The Herrington-fitch Family Foundation
The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1996 and based in Traverse City, Michigan. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and has been tax-exempt since March 1998. It functions as a grantmaking foundation supporting charitable causes across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$186K
+29.1% YoY
Grant Count
35
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+29.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving focuses on:
- Art and cultural programs
- Education
- Nature conservation
The foundation also supports the John Lee Endowment as part of its grantmaking activities.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 35 grants in 2023, with total giving of $144,250 that year. Grant amounts typically range from $25 to $124,356.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, Massachusetts, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,767,391
- Total Revenues: $96,372
- Total Expenses: $155,383
- Investment Income and Dividends: $88,771
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2.79 million
- Revenue: $224,000
- Expenses: $200,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
176 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Tart Trails ($100,000), Inland Seas Education Association ($51,000), Northwestern University ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS DES MOINES, IA | HURICAN MILTON | $2,025 |
| CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY MT PLEASANT, MI | GENERAL CHARITABLE | $100 |
| CMU PUBLIC TELEVISION MT PLEASANT, MI | GENERAL CHARITABLE | $200 |
| CONSERVATION RESOURCE ALLIANCE TRAVERSE CITY, MI | GENERAL CHARITABLE | $100 |
| COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONS GRAND HAVEN, MI | GENERAL CHARITABLE | $1,500 |
| CROOKED TREES ARTS CENTER TRAVERSE CITY, MI | GENERAL CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER TRAVERSE CITY, MI | GENERAL CHARITABLE | $500 |
| ELK RAPIDS AREA EDUCATION FUND ELK RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| ELK RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY ELK RAPIDS, MI | BELL TOWER REPAIR | $2,950 |
| ELK RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY ELK RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL CHARITABLE | $100 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Leslie Lee serves as President of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LESLIE LEE | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| BYRDIE BUTKA | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 2 | — |
| LEE GEORGS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 2210 Traverse City, MI 49685-2210
Telephone: 231-632-5240
EIN: 38-3331023
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Herrington-fitch Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • Art and cultural programs • Education • Nature conservation The foundation also supports the John Lee Endowment as part of its grantmaking activities.
How do I apply for a grant from The Herrington-fitch Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 35 grants in 2023, with total giving of $144,250 that year. Grant amounts typically range from $25 to $124,356. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Inland Seas Education Association: $51,000 (General Charitable) • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: $50,000 (Dimethyl Sulfide Research Project) • Torch Lake Protection Alliance: $10,100 (General Charitable) The foundation has also supported organizations including the Northwestern Michigan Community Action Agency.
Where does The Herrington-fitch Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, Massachusetts, and Illinois.
What size grants does The Herrington-fitch Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Herrington-fitch Family Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $186K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Herrington-fitch Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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