Sustainability Institute of Detroit
Sustainability Institute of Detroit is a private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan. Its 2025 filing reports grants for mission-related consulting services and support for research, development, and spread of sustainable business models, with a stated primary focus on the city of Detroit for the latter grant.
Sustainability Institute of Detroit at a glance
In short: Sustainability Institute of Detroit gave $181K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $181,372
- +17.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,137
- -41.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,247
- Total assets
- $5,598,078
- +1922.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Washington (50% 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 Sustainability Institute of Detroit
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. No application process or required materials are specified.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4444 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: (586) 219-2005
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sustainability Institute of Detroit funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sol Selection LLC ($90K). Together the top 10 received $181K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 20 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The largest 2025 grant supported work with a stated primary focus on Detroit. Reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Washington (50%), Michigan (48%), Illinois (1%), Massachusetts (1%), and an unspecified state (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How Sustainability Institute of Detroit gives
- Giving grew 48% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 975% of 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $103K (2023) to $181K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $181K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sol Selection LLC Seattle, WA | Combating community deterioration by nurturing the research, development and proliferation of new sustainable business models (capacity building) with a primary focus on the city of detroit. | $90,342 |
| Prospect Works Detroit, MI | Mission Related Consulting Services | $49,081 |
| Great Lakes Environmental Law Cente Detroit, MI | Mission Related Consulting Services | $30,000 |
| J Gallagher Contracting LLC Northville, MI | Mission Related Consulting Services | $3,070 |
| WH Canon LLC Romulus, MI | Mission Related Consulting Services | $2,393 |
| Fabrick Design Detroit, MI | Mission Related Consulting Services | $2,100 |
| Germania Seed Company Chicago, IL | Mission Related Consulting Services | $1,786 |
| Stroud House | Mission Related Consulting Services | $1,260 |
| Building Science Westford, MA | Mission Related Consulting Services | $1,190 |
| Green Building Advisor Newtown, CT | Mission Related Consulting Services | $150 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,598,078 | $10,638,131 | $196,194 | $181,372 | 10 | $191,268 | $5,400,806 | — |
| 2024 | $276,786 | $19,628 | $171,586 | $154,356 | 5 | $162,873 | $11,115 | $16,712 |
| 2023 | $428,744 | $233,628 | $106,868 | $102,684 | 2 | $104,753 | $4,122 | $18,108 |
| 2022 | $301,928 | $6,355 | $125,461 | $122,177 | 2 | $123,780 | $4,771 | $17,211 |
| 2021 | $421,034 | $8,306 | $108,830 | $105,837 | 1 | — | $6,944 | $22,767 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available grant descriptions include consulting services and a grant to nurture the research, development, and proliferation of new sustainable business models, with a primary focus on Detroit. One 2025 grantee, Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, describes its mission as providing public-interest legal representation on environmental issues to community organizations, environmental groups, governments, and agencies in Michigan.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $181,372. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $90,342, with a median of $2,246.
The largest reported grants were $90,342 to SOL SELECTION LLC for capacity building related to sustainable business models, $49,081 to Prospect Works for mission-related consulting services, and $30,000 to Great Lakes Environmental Law Center for mission-related consulting services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas S Brennan as president and director; Christopher Uhl as director; and Robert J Weins as secretary, treasurer, and director.
Sustainability Institute of Detroit is led by Thomas S. Brennan, President & Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas S. Brennan
President & Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Uhl
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert J. Weins
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kimberly Williamson (2021–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Sustainability Institute of Detroit
How much does Sustainability Institute of Detroit give each year?
Sustainability Institute of Detroit gave $181K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $154K across 5 grants.
What is Sustainability Institute of Detroit's typical grant size?
Sustainability Institute of Detroit's median grant in 2025 was $2,247, and its average grant was $18,137, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sustainability Institute of Detroit give grants?
Sustainability Institute of Detroit gives mostly in Washington: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Michigan (48%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (3 grants).
Does Sustainability Institute of Detroit give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Sustainability Institute of Detroit's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Mission Related Consulting Services" (9 grants).
Who are Sustainability Institute of Detroit's largest grantees?
Sustainability Institute of Detroit's largest 2025 grantees include Sol Selection LLC ($90,342), Prospect Works ($49,081) and Great Lakes Environmental Law Cente ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sustainability Institute of Detroit?
Sustainability Institute of Detroit reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $10.6M.
What does Sustainability Institute of Detroit fund?
The available grant descriptions include consulting services and a grant to nurture the research, development, and proliferation of new sustainable business models, with a primary focus on Detroit. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sustainability Institute of Detroit?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sustainability Institute of Detroit's EIN?
Sustainability Institute of Detroit's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4029848. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Sustainability Institute of Detroit 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sustainability Institute of Detroit funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sustainability-institute-of-detroit-morg_23ac350973fc4f9fb5a7771963c49605
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_464029848_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sustainability Institute of Detroit funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sustainability-institute-of-detroit-morg_23ac350973fc4f9fb5a7771963c49605},
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 Sustainability Institute of Detroit'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.
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