The Ruth Mott Foundation is a private family foundation established by Ruth Mott, philanthropist and wife of automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott. Based in Flint, Michigan, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to community vitality and philanthropic grantmaking. The foundation employs approximately 20 staff members and maintains its main office in downtown Flint's Plaza One Building at 111 E. Court Street, Suite 3C.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$271.7M
+5.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.1M
-35.9% YoY
Grant Count
51
-15.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$81K
-24.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth Mott Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Working with the community, we connect people, ideas, and resources for a vibrant and inclusive Flint.
Vision: Flint is a just and equitable community where all thrive.
Core Values:
- Commit to the long term through advocacy and courage to build a vibrant and inclusive Flint
- Promote civic engagement for stronger community problem-solving and responsibility
- Pursue justice by acknowledging and addressing systemic harms and racial inequities
- Cultivate trust through kindness, respect, empathy, and accountability
Funding Priorities (North Flint Focus):
The foundation identifies four primary funding areas, established through community forums engaging hundreds of north Flint residents:
- Youth: Youth development programs outside of school hours, job training/employment, and two-generation approaches when applicable
- Public Safety: Blight elimination and resident engagement
- Economic Opportunity: Small business supports, job training, and returning citizen supports
- Neighborhoods: Neighborhood hubs, neighborhood engagement supports, and housing
The foundation emphasizes closing racial disparities within these four priority areas as critically important to the community.
Grantmaking
The foundation awards grants to organizations addressing its four priority areas. Recent grant activity includes:
Review Cycle
- $267,000 in grants for blight elimination and north Flint programs
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a place-based focus on north Flint, Michigan. Beginning with its 2016-2020 strategic plan, the foundation concentrated its resources on north Flint to address decades of disinvestment and create safe neighborhoods and opportunities for residents. This geographic focus has been recommitted through 2025.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024 (Form 990-PF):
- Total Assets: $272 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.2 million
- Annual Revenue: $16.2 million
- Annual Expenses: $10.8 million
- Net Income: $5.4 million
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since October 1989 (EIN: 38-2876435)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $271,669,368 | $256,637,994 | $235,947,131 |
| Revenue | $16,156,777 | $8,628,256 | $11,141,110 |
| Expenses | $10,790,825 | $13,870,654 | $13,677,794 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $12,464,394 | $12,947,241 | $13,027,997 |
| Net Investment Income | $15,306,354 | $7,392,495 | $10,040,509 |
| Distributable Amount | $12,374,030 | $11,560,136 | $12,066,673 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Ruth Mott Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Michigan State University ($400,000), Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission ($390,000), Urban Renaissance Center ($315,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE BOYS IN CHRIST FLINT, MI | ABC GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT 2024-2025 | $38,000 |
| AFRICAN DRUM AND DANCE PARENTS ASSOCIATION FLINT, MI | ADDPA GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT 2024 | $30,000 |
| ASBURY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FLINT, MI | ASBURY GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT 2025-2026 | $112,500 |
| BANGTOWN STUDIO ON THE GO FLINT, MI | STUDIO ON THE GO 2024 | $41,000 |
| BETHEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FLINT, MI | FLINT FREEDOM SCHOOL COLLABORATIVE 2024-2025 | $75,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF FLINT AND GENESEE COUNTY FLINT, MI | OUT OF SCHOOL TIME MENTORING PROGRAM 2024 - 2025 | $65,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER FLINT FLINT, MI | BGC GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT 2024 - 2025 | $80,000 |
| CENTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT (CHEA) FLINT, MI | CHEA NORTH FLINT ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM 2024-2025 | $35,000 |
| CHILD CARE NETWORK ANN ARBOR, MI | FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM 2025 | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITIES FIRST INC FLINT, MI | BUILDING HEALTHY AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES | $95,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Raquel Thueme: President of the Ruth Mott Foundation
- Raquel R. Robinson: Vice President of Programs
- Charlie Meynet: Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARYANNE MOTT | CHAIR | 15 | — |
| KYLE MCCREE | VICE CHAIR | 3.5 | — |
| JOSEPH ROBINSON | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| SHANNON EASTER WHITE | SECRETARY | 3 | — |
| ROBERT PESTRONK | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| CHARLES MEYNET | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| MARISE MOTT MEYNET SHEEHAN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| DEBRA FURR-HOLDEN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| JA'NEL JAMERSON | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| TIFFANY BROWN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| RAQUEL THUEME | PRESIDENT | 50 | $322,768 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Ruth Mott Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary and announced initial 2026 community grants. The foundation continues to prioritize civic engagement and voter participation efforts, recognizing that neighborhood conditions improve when residents are engaged in solutions. The foundation has identified specific regions in north Flint where voting and civic participation work would have the greatest impact, noting that historically only 7.7% of registered voters in six north Flint wards turned out to city primary elections.
Flint's Ruth Mott Foundation celebrates 25 years, grants $2.9M to local groupsContact Information
Mailing Address: Ruth Mott Foundation 111 E. Court Street, Suite 3C Flint, MI 48502
Phone: 810.233.0170 Email: rmf@ruthmott.org
Free visitor parking is available in the lot across Harrison Street at the northeast corner of Harrison and Court Streets.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ruth Mott Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Working with the community, we connect people, ideas, and resources for a vibrant and inclusive Flint. **Vision:** Flint is a just and equitable community where all thrive. **Core Values:** • Commit to the long term through advocacy and courage to build a vibrant and inclusive Flint • Promote civic engagement for stronger community problem-solving and responsibility • Pursue justice by acknowledging and addressing systemic harms and racial inequities • Cultivate trust through kindn…
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth Mott Foundation?
The foundation awards grants to organizations addressing its four priority areas. Recent grant activity includes: • $2.9 million in grants announced during the foundation's 25th anniversary celebration • $2.4 million awarded to 20 programs in a single grant cycle • $267,000 in grants for blight elimination and north Flint programs • $100,000 awarded to the Greater Flint Urgent Relief Fund (April 2020) to support nonprofit organizations providing critical services during the COVID-19 pandemic Th…
Where does Ruth Mott Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains a place-based focus on north Flint, Michigan. Beginning with its 2016-2020 strategic plan, the foundation concentrated its resources on north Flint to address decades of disinvestment and create safe neighborhoods and opportunities for residents. This geographic focus has been recommitted through 2025.
What size grants does Ruth Mott Foundation award?
In 2024, Ruth Mott Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $4.1M — an average of about $81K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ruth Mott Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ruth Mott Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ruth Mott Foundation's EIN?
Ruth Mott Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2876435. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ruth Mott Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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