714,500
- -20.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +100.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $71,450
- -60.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $5,023,112
- +152.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 70% first-time grantees (7 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Road to Michigan's Future
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 12284, Lansing, MI 48901
Phone: (517) 927-5179
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Road to Michigan's Future funds
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%).
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
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. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. 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.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
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.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,023,112 | $7,784,920 | $4,752,971 | $714,500 | 10 |
| 2023 | $1,991,163 | $4,894,000 | $3,121,391 | $900,000 | 5 |
| 2022 | $218,554 | $12,943,468 | $19,207,402 | $11,340,000 | 7 |
| 2021 | $6,483,632 | $5,982,021 | $1,582,453 | $436,000 | 3 |
| 2020 | $2,084,064 | $6,492,805 | $4,408,741 | $2,218,000 | 7 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
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.
The largest grants included $450,000 to Story Network Foundation for combating misinformation on gun control issues; $60,000 to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan for general support; $50,000 to The Voting Project for general support; and $45,000 to Detroit Association of Black Associates for a non-partisan voter education grant. Other reported grants included $25,000 each to The Nile Group for general support, Metro Equity Action Fund for a non-partisan voter education grant, and Freedom Institute for Economic Social Justice and People Empowerment for general support; $15,000 to Detroit Unity Fund for general support; $10,000 to Capital Marketing & Management for general support; and $9,500 to Michigan Deserves Better Fund for general support.
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.
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.
Data update history
(6)
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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Road to Michigan's Future funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/road-to-michigan-s-future-morg_bea06d59902440b0a150ce6b6e886ccf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_844298056_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Road to Michigan's Future funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/road-to-michigan-s-future-morg_bea06d59902440b0a150ce6b6e886ccf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Road to Michigan's Future'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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