The Alix Foundation
The Alix Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Michigan. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in education, humanities, health care, and general welfare, among other purposes listed for individual grants.
The Alix Foundation at a glance
In short: The Alix Foundation gave $4.4M across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $273K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,365,248
- -85.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $272,828
- -84.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $23,898
- Total assets
- $63,925,958
- +13.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (6 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (80% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Alix 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: 151 S Old Woodward Ave 400, Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: (248) 554-4900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Alix Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Pennsylvania ($3.5M). Together the top 10 received $4.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 70 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Pennsylvania (80%), Connecticut (5%), New York (5%), Maryland (5%), and Michigan (3%). The listed grants also included recipients in California and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Alix Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 16 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $427K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $38K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 83% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 160% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $470K (2020) to $29.8M (2023). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $4.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Education | $3,500,000 |
| American Friends of Grange Park Opera Foundation Taconic, CT | Humanities | $237,417 |
| Teachers College Columbia University New York, NY | Education | $200,000 |
| The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Education | $200,000 |
| Collegespring Walnut Creek, CA | General Welfare | $50,000 |
| Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation Bloomfield Hills, MI | Education | $32,000 |
| Friends of the Johnson Nature Center Bloomfield Hills, MI | Education | $29,806 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | Health Care | $26,824 |
| Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Triangle, VA | Humanities | $20,971 |
| Motown Historical Museum Inc Detroit, MI | Humanities | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Alix 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $63,925,958 | $4,048,286 | $5,115,956 | $4,365,248 | 16 | $4,472,571 | $996,268 | $2,792,430 |
| 2023 | $56,566,075 | $12,359,258 | $29,993,618 | $29,774,252 | 17 | $29,825,545 | $5,829,904 | $3,096,880 |
| 2022 | $64,067,368 | $3,932,076 | $1,885,660 | $1,548,658 | 11 | $1,587,681 | $1,762,578 | $2,801,076 |
| 2021 | $56,875,395 | $17,380,441 | $25,976,282 | $25,543,112 | 11 | $25,576,525 | $8,784,929 | $3,088,901 |
| 2020 | $65,741,416 | $24,727,302 | $658,525 | $470,446 | 15 | — | $678,783 | $1,808,673 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Alix Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — 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 2024 grants included education, humanities, health care, and general welfare. The grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of work represented: CollegeSpring says it helps students impacted by poverty prepare for college and careers; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center describes work in cancer prevention, treatment, research, and education; and NW Goldberg Cares says it works to improve residents’ lives by supporting neighborhood businesses and community building.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 16 grants totaling $4,365,248. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $3,500,000, with a median of $23,898. The largest grants included $3,500,000 to the University of Pennsylvania for education, $237,417 to American Friends of Grange Park Opera Foundation for humanities, and $200,000 each to Teachers College Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University for education.
The foundation reported grants totaling $29,774,252 across 17 grants in 2023, and $1,548,658 across 11 grants in 2022.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jay Alix as chairman of the board; Robert E Shields as CEO; Arthur J Kubert as VP, CFO, secretary and treasurer; Christine T Alix as president; and Anika F Alix as director.
The Alix Foundation is led by Robert E. Shields, CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert E. Shields
CEO
President & CEO → CEO, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine T. Alix
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$30K (2023) → $43K (2024)
Jay Alix
Chairman of the Board
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anika F. Alix
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$30K (2023) → $43K (2024)
Arthur J. Kubert
Vice President, CFO, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $43K, to Christine T Alix (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Alix Foundation
How much does The Alix Foundation give each year?
The Alix Foundation gave $4.4M across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $29.8M across 17 grants.
What is The Alix Foundation's typical grant size?
The Alix Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $23,898, and its average grant was $272,828, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Alix Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does The Alix Foundation give grants?
The Alix Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (5%) and New York (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Bloomfield Hills, MI (2 grants).
Does The Alix Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 31% of The Alix Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Education" (6 grants) and "Humanities" (3 grants).
Who are The Alix Foundation's largest grantees?
The Alix Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Pennsylvania ($3,500,000), American Friends of Grange Park Opera Foundation ($237,417) and Teachers College Columbia University ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Alix Foundation?
The Alix Foundation reported $63.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Alix Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included education, humanities, health care, and general welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Alix 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 The Alix Foundation's EIN?
The Alix Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3171122. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Alix 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Michigan
Michigan Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Alix Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
The McKesson Foundation funds cancer support and care, healthcare workforce pathways, and emergency response, with grants mainly supporting organizations in the United States and Canada. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though amounts ranged from $10,000 to about $2.47 million. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its application page describes an online application process with stated submission windows.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
The Warburg Pincus Foundation
New York, NY
The Warburg Pincus Foundation supports charitable, educational, and community organizations across fields including the arts, education, journalism, health care, and basic needs, with most 2025 grant dollars going to New York organizations and additional giving in other U.S. states and more than 20 countries. Its 2025 grants ranged from $60 to $492,500, with a median of $6,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
297
Total Given
$5.5M
Mutual of America Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$136K
Grants
539
Total Given
$839K
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Alix Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-alix-foundation-morg_2babeac3a03545b7b6e24282bfe8537b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383171122_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Alix Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-alix-foundation-morg_2babeac3a03545b7b6e24282bfe8537b},
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 The Alix 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.
The Alix Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?