The Gilbert Family Foundation
The Gilbert Family Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, founded in 2015 by Dan Gilbert (Founder & Chairman of Rocket Companies) and Jennifer Gilbert (Founder & CEO of Amber Engine). The foundation operates with a dual mission focused on accelerating a cure for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and building economic opportunity and equity in Detroit.
Key facts about The Gilbert Family Foundation
- EIN
- 35-7294609
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $112,876,372
- Grants made (2024)
- 140
- Average grant
- $806,260
- Median grant
- $162,263
- Primary geography
- Michigan (69% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gilbert Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Gilbert Family Foundation's 140 itemized 2024 grants were Michigan (69%) and 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). 1% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Discretionary Grants" (42 grants), "Arts & Culture" (19 grants) and "Public Spaces" (19 grants).
How The Gilbert Family Foundation gives
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.
Next steps with The Gilbert Family Foundation
- How to evaluate The Gilbert Family Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$112.9M
+19.7% YoY
Grant Count
140
+19.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$806K
+0.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to two primary missions:
Curing Neurofibromatosis (NF1)
- Accelerating a cure for neurofibromatosis type 1 through investments in cutting-edge research
- Gene Therapy Initiative (GTI): developing curative therapies addressing underlying genetic abnormalities in NF1 patients
- Vision Restoration Initiative (VRI): advancing vision restoration therapies
- Brain Tumor Initiative
- Next-Generation Research Models
Building Opportunity in Detroit
- Growing opportunity and equity for Detroit residents who have faced systemic barriers to economic and social mobility
- Housing stability programs
- Economic mobility initiatives
- Arts and culture investments
- Public spaces development
- Small business growth and career connection programs
Since its founding in 2015, the foundation has supported over 6,000 families and invested over $54 million toward NF1 research.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are by invitation only.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
$805,694
Ready to take the next step with The Gilbert Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- Primary focus: Detroit, Michigan (for community development and opportunity building)
- National and international: For neurofibromatosis research
- Funding activities across multiple U.S. states including Michigan, New York, California, and other locations
- International funding in locations such as Sydney
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 140 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $53,066,194
- Total Revenues: $131,783,494
- Total Expenses: $96,724,194
- Number of Employees: 20
Previous Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $36,991,538
- Total Revenues: $38,521,985
- Total Expenses: $109,765,692
- Total Giving: $94,266,226
- Number of Grants: 114-117
- Number of Employees: 15
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
352 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan ($19,200,000), Henry Ford Health System ($16,515,000), Enterprise Community Partners ($8,164,408).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dan Gilbert: Co-Founder and Founder & Chairman of Rocket Companies
- Jennifer Gilbert: Co-Founder and Founder & CEO of Amber Engine; President
- Laura Grannemann: Executive Director
- Jeffrey Morganroth: Secretary
- Matthew Rizik: Treasurer
- Darnell Adams: Vice President, Detroit Community Initiatives
Key personnel do not receive compensation for their roles.
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.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Detroit Neighborhood Commitment Progress (2026):**
In March 2026, the foundation announced progress on its historic $500 million, 10-year commitment to Detroit neighborhoods, launched in 2021 in partnership with Rocket Community Fund. Nearly $300 million has been deployed through the end of 2025, putting the initiative ahead of pace toward its $500 million goal. Housing stability programs have helped thousands of Detroit residents remain in their homes, with nearly $52 million in property tax debt eliminated.
Children's National Hospital Receives $8 Million Grant ...**Recent Grants:**
Children's National Hospital received $8 million for neurofibromatosis research advancement
Pitt researchers received $2.2M from the Gilbert Family ...University of Pittsburgh researchers received $2.2 million for NF1 blindness research
Pitt researchers received $2.2M from the Gilbert Family ...$4.45 million contributed to support small business growth and career connection programs in Detroit
Gilbert Family Foundation Contributes $4.45 Million to Support Small Business$615,000 grant awarded to BUILD Institute for empowering Detroit microentrepreneurs
Gilbert Family Foundation Awards $615000 Grant to BUILD ...Grants announced to support artists and strengthen the arts economy during Detroit Month of Design
Contact Information
Address: 1074 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Website: gilbertfamilyfoundation.org
Phone: 313-782-9500
Email: team@gilbertfamilyfoundation.org
EIN: 35-7294609
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Gilbert Family Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to two primary missions: **Curing Neurofibromatosis (NF1)** • Accelerating a cure for neurofibromatosis type 1 through investments in cutting-edge research • Gene Therapy Initiative (GTI): developing curative therapies addressing underlying genetic abnormalities in NF1 patients • Vision Restoration Initiative (VRI): advancing vision restoration therapies • Brain Tumor Initiative • Next-Generation Research Models **Building Opportunity in Detroit** • Growing opportuni…
How do I apply for a grant from The Gilbert Family Foundation?
**Grant Ranges:** • Typical awards range from $250 to $19,200,000 • NF research grants: $10 million - $23 million for major research institutions • Median grant size: $223,000 • Average grant size: $805,694 **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan: $19,200,000 (Arts & Culture) • Henry Ford Health System: $16,515,000 (Next Generation Models) • Enterprise Community Partners: $8,164,408 (Economic Mobility) • Children's National Hospital: $8,000,000 (Neurofibr…
Where does The Gilbert Family Foundation make grants?
• **Primary focus:** Detroit, Michigan (for community development and opportunity building) • **National and international:** For neurofibromatosis research • Funding activities across multiple U.S. states including Michigan, New York, California, and other locations • International funding in locations such as Sydney
What size grants does The Gilbert Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Gilbert Family Foundation awarded 140 grants totaling $112.9M — an average of about $806K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.