Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation
The Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation is a private foundation based in Troy, Michigan. It made seven grants totaling $30,285,600 in 2024, with all listed grant dollars going to Michigan recipients.
Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation at a glance
In short: Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation gave $30.3M across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $4.3M), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $30,285,600
- +175.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,326,514
- +135.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $175,000
- Total assets
- $52,213,974
- -31.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2301 West Big Beaver Road 900, Troy, MI 48084
Phone: (248) 649-2600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Michigan ($29.6M across 2 grants). Together the top 6 received $30.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 12 grants of 31 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2024 went to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation gives
- Giving grew 172% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.0M (2019) to $30.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $30.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Charitable Without Restriction | $19,600,000 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Charitable Without Restriction | $10,000,000 |
| Detroit Symphony Orchestra Detroit, MI | Charitable Without Restriction | $250,000 |
| Sphinx Organization Detroit, MI | Charitable Without Restriction | $175,000 |
| Cranbrook Educational Community Bloomfield Hills, MI | Charitable Without Restriction | $159,600 |
| Kids Kicking Cancer Southfield, MI | Charitable Without Restriction | $100,000 |
| Special Olympics of Michigan Grand Rapids, MI | Charitable Without Restriction | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $52,213,974 | $7,245,531 | $30,794,825 | $30,285,600 | 7 | $30,285,600 | $5,718,291 | $2,834,522 |
| 2023 | $75,763,499 | $5,461,292 | $11,898,511 | $11,005,000 | 6 | $11,005,000 | $4,294,215 | $3,199,934 |
| 2022 | $82,212,050 | $19,998,852 | $11,645,307 | $11,400,000 | 6 | $11,400,000 | $18,809,404 | $3,617,250 |
| 2021 | $73,862,314 | $1,838,472 | $11,403,883 | $11,150,000 | 6 | $11,150,000 | $1,536,147 | $5,760,097 |
| 2020 | $83,451,785 | $1,837,433 | $12,185,411 | $11,575,000 | 6 | — | $1,641,811 | $5,589,998 |
| 2019 | $94,341,012 | $3,259,124 | $6,502,883 | $5,975,700 | 10 | — | $3,072,976 | $5,341,948 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grantees included educational, arts, health, and community organizations. The University of Michigan grantee describes its mission as representing and advocating for its member physicians. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra says it impacts lives through musical experiences and sustains a world-class orchestra for Detroit and the global community; the Sphinx Organization describes its mission as transforming lives through the power of the arts. Cranbrook Educational Community says it provides education, encourages creativity and innovation, and values learners of all ages and backgrounds. Kids Kicking Cancer says it works to ease the pain of very sick children while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made seven grants totaling $30,285,600. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $19,600,000, with a median of $175,000. The two largest grants went to the University of Michigan: $19,600,000 and $10,000,000. Other grants included $250,000 to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, $175,000 to the Sphinx Organization, $159,600 to Cranbrook Educational Community, $100,000 to Kids Kicking Cancer, and $1,000 to Special Olympics of Michigan. Each grant was listed as for charitable purposes without restriction.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Stanley Frankel as president and treasurer; Bruce Frankel, Joelyn Nyman, Stuart Frankel, and Arthur Weiss as trustees.
Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation is led by Stanley Frankel, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stanley Frankel
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Arthur Weiss
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Bruce Frankel
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Joelyn Nyman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Stuart Frankel
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation
How much does Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation give each year?
Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation gave $30.3M across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $11.0M across 6 grants.
What is Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation's typical grant size?
Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $175,000, and its average grant was $4,326,514, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation give grants?
Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ann Arbor, MI (2 grants) and Detroit, MI (2 grants).
Does Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Without Restriction" (7 grants).
Who are Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation's largest grantees?
Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Michigan ($29,600,000 across 2 grants), Detroit Symphony Orchestra ($250,000) and Sphinx Organization ($175,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation?
Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation reported $52.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grantees included educational, arts, health, and community organizations. The University of Michigan grantee describes its mission as representing and advocating for its member physicians. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation's EIN?
Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6088399. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does Samuel & Jean Frankel Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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