Song Foundation
Song Foundation is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado, that supports Black, Brown, and immigrant-led and -serving organizations in Southeast Michigan. Its stated priority communities are Flint, Detroit, Dearborn, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor.
Song Foundation at a glance
In short: Song Foundation gave $2.5M across 50 grants in 2025 (avg $50K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,520,000
- -0.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 50
- +16.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $50,400
- -14.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $24,863,778
- -1.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (98% 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 Song Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing statement says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website also describes a brief application form for potential grantees, with requests screened by staff and reviewed further with leadership if they meet basic criteria. The form asks for an organization’s name, EIN, mission, operating budget, contact information, and a brief project statement; the website asks applicants not to submit a separate document and to apply only once per year per project. It says requests should fit the foundation’s funding areas.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists three application windows for fiscal year September 1, 2026–August 31, 2027. Cycle I, September 1–18, 2026, has passed. The remaining listed windows are January 5–22, 2027, and May 3–21, 2027, both closing at 5 p.m. Eastern. The listed decision dates are no later than March 31 and July 31, 2027, respectively.
- Deadline
- The website lists three application windows for fiscal year September 1, 2026–August 31, 2027.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co 8181 E Tufts Ave Suite 600, Denver, CO 80237
Phone: (734) 730-4298
Website: https://song.foundation
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Song Foundation
Who Song Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was ACLU Fund of Michigan ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
129 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 129 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its funding is limited to organizations located in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Dearborn, or Flint. It identifies these as priority communities within Southeast Michigan. For national organizations working in a target geography, it requests an application in partnership with a local organization. In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan; 1% went to California and 1% to the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
Cities
How Song Foundation gives
- 14% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 396% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 229% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $265K (2021) to $2.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 50 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU Fund of Michigan Detroit, MI | General Purpose | $250,000 |
| Life Remodeled Detroit, MI | General Purpose | $200,000 |
| Michigan Immigrant Rights Center Ypsilanti, MI | General Purpose | $200,000 |
| Detroit Future City Detroit, MI | General Purpose | $185,000 |
| Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Ann Arbor, MI | General Purpose | $150,000 |
| Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation Detroit, MI | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Joe Louis Greenway Partnership Detroit, MI | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Metro Solutions Inc Southfield, MI | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Michigan Founder Fund Ann Arbor, MI | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative Detroit, MI | General Purpose | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Song Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 grant total covered 50 grants; the 2024 total covered 43, and the 2023 total covered 23.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,863,778 | $3,215,284 | $3,580,885 | $2,520,000 | 50 | $3,340,541 | $2,742,874 | $1,459,455 |
| 2024 | $25,150,472 | $872,077 | $3,602,467 | $2,540,500 | 43 | $3,460,825 | $810,941 | $1,438,015 |
| 2023 | $27,790,805 | $1,092,294 | $2,846,482 | $1,746,000 | 23 | $2,588,674 | $588,923 | $2,172,583 |
| 2022 | $31,051,060 | $-1,223,709 | $954,429 | $508,000 | 8 | $813,553 | $247,515 | $1,043,516 |
| 2021 | $33,230,450 | $9,968,649 | $460,233 | $265,000 | 5 | $325,866 | $806,016 | $1,362,187 |
| 2020 | $23,774,140 | $16,871,439 | $1,557,373 | $1,495,000 | 7 | — | $636,362 | $540,897 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Song Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Song Foundation supports efforts that prepare and build pipelines for children, youth, and young adults to shape local policies and communities; digital equity efforts that help grassroots organizations bridge the digital divide and make the local technology ecosystem more inclusive; and civic engagement, grassroots organizing, and culture and movement-building.
Its 2025 grants included organizations with varied missions. LIFE REMODELED says it brings communities and organizations together to revitalize Detroit neighborhoods equitably and sustainably. Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation says it creates opportunities for youth and families, primarily in Southwest Detroit. Nation Outside says it empowers system-impacted individuals by educating communities about relevant policies and supporting reentry. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Song Foundation reported 50 grants totaling $2,520,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000. The foundation’s website says most of its grants are for general operating support and that most grants range from $5,000 to $150,000, with some larger grants. It also makes multi-year grants.
Notable 2025 grants included $250,000 to ACLU Fund of Michigan, $200,000 to LIFE REMODELED, $200,000 to Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, $185,000 to Detroit Future City, and $150,000 to Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. The filing lists each of these grants as general purpose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Douglas Song as lifetime director, Linh Song as board chair and lifetime director, Khalilah Gaston as executive director, Omari Rush as treasurer, and C’Ardiss Gardner Gleser as secretary.
Song Foundation is led by Khalilah Gaston, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 2 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Khalilah Gaston
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$141K (2022) → $248K (2025)
Linh Song
Board Chair & Lifetime Director
Member, Director & Treasurer → Board Chair & Lifetime Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Song
Lifetime Director
Member, Director & President → Lifetime Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
C'ardiss Gardner Gleser
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$15K (2025)
Omari Rush
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Peter Katz (2020–2024) — Director & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $248K, to Khalilah Gaston (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Song Foundation
How much does Song Foundation give each year?
Song Foundation gave $2.5M across 50 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.5M across 43 grants.
What is Song Foundation's typical grant size?
Song Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $50,400, across 50 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Song Foundation give grants?
Song Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (26 grants), Ann Arbor, MI (9 grants), Dearborn, MI (3 grants) and Southfield, MI (2 grants).
Does Song Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Song Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (50 of 50) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Song Foundation's largest grantees?
Song Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include ACLU Fund of Michigan ($250,000), Life Remodeled ($200,000) and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Song Foundation?
Song Foundation reported $24.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Song Foundation fund?
Song Foundation supports efforts that prepare and build pipelines for children, youth, and young adults to shape local policies and communities; digital equity efforts that help grassroots organizations bridge the digital divide and make the local technology ecosystem more inclusive; and civic engagement, grassroots organizing, and culture and movement-building. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Song Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing statement says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Song Foundation's EIN?
Song Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3950307. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Song 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Song Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Song Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Song Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/song-foundation-morg_1feec22535bc4524903a577582831243
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_843950307_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Song Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/song-foundation-morg_1feec22535bc4524903a577582831243},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Song 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.
Song Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?