The Gilbert Family Foundation
The Gilbert Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan. Its stated mission is to build opportunity for Detroiters and accelerate a cure for neurofibromatosis. The foundation says it collaborates with partners on investments aimed at addressing complex problems.
The Gilbert Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gilbert Family Foundation gave $112.9M across 140 grants in 2024 (avg $806K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $112,876,372
- +19.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 140
- +19.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $806,260
- +0.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $162,263
- Total assets
- $53,066,194
- +43.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Michigan (69% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Gilbert Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says it sometimes issues requests for proposals. A Brain Tumor Initiative request for letters of intent dated January 2026 is a past opportunity; no deadline is provided in the available information.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1074 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 782-9500
Website: https://gilbertfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gilbert Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan ($19.2M). Together the top 10 received $67.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
352 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 103 grants of 352 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Detroit, and its website identifies building opportunity for Detroiters as part of its mission. In 2024, 69% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan. The next largest state shares were Maryland at 10%, Illinois at 4%, Ohio at 3%, and Delaware at 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 140 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Gilbert Family Foundation gives
- 42% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1712% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.2M (2021) to $112.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 140 grants totaling $112.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Detroit, MI | Arts & Culture | $19,200,000 |
| Henry Ford Health System Detroit, MI | Next Generation Models | $16,515,000 |
| Enterprise Community Partners Columbia, MD | Economic Mobility | $8,164,408 |
| Invest Detroit Detroit, MI | Detroit Community Initiatives | $6,880,880 |
| Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency Detroit, MI | Discretionary Grants | $3,893,568 |
| CHN Housing Partners Cleveland, OH | Detroit Community Initiatives | $2,907,500 |
| Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | Economic Mobility | $2,625,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Detroit Community Initiatives | $2,621,931 |
| Cranbrook Educational Community Bloomfield, IL | Arts & Culture | $2,599,838 |
| Downtown Detroit Partnership Detroit, MI | Public Spaces | $2,502,480 |
Ready to take the next step with The Gilbert Family 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 | $53,066,194 | $131,783,494 | $96,724,194 | $112,876,372 | 140 | $116,867,502 | $59,954,271 | $1,658,592 |
| 2023 | $36,991,538 | $38,521,985 | $109,765,692 | $94,266,226 | 117 | $97,706,758 | $7,144,124 | $3,580,660 |
| 2022 | $92,102,983 | $21,008,568 | $77,737,179 | $41,133,421 | 93 | $47,562,773 | $626,926 | $2,284,246 |
| 2021 | $16,505,480 | $22,733,689 | $12,728,209 | $6,228,209 | 2 | $6,228,209 | — | $426,401 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gilbert Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its Detroit work as addressing barriers to economic and social mobility. Its stated initiatives include housing stability, economic mobility, public spaces, and arts and culture. It also supports research intended to accelerate a cure for neurofibromatosis, with initiatives in vision restoration, brain tumor research, gene therapy, and next-generation NF1 models.
The 2024 filing lists grant purposes including arts and culture, next-generation models, economic mobility, Detroit community initiatives, discretionary grants, and public spaces. Recipients represent different kinds of organizations. For example, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan describes its mission as expanding equitable access to opportunity in the region; Henry Ford Health describes its mission as improving people’s lives through health care and healing; and Enterprise Community Partners describes its mission as making home and community places of pride, belonging, resilience, and upward mobility.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 140 grants totaling $112,876,372. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $19,200,000, with a median of $162,262.
Among its largest reported 2024 grants were $19,200,000 to Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for arts and culture; $16,515,000 to Henry Ford Health System for next-generation models; $8,164,408 to Enterprise Community Partners for economic mobility; $6,880,880 to Invest Detroit for Detroit community initiatives; and $3,893,568 to Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency for discretionary grants. Other large grants included $2,907,500 to CHN Housing Partners for Detroit community initiatives, $2,625,000 to Michigan State University for economic mobility, $2,621,931 to Johns Hopkins University for Detroit community initiatives, $2,502,480 to Downtown Detroit Partnership for public spaces, and $2,500,000 to Delaware State University for arts and culture.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jennifer Gilbert as president, Jeffrey Morganroth as secretary, Matthew Rizik as treasurer, and Laura Grannemann as executive director. The foundation’s website identifies Dan and Jennifer Gilbert as its founders.
The Gilbert Family Foundation is led by Jennifer Gilbert, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jennifer Gilbert
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Grannemann
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
24 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Morganroth
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Rizik
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Yoori Kim (2021–2022) — Scientific Officer
- Former: Jay Farner (2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 The Gilbert Family Foundation
How much does The Gilbert Family Foundation give each year?
The Gilbert Family Foundation gave $112.9M across 140 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $94.3M across 117 grants.
What is The Gilbert Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gilbert Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $162,263, and its average grant was $806,260, across 140 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Gilbert Family Foundation give grants?
The Gilbert Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (64 grants), Ann Arbor, MI (4 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Chicago, IL (3 grants).
Does The Gilbert Family Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of The Gilbert Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 140) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Discretionary Grants" (42 grants), "Arts & Culture" (19 grants) and "Public Spaces" (19 grants).
Who are The Gilbert Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gilbert Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan ($19,200,000), Henry Ford Health System ($16,515,000) and Enterprise Community Partners ($8,164,408), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Gilbert Family Foundation?
The Gilbert Family Foundation reported $53.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $116.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Gilbert Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its Detroit work as addressing barriers to economic and social mobility. Its stated initiatives include housing stability, economic mobility, public spaces, and arts and culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gilbert Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Gilbert Family Foundation's EIN?
The Gilbert Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-7294609. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does The Gilbert Family 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
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 19, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work The Gilbert Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Gilbert Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Gilbert Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-gilbert-family-foundation-morg_3e75c1ea70e041a9b075ead85a6b3959
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_357294609_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Gilbert Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-gilbert-family-foundation-morg_3e75c1ea70e041a9b075ead85a6b3959},
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 The Gilbert Family 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.
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