Sigma Gamma Foundation
Sigma Gamma Foundation is a private foundation based in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Its 2025 filing reports grants to Michigan organizations, including programs serving children and people with special needs.
Sigma Gamma Foundation at a glance
In short: Sigma Gamma Foundation gave $187K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $187,324
- +0.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,610
- -33.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,500
- Total assets
- $3,446,762
- -0.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Sigma Gamma Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 36373, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
Phone: (586) 772-8100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sigma Gamma Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boldi Exceptional Youth Services ($55K). Together the top 10 received $182K.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 34 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sigma Gamma Foundation gives
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 41% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2020) to $187K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $187K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boldi Exceptional Youth Services Detroit, MI | Support for the Parents as Teachers Program | $55,000 |
| Variety the Children's Charity of Detroit Birmingham, MI | To underwrite adaptive bicycles for children with special needs | $55,000 |
| Far Therapeutic Arts and Recreation Birmingham, MI | Support for scholarships for programming for children with special needs | $12,500 |
| The Family Center Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | Support for Programming for Children with Special Needs | $10,000 |
| The Fowler Center Mayville, MI | Underwrite summer camperships for campers 18-26 years old with special needs at the fowler center | $10,000 |
| Penrickton Center for Blind Children Taylor, MI | Support for children who are visually impaired with multiple disabilities | $10,000 |
| Full Circle Foundation Inc Grosse Pointe Park, MI | For Use in the Edible Garden | $9,000 |
| Sigma Gamma Assocation Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | In support of the story activity program, giving tree, and blooms for boldi campaign | $8,500 |
| Kids on the Go St Clair Shores, MI | Support for speech language programs for children with special needs | $7,324 |
| Therapy Ranch Grosse Pointe Park, MI | Support for Children with Special Needs | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sigma Gamma Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,446,762 | $196,868 | $229,793 | $187,324 | 12 | $187,324 | $158,340 | $206,308 |
| 2024 | $3,479,687 | $382,061 | $228,687 | $186,880 | 8 | $186,880 | $337,440 | $195,353 |
| 2023 | $3,326,313 | $355,187 | $181,692 | $144,838 | 7 | $144,838 | $277,939 | $179,477 |
| 2022 | $3,152,818 | $190,016 | $170,518 | $133,000 | 4 | $133,000 | $155,806 | $186,015 |
| 2021 | $3,133,320 | $254,759 | $98,829 | $63,200 | 3 | $63,200 | $211,953 | $196,307 |
| 2020 | $2,977,390 | $139,367 | $61,981 | $30,000 | 1 | — | $97,742 | $162,579 |
| 2019 | $2,900,004 | $507,918 | $107,170 | $75,917 | 3 | — | $101,618 | $149,598 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sigma Gamma Foundation reported a distributable amount of $206K for 2025 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for children with special needs, therapeutic and recreational programs, accessibility, and community activities. Among the supported organizations, Kids on the Go describes its mission as providing year-round therapy to children with special needs. The Fowler Center says it provides camping experiences for people with mental and physical limitations, and Banbury Cross Therapeutic Equestrian Center says it provides riding lessons to handicapped individuals.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $187,324. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $55,000, with a median of $9,500. The largest grants were $55,000 each to Boldi Exceptional Youth Services for its Parents as Teachers program and Variety the Children’s Charity of Detroit to underwrite adaptive bicycles for children with special needs.
Other grants included $12,500 to FAR Therapeutic Arts and Recreation for scholarships for children with special needs; $10,000 each to The Family Center, The Fowler Center, and Penrickton Center for Blind Children; and $9,000 to Full Circle Foundation. Kids on the Go received $7,324 for speech-language programs for children with special needs, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra received $2,000 for its sensory-friendly program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mrs William P Heller Jr as president and Mrs Arther H Getz as vice president/secretary. Directors listed are Mrs John B Warren Jr, Mrs David M Hempstead, Mrs Peter Durand, Mrs Charles L Henritzy, Mrs George A Nicholson III, Mrs Leonard W Smith, Mrs John Schneider, and Mrs Thomas R Quilter.
