The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation is a private foundation located in Traverse City, Michigan. In 2025, it reported 35 grants totaling $342,343 to charitable organizations, with recipients including Michigan organizations working in education, land conservation, the arts, and other areas.
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation gave $342K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Michigan. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $342,343
- +83.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,781
- +83.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $2,742,426
- -1.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2210, Traverse City, MI 49685
Phone: (231) 632-5240
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Historical Elk Rapids Town Hall Association ($250K). Together the top 10 received $326K.
Grant Size Distribution
176 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 167 grants of 176 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 4% to recipients in Illinois, and 1% to recipients in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 35 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $126K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $126K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 79% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 182% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $144K (2023) to $342K (2025). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $342K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Elk Rapids Town Hall Association Elk Rapids, MI | Help for Building Purchase | $250,000 |
| Inland Seas Education Association Traverse City, MI | Laboratory | $51,200 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | John Lee Endowment | $12,000 |
| American Red Cross Des Moines, IA | Jamaica Hurricane | $2,200 |
| Otsego County Community Foundation Gaylord, MI | General Charitable | $2,118 |
| Elk Rapids Area Education Fund Elk Rapids, MI | General Charitable | $2,000 |
| The National Writers Series Traverse City, MI | General Charitable | $2,000 |
| Council of Michigan Foundations Grand Haven, MI | General Charitable | $1,500 |
| Elk Rapids Scholarship Fund Elk Rapids, MI | General Charitable | $1,500 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Comm Foundation Traverse City, MI | General Charitable | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Herrington-Fitch 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,742,426 | $310,270 | $359,330 | $342,343 | 35 | $346,085 | $301,893 | $189,661 |
| 2024 | $2,791,486 | $224,301 | $200,206 | $186,260 | 35 | $196,003 | $220,701 | $180,479 |
| 2023 | $2,767,391 | $96,372 | $155,383 | $144,250 | 35 | $149,513 | $90,502 | $168,730 |
| 2022 | $2,826,402 | $47,131 | $209,272 | $191,435 | 39 | $195,259 | $108,255 | $175,193 |
| 2021 | $2,988,543 | $262,324 | $228,699 | $202,991 | 32 | $204,847 | $246,472 | $192,939 |
| 2020 | $2,955,179 | $326,197 | $213,653 | $188,685 | 35 | — | $308,865 | $177,713 |
| 2019 | $2,842,635 | $81,270 | $198,094 | $178,435 | 33 | — | $64,166 | $167,876 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $190K for 2025 — 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 2025 grantees included organizations with varied missions. The Inland Seas Education Association describes its mission as inspiring “a lifetime of Great Lakes curiosity, stewardship, and passion in people of all ages.” The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy says it works to protect significant natural, scenic, and farm lands and advance land stewardship. Interlochen Center for the Arts describes its work as engaging and inspiring people through educational, artistic, and cultural programs. Other supported organizations describe missions that include environmental education and land preservation, domestic and sexual violence services, and implementing local solutions at the intersection of ecology, education, and design.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 35 grants totaling $342,343. Grants ranged from $50 to $250,000, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest grants included $250,000 to the Historical Elk Rapids Town Hall Association for help with a building purchase and $51,200 to the Inland Seas Education Association for a laboratory. Other notable grants were $12,000 to Northwestern University for the John Lee Endowment and $2,200 to the American Red Cross for Jamaica hurricane relief.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Leslie Lee as president, Byrdie Butka as secretary, and Lee Georgs as treasurer.
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation is led by Leslie Lee, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leslie Lee
President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Byrdie Butka
Secretary
Vice President → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lee Georgs
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Katherine Cowell (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Mackenzie Cowell (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Whitney Carnevale (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Whitney Cowell (2019–2020) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation
How much does The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation give each year?
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation gave $342K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $186K across 35 grants.
What is The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $9,781, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation that year got $126K on average.
Where does The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation give grants?
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Traverse City, MI (16 grants), Elk Rapids, MI (5 grants), Bellaire, MI (3 grants) and Mt Pleasant, MI (2 grants).
Does The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (27 of 35) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Historical Elk Rapids Town Hall Association ($250,000), Inland Seas Education Association ($51,200) and Northwestern University ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation?
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $346K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $190K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees included organizations with varied missions. The Inland Seas Education Association describes its mission as inspiring “a lifetime of Great Lakes curiosity, stewardship, and passion in people of all ages.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation's EIN?
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3331023. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Herrington-Fitch 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
Traverse City, MI
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation funds community programs, general operations, and capital needs across youth, arts and culture, education, the environment, health and human services, and other regional needs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,120 to $342,944, with a median of $13,460, and it serves Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. It uses application processes for listed grant opportunities; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$120.9M
Grants
116
Total Given
$3.2M
Oleson Foundation
Traverse City, MI
The Oleson Foundation funds sustainable, collaborative nonprofit projects in the arts, community development, education, environment, and health and human services, primarily in six Northwest Michigan counties. Its 2025 grants ranged from $850 to $77,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts applications through its online portal; the annual application period opens February 15 and closes April 1.
Assets
$22.8M
Grants
88
Total Given
$1.6M
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Detroit, MI
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan funds nonprofits working in economic opportunity, health equity, youth and education, arts and culture, and public space and the environment across seven southeast Michigan counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though awards varied widely; organizations begin with a brief proposal, and selected applicants are invited to submit a full application.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
938
Total Given
$105.1M
The Brookby Foundation
Milwaukee, WI
The Brookby Foundation supports community well-being, with 2024 grants spanning arts, environmental conservation, and civic education; most funding went to organizations in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Oregon. Grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $1,500. It accepts unsolicited requests through an online letter of inquiry process, with summer and winter cycles open to new applicants.
Assets
$30.7M
Grants
151
Total Given
$3.5M
Consumers Energy Foundation
Jackson, MI
Consumers Energy Foundation funds Michigan projects focused on basic needs, education and workforce readiness, environmental protection, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and arts and culture, mainly in Lower Peninsula communities served by Consumers Energy. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $5,000; its 2026 Community Impact program offers up to $20,000 per project. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$67.1M
Grants
296
Total Given
$7.5M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-herrington-fitch-family-foundation-morg_e3ef0e2ea4ba40ba89c96d9b992e167d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383331023_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-herrington-fitch-family-foundation-morg_e3ef0e2ea4ba40ba89c96d9b992e167d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Herrington-Fitch 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.
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?