SME Education Foundation
SME Education Foundation is a Southfield, Michigan-based organization that supports education and career preparation in manufacturing and engineering. Its activities include the SME PRIME high-school program, scholarships for students pursuing technical fields, and educational events.
SME Education Foundation at a glance
In short: SME Education Foundation gave $6.7M across 47 grants in 2024 (avg $142K), mostly in Michigan. 60% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,696,667
- +90.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 47
- +14.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $142,482
- +66.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $177,617
- Total assets
- $31,767,607
- -6.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (28 of 47, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (59% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to SME Education Foundation
- How to Apply
-
For scholarships, create an account and submit one application to be considered for eligible awards. The website lists a student statement explaining educational and career objectives, motivation for pursuing manufacturing or engineering, and how a scholarship would affect future aspirations as part of the application.
- Review Cycle
- Scholarship applications are accepted annually from November 1 through February 1.
- Deadline
- Scholarship applications are accepted annually from November 1 through February 1.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1000 Town Center 1910, Southfield, MI 48075
Phone: (313) 425-3000
Website: https://smeef.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from SME Education Foundation
Who SME Education Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hall County Schools ($407K). Together the top 10 received $2.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
174 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 174 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan (59%), Georgia (33%), Illinois (4%), Pennsylvania (3%), and New York (1%). These figures describe the locations of 2024 grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is SME Education Foundation open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 28 of 47 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $155K; repeat grants $124K. How we count
Medians: $187K first-time, $157K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $605K (2019) to $6.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 47 grants totaling $6.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hall County Schools Gainesville, GA | Prime School Support | $406,575 |
| Caledonia High School Caledonia, MI | Prime School Support | $299,291 |
| Owosso High School Owosso, MI | Prime School Support | $286,162 |
| Lakeview High School St Clair Shores, MI | Prime School Support | $283,158 |
| Lincoln Senior High School Ypsilanti, MI | Prime School Support | $269,301 |
| Kelloggsville High School Grand Rapids, MI | Prime School Support | $253,579 |
| Ypsilanti Community High School Ypsilanti, MI | Prime School Support | $250,883 |
| Proviso West High School Hillside, IL | Prime School Support | $237,242 |
| Saline High School Saline, MI | Prime School Support | $236,088 |
| Waverly Senior High School Lansing, MI | Prime School Support | $232,297 |
Ready to take the next step with SME Education Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31,767,607 | $8,020,945 | $9,699,217 | $6,696,667 | 47 | $1,848,323 |
| 2023 | $34,031,281 | $13,500,175 | $6,734,144 | $3,514,678 | 41 | $1,219,913 |
| 2022 | $24,135,298 | $2,711,665 | $7,977,995 | $4,947,243 | 39 | $1,213,152 |
| 2021 | $34,257,056 | $11,054,523 | $3,765,745 | $1,046,924 | 22 | $2,307,790 |
| 2020 | $26,838,033 | $2,762,932 | $4,484,233 | $1,823,092 | 25 | $1,418,252 |
| 2019 | $27,110,002 | $6,219,030 | $3,481,601 | $604,954 | 16 | $2,085,230 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to prepare future engineers and technologists for manufacturing careers through STEM-focused outreach, and to operate for charitable and educational purposes.
Its 2024 filing describes SME PRIME as providing high-school students with hands-on manufacturing training through advanced technologies, industry-led curriculum, job shadowing, and mentoring. In 2024, the foundation reported donating $6,679,111 in cash, equipment, and curriculum to schools in the PRIME network. The filing also reports scholarships for graduating high-school seniors and students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral degrees in manufacturing engineering, manufacturing technology, and related fields. It reports that 144 students received scholarships totaling $816,101 across 123 higher-education institutions. Other activities included sponsorship of a girls’ STEM camp and assistance to SME student chapters.
The foundation’s website describes its scholarship program as offering merit- and need-based awards, including renewing and one-time awards. It lists graduating high-school seniors and current college students pursuing technical fields that support manufacturing as eligible applicants. Its qualifying majors include fields such as manufacturing and industrial engineering, robotics, mechatronics, and supply chain management.
The organizations receiving grants include schools and education-related organizations. For example, Troup County College & Career Academy describes its mission as producing work-savvy graduates through hands-on, career-focused education. The Grand Rapids Public Schools Foundation describes its mission as securing resources and removing barriers so students in its school system can learn, develop, and thrive. Gainesville High School’s grantee mission statement describes financial support for its football programs and educational opportunities for participating students.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 47 grants totaling $6,696,667. Grant amounts ranged from $9,500 to $406,575, with a median of $177,617. The largest listed grants were primarily for “PRIME SCHOOL SUPPORT.”
The largest reported grants included $406,575 to Hall County Schools in Gainesville, Georgia; $299,291 to Caledonia High School in Michigan; $286,162 to Owosso High School in Michigan; $283,158 to Lakeview High School in Michigan; and $269,301 to Lincoln Senior High School in Michigan. Other listed recipients included Kelloggsville High School ($253,579), Ypsilanti Community High School ($250,883), Proviso West High School ($237,242), Saline High School ($236,088), Waverly Senior High School ($232,297), Gainesville High School ($230,942), and Northwest Education Services Career Tech ($230,449).