Sigma Gamma Foundation is led by William P. Heller Jr., President since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 15 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William P. Heller Jr.
President
Vice President → President, 2020
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles L. Henritzy
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David M. Hempstead
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George A. Nicholson III
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James F. Whitehead III
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John B. Warren Jr.
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Schneider
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leonard W. Smith
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lloyd A. Semple
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Durand
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas R. Quilter
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Garland M. Knight III
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roger W. Hull Jr.
Vice President Nominee
President → Vice President Nominee, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arther H. Getz
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert R. Lubera
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: John C. Donnelly Jr. (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Keith E. Crain (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Ronald K. Dalby (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Betsie Getz (2019) — Director
- Former: Charles Davis (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Sigma Gamma Foundation
How much does Sigma Gamma Foundation give each year?
Sigma Gamma Foundation gave $187K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $187K across 8 grants.
What is Sigma Gamma Foundation's typical grant size?
Sigma Gamma Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $9,500, and its average grant was $15,610, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sigma Gamma Foundation give grants?
Sigma Gamma Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, MI (2 grants), Detroit, MI (2 grants), Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (2 grants) and Grosse Pointe Park, MI (2 grants).
Does Sigma Gamma Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Sigma Gamma Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Sigma Gamma Foundation's largest grantees?
Sigma Gamma Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Boldi Exceptional Youth Services ($55,000), Variety the Children's Charity of Detroit ($55,000) and Far Therapeutic Arts and Recreation ($12,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sigma Gamma Foundation?
Sigma Gamma Foundation reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $187K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $206K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Sigma Gamma Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for children with special needs, therapeutic and recreational programs, accessibility, and community activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sigma Gamma Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Sigma Gamma Foundation's EIN?
Sigma Gamma Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6074066. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Sigma Gamma 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sigma Gamma Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Patrick and Christie Scoggin
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
The foundation supports education, food access, homelessness services, and youth programming, with most of its grants going to organizations in Michigan. In 2025, it made 20 grants totaling $101,649; grants ranged from $500 to $50,236, with a median of $1,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
20
Total Given
$102K
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Detroit, MI
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan funds nonprofits working in economic opportunity, health equity, youth and education, arts and culture, and public space and the environment across seven southeast Michigan counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though awards varied widely; organizations begin with a brief proposal, and selected applicants are invited to submit a full application.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
938
Total Given
$105.1M
Childrens Charities at Adios
Clinton Township, MI
Children’s Charities at Adios funds charities serving children, including programs for children with special needs, blindness, and therapeutic needs. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,700 to $22,500, with a median of $8,600, and went mostly to Michigan organizations, with some funding in Florida. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$101K
Grants
13
Total Given
$121K
Aa Van Elslander Foundation
Birmingham, MI
The A.A. Van Elslander Foundation funds Michigan 501(c)(3) public charities serving Michigan communities, with a focus on children, health, and human services—especially addiction, cognitive and developmental disabilities, and eyesight. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $4 million, with a median of $50,000. It accepts unsolicited online inquiries September 1–30; qualifying organizations are invited to submit a full application.
Assets
$12.6M
Grants
26
Total Given
$8.0M
Detroit Industrial School
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Detroit Industrial School funds nonprofit projects that directly benefit children, including basic needs, education, enrichment, recreation, and specialized support. Recent grants ranged from $1,000 to $5,000, typically about $4,000, for agencies serving children in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
36
Total Given
$136K
The Melly Foundation
Sarasota, FL
The Melly Foundation supports preselected 501(c)(3) organizations through general, unrestricted grants across varied charitable missions. In 2025, it awarded 49 grants ranging from $100 to $123,563, with a median of $2,500; recipients were primarily in Florida, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$23.7M
Grants
49
Total Given
$1.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sigma Gamma Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sigma-gamma-foundation-morg_8cbea2cc7a734f93945c740e23775a3e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_386074066_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sigma Gamma Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sigma-gamma-foundation-morg_8cbea2cc7a734f93945c740e23775a3e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Sigma Gamma Foundation'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.
Sigma Gamma Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?