The Isabel Foundation
The Isabel Foundation is a private foundation based in Flint, Michigan, focused on grantmaking to nonprofit organizations that support the Christian Science faith and related values. It was established by Isabel and C.S. Harding Mott, whose interests included Christian Science, art, beauty, and healing.
The Isabel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Isabel Foundation gave $3.3M across 82 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), top state California. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,292,000
- +11.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 82
- +17.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,146
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $88,312,914
- +6.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (4 of 62, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (17% 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 Isabel Foundation
- How to Apply
-
U.S. nonprofits registered with the IRS as 501(c)(3) organizations that support the healing ministry of Christian Science may be considered for a grant. First-time applicants should make an initial submission online and are asked to watch the Foundation’s training videos. The Foundation says it cannot fund Christian Science branch churches at this time. Returning grantees use the online application; organizations with multi-year grants must submit progress reports and request pledge payments in the appropriate years.
- Review Cycle
- February 1 for returning grantees making a new grant request. The Foundation’s annual calendar also lists December 15 for progress reports and updates from grantees.
- Deadline
- February 1 for returning grantees making a new grant request.
- Contact
Application contact: Isabel Foundation
Mailing address: 111 East Court Street Suite 3D, Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 767-0136
Website: https://isabel.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Isabel Foundation
Who The Isabel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Adventure Unlimited ($267K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
371 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 273 grants of 371 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in Flint, Michigan, and its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were California (17%), Missouri (15%), Michigan (15%), Colorado (11%), and Massachusetts (11%). Its guidelines state that eligible applicants must be U.S.-based.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 82 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Isabel Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 62 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 32% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2020) to $3.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 82 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure Unlimited Greenwood Village, CO | 2025-2027 Pledge - General Operating | $250,000 |
| The First Church of Christ Scientist Boston Boston, MA | 2024-2026 pledge - youth and young adult activities at the mother church | $200,000 |
| Flint Institute of Arts Flint, MI | Capital Project | $150,000 |
| The Principia St. Louis, MO | 2024-2026 pledge - aron house girls dorm renovation and retrofit | $150,000 |
| The Leaves Inc Richardson, TX | Christian Science Nurses Training Classrooms and Practical Rooms | $125,000 |
| Campership Fund for Christian Scientists in the Se and MW St. Louis, MO | Camperships to CS Camps | $100,000 |
| Crystal Lake Camps Inc Hughesville, PA | Building the future, cherishing the past capital campaign - climbing tower project | $100,000 |
| Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, NY | Matching Grant for General Operating Expenses | $100,000 |
| Flint Institute of Arts Flint, MI | 2025-2027 pledge - art school ceramics program manager position | $85,000 |
| Camps Leelanau & Kohahna Foundation Inc Maple City, MI | 2024-2026 pledge - vehicle, equipment, and general operating expenses | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Isabel 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 | $88,312,914 | $3,551,710 | $3,987,069 | $3,292,000 | 82 | $3,593,413 | $3,198,089 | $4,055,817 |
| 2024 | $83,250,442 | $8,221,417 | $4,044,385 | $2,942,200 | 70 | $3,258,456 | $7,531,722 | $3,583,359 |
| 2023 | $75,052,548 | $5,413,358 | $3,345,476 | $2,585,000 | 83 | $2,918,655 | $4,979,161 | $3,356,075 |
| 2022 | $72,323,225 | $7,661,922 | $3,316,513 | $2,493,700 | 70 | $2,706,657 | $7,111,455 | $3,747,614 |
| 2021 | $83,824,276 | $1,795,770 | $2,963,770 | $2,482,600 | 66 | — | $1,517,745 | $3,420,956 |
| 2020 | $63,044,783 | $918,924 | $2,998,794 | $2,406,434 | 62 | — | $999,753 | $3,003,542 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Isabel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M 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
The Foundation’s grantmaking carries forward the founders’ commitment to the healing power and teachings of Christian Science. Its website also describes a longstanding interest in art, reflected in grants to the Flint Institute of Arts and other Flint-area cultural institutions.
Examples illustrate the range of grantees. Adventure Unlimited describes its mission as providing recreational adventure, leadership, service, education, and community activities that foster spiritual growth and healing in an environment where Christian Science is lived. Arden Wood says it provides Christian Science nursing care, training, and living services. The Flint Institute of Arts says it connects diverse communities through visual art experiences.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 82 grants totaling $3,292,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $250,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $250,000 to Adventure Unlimited for a 2025–2027 general operating pledge; $200,000 to First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, for youth and young adult activities; and $150,000 to the Flint Institute of Arts for a capital project. The Flint Institute of Arts also received $85,000 for a 2025–2027 pledge supporting its art school ceramics program manager position. Other grants included $150,000 to Principia for an Aron House girls’ dorm renovation and retrofit, and $125,000 to The Leaves for Christian Science nurses’ training classrooms and practical rooms.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tiffany W. Lovett as president and trustee; Ridgway H. White as vice president, treasurer, secretary, and trustee; and Jennifer Hebert as trustee. The Foundation’s website also lists Jennifer Hebert, Tiffany Lovett, and Ridgway H. White as trustees.
The Isabel Foundation is led by Tiffany W. Lovett, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tiffany W. Lovett
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$71K (2020) → $83K (2025)
Jennifer Hebert
Trustee
Program Officer & Trustee → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
$89K (2023) → $0 (2025)
Ridgway H. White
V, P, Treasurer, Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: William S. White (2020–2022) — Former V, P & Secretary · Filing note: Deceased 102019
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $83K, to Tiffany W Lovett (President & Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Isabel Foundation
How much does The Isabel Foundation give each year?
The Isabel Foundation gave $3.3M across 82 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.9M across 70 grants.
What is The Isabel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Isabel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $40,146, across 82 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Isabel Foundation that year got $34K on average.
Where does The Isabel Foundation give grants?
The Isabel Foundation's top state is California, with 17% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Missouri (15%) and Michigan (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (5 grants), Los Angeles, CA (5 grants), Overland Park, KS (5 grants) and Flint, MI (4 grants).
Does The Isabel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 49% of The Isabel Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (40 of 82) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "2024-2026 Pledge - Matching" (3 grants).
Who are The Isabel Foundation's largest grantees?
The Isabel Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Adventure Unlimited ($267,000 across 3 grants), Flint Institute of Arts ($235,000 across 2 grants) and The First Church of Christ Scientist Boston ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Isabel Foundation?
The Isabel Foundation reported $88.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Isabel Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s grantmaking carries forward the founders’ commitment to the healing power and teachings of Christian Science. Its website also describes a longstanding interest in art, reflected in grants to the Flint Institute of Arts and other Flint-area cultural institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Isabel Foundation?
U.S. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Isabel Foundation's EIN?
The Isabel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2853004. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Isabel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Isabel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-isabel-foundation-morg_f3cbf2a88f1e4832a1a33af119e1a5be
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382853004_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Isabel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-isabel-foundation-morg_f3cbf2a88f1e4832a1a33af119e1a5be},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Isabel 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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