The foundation also runs a scholarship program for individual students. Its website describes a single application that considers students for each scholarship for which they are eligible. The stated basic criteria include being a graduating high-school senior or current college student, having at least a 2.0 GPA, pursuing a degree in manufacturing, engineering, or a related discipline, and attending an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada. The website lists awards of $2,500 to $20,000 and says applications are accepted annually from November 1 through February 1.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Frank Ervin III as president; Erica Powell Bell as vice president; and Andrew Jones as secretary/treasurer. It lists Adam Claytor, Valerie Freeman, Matthew Hilgendorf, Joe Kann, Robert Komljenovic, Peter Mancini, and Art McClellan as directors.
SME Education Foundation is led by Robert Willig, Executive Director & CEO on every filing since 2021; 4 of 22 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert Willig
Executive Director & CEO
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$34K (2021) → $0 (2024)
Frank Ervin III
President
Director → Vice President & Acting President, 2021
Vice President & Acting President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Wooley
Director & Education Programs
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$109K (2021) → $139K (2024)
Christian Jensen
Director & Institutional Giving
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$117K (2024)
Joe Kann
Director
Vice President & Acting President → President, 2021
President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Miller
Director
Secretary & Treasurer → President, 2022
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Claytor
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Art McClellan
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Rake
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kyle Riegel
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Komljenovic
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Freeman
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joanne Williams
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Michalski
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Mancini
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Kreamer
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Hilgendorf
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Craig Connop
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$7K (2019) → $0 (2024)
Robert Luce
Vice President & Sme Education Foundation
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$145K (2019) → $259K (2024)
Ronald Scozzari
Manager & Education Programs
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$108K (2024)
Andrew Jones
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erica Powell Bell
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Kimberly Green (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Marion Wells (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert W. Ivester (2023) — Director -
- Former: Winston F. Erevelles (2023) — Director -
- Former: Sandra Bouckley (2019–2021) — Former Leadership Transition Consultant
- Former: Wayne F. Frost (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Joe Tate (2021) — Director
- Former: Meghan West (2021) — Director
- Former: Brian Ruestow (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Irving Pressley McPhail (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Pamela Ruschau (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Gwendolyn Malone (2019) — Director
- Former: Julie Duff (2019) — Vice President & Finance
- Former: Karla Middlebrooks (2019) — Director
- Former: Kathy Burnham (2019) — President
- Former: Mark Stratton (2019) — Director
- Former: Peter F. Mackie (2019) — Treasurer & Chair of Finance
- Former: Ray Betz (2019) — Director -
- Former: Sue Shimoyama (2019) — Vice President & Secretary
- Former: Thomas Bridge (2019) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $259K, to Robert Luce (VP, SME Education Foundation). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about SME Education Foundation
How much does SME Education Foundation give each year?
SME Education Foundation gave $6.7M across 47 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 41 grants.
What is SME Education Foundation's typical grant size?
SME Education Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $177,617, and its average grant was $142,482, across 47 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from SME Education Foundation that year got $155K on average.
Where does SME Education Foundation give grants?
SME Education Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (3 grants), Gainesville, GA (2 grants), Ypsilanti, MI (2 grants) and Grand Rapids, MI (2 grants).
Does SME Education Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 47 grants with a stated purpose on SME Education Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Prime School Support" (47 grants).
Who are SME Education Foundation's largest grantees?
SME Education Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hall County Schools ($406,575), Caledonia High School ($299,291) and Owosso High School ($286,162), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is SME Education Foundation?
SME Education Foundation reported $31.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.0M.
What does SME Education Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to prepare future engineers and technologists for manufacturing careers through STEM-focused outreach, and to operate for charitable and educational purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from SME Education Foundation?
For scholarships, create an account and submit one application to be considered for eligible awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is SME Education Foundation's EIN?
SME Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2746841. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 7, 2021)
- 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 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in SME Education Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
Leonard & Zelpha McKinnon Trust
Chicago, IL
Assets
$663K
Grants
2
Total Given
$52K
The Valentine Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
Assets
$6.3M
Grants
4
Total Given
$975K
Lorna a Welch Charitable Foundation XXX-XX-XXXX
St. Louis, MO
The Lorna A Welch Charitable Foundation funds educational scholarships, with 2025 grants of $6,500–$19,500 (median $13,000), all to Michigan colleges and universities. Applicants must meet stated academic, activity, service, and Flushing-area residency requirements; the profile does not say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$2.1M
Grants
10
Total Given
$111K
Lear Corporation Charitable Foundation
Southfield, MI
Lear Corporation Charitable Foundation’s 2021 grants supported organizations working in areas such as workforce preparation, civil and human rights, conservation, youth leadership, veterans’ employment, and hunger relief, with grantees in Michigan and New York. Its 10 grants averaged about $111,000, with examples ranging from $25,000 to $100,000; although it stated it did not restrict giving to preselected organizations, no application process is specified.
Assets
—
Grants
10
Total Given
$1.1M
Wea Member Benefits Foundation Inc
Madison, WI
The foundation funds Wisconsin public schools and communities, with a focus on K–12 student mental health, student arts, and emergency support. Its 2025 grants were typically $10,000–$20,000, with a median of $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$611K
Grants
11
Total Given
$190K
Terrence S Kaiser
Millington, MI
The foundation funds special projects—not operating support—including community events, schools, children’s programs, camps, and scholarships, with first consideration for the greater Millington, Michigan area though it may fund elsewhere. In 2025, grants ranged from $600 to $17,750, with a median of $3,000. It accepts unsolicited requests; applicants must request an official application by email.
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
13
Total Given
$68K
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). SME Education Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sme-education-foundation-morg_b56156b7f58b4f93ae55e4725fd9e5bf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382746841_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{SME Education Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sme-education-foundation-morg_b56156b7f58b4f93ae55e4725fd9e5bf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 SME Education 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.
SME Education Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?