Speyer Foundation
The Speyer Foundation is a private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan. Its filings report grants to charitable organizations, including universities, community organizations, and organizations working in areas such as conservation and social services.
Speyer Foundation at a glance
In short: Speyer Foundation gave $17K across 38 grants in 2023 (avg $443.079), top state Michigan. 0% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $16,837
- -96.8% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 38
- -2.6% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $443
- -96.8% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $341
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 38, 2023)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (47% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Speyer 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 75000, Detroit, MI 48275-7874
Phone: (313) 222-3018
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Speyer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Northwestern University ($2K). Together the top 10 received $11K.
Grant Size Distribution
117 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 112 grants of 117 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 47% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 12% to Illinois, 8% each to New York and Washington, and 7% to the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Speyer Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 0 of 38 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 97% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2023). 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 2021 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2023) to $800K (2021). In 2023 it made 38 grants totaling $17K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Support for Daily | $2,033 |
| Washtenaw Community College Foundation Ann Arbor, MI | Support for Daily | $1,267 |
| Eastern Michigan University Foundation Ypsilanti, MI | Support for Daily | $1,267 |
| Northwest Indian College Bellingham, WA | Support for Daily | $1,267 |
| Ocean Conservancy Inc Washington, DC | Support for Daily | $1,014 |
| Nature Conservancy Inc Arlington, VA | Support for Daily | $1,014 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | Support for Daily | $930 |
| Catholic Relief Services Bartimore, MD | Support for Daily | $930 |
| St Mary's Chapel Annn Arbor, MI | Support for Daily | $509 |
| St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church Ann Arbor, MI | Support for Daily | $509 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $318 | $34,916 | $16,837 | 38 | $21,014 | — | $1,249 |
| 2022 | $34,594 | $16,903 | $543,479 | $533,091 | 39 | $533,091 | $6,515 | $26,206 |
| 2021 | $561,163 | $136,748 | $815,417 | $800,000 | 40 | — | $7,719 | $34,732 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Speyer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2023 — 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 2023 grants included support for educational organizations: Northwestern University describes its mission as combining excellent teaching and innovative research with students’ personal and intellectual growth, while Northwest Indian College says it provides postsecondary opportunities addressing the academic, vocational, and cultural needs of Native American communities.
Other recipients describe work in conservation and community services. Ocean Conservancy says it unites science, people, and policy to protect the ocean; Legacy Land Conservancy describes its mission as safeguarding southern Michigan’s land and water. Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw describes providing services including food and basic-needs assistance, mental health services, and support for older adults.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 38 grants totaling $16,837 in 2023, compared with 39 grants totaling $533,091 in 2022 and 40 grants totaling $800,000 in 2021. In 2023, grants ranged from $88 to $2,033, with a median grant of $341. The largest listed grant was $2,033 to Northwestern University. Other listed grants included $1,267 each to Washtenaw Community College Foundation, Eastern Michigan University Foundation, and Northwest Indian College, and $1,014 to Ocean Conservancy.
The 2023 filing lists the grant purpose as “SUPPORT FOR DAILY” for these grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Rita S Barnard, Holly Zugay, and Philip A Greasley as directors.
Speyer Foundation's 2023 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Holly Zugay
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Philip A. Greasley
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Rita S. Barnard
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2023. "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 Speyer Foundation
How much does Speyer Foundation give each year?
Speyer Foundation gave $17K across 38 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $533K across 39 grants.
What is Speyer Foundation's typical grant size?
Speyer Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $341, and its average grant was $443, across 38 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Speyer Foundation give grants?
Speyer Foundation's top state is Michigan, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (12%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ann Arbor, MI (13 grants), New York, NY (2 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Detroit, MI (2 grants).
Does Speyer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on Speyer Foundation's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Daily" (38 grants).
Who are Speyer Foundation's largest grantees?
Speyer Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Northwestern University ($2,033), Washtenaw Community College Foundation ($1,267) and Eastern Michigan University Foundation ($1,267), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Speyer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Speyer 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 ↑
How much is Speyer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Speyer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Speyer Foundation's EIN?
Speyer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3560538. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2023.
Does Speyer Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 12, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023
Live grants for the work Speyer Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Speyer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Speyer 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.
Speyer Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?