The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation
The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Michigan. In its 2025 filing, it reported 18 grants totaling $556,820, all to recipients in Michigan.
The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation at a glance
In short: The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation gave $557K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Michigan. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $556,820
- +84.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,934
- +105.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,526,393
- +5.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% 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 Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 401 South Old Woodward 433, Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: (248) 594-6294
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Detroit Symphony Orchestra ($110K). Together the top 10 received $499K.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 102 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 18 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. How we count
- 94% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 158% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $302K (2024) to $557K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $557K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Symphony Orchestra Detroit, MI | For Programming | $110,000 |
| Angel's Place Southfield, MI | For Assistance to Developmentally Challenged Adult Programs | $110,000 |
| Detroit Institute of Arts Detroit, MI | For Programming | $100,000 |
| Detroit Zoological Society Royal Oak, MI | For Programming | $55,000 |
| Loyola High School Detroit, MI | For Educational Programming | $54,320 |
| Cranbrook Institute of Science Bloomfield Hills, MI | For Educational Programming | $20,000 |
| Michigan Humane Society Detroit, MI | For Animal Shelter Programs and Support | $15,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Michigan Chapter Lansing, MI | For Assistance with Environmental Issues | $15,000 |
| Forgotten Harvest Oak Park, MI | For Assistance to Needy Families | $10,000 |
| Beds 4 Kids Oak Park, MI | For Assistance to Needy Families | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Karen & Drew Peslar 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 | $5,526,393 | $1,035,522 | $786,342 | $556,820 | 18 | $660,891 | $930,680 | $418,400 |
| 2024 | $5,264,453 | $488,460 | $524,884 | $301,706 | 20 | $406,618 | $384,161 | $404,686 |
| 2023 | $5,291,867 | $540,830 | $670,183 | $453,670 | 21 | $553,020 | $207,281 | $355,383 |
| 2022 | $5,608,033 | $538,668 | $639,445 | $423,530 | 21 | $520,601 | $349,469 | $363,158 |
| 2021 | $5,788,447 | $920,297 | $636,251 | $427,893 | 22 | $525,548 | $821,469 | $392,479 |
| 2020 | $5,573,302 | $429,648 | $615,187 | $425,492 | 22 | — | $136,255 | $313,745 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $418K 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 grants included support for arts and cultural programming, education, services for people with developmental disabilities, animal welfare, environmental issues, and assistance to families in need.
Grantees describe their work in a range of ways. Angels’ Place says it provides homes and professional support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra describes its work as connecting with the community through music, performances, community initiatives, and music education. The Detroit Zoological Society says it works to connect people, animals, and the natural world. Other grantees describe work that includes animal care and advocacy, reducing hunger and food waste, providing beds to qualifying families, and providing holistic support to people experiencing homelessness.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $556,820. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $110,000, with a median grant of $10,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $110,000 each to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for programming and Angels’ Place for programs serving developmentally challenged adults; $100,000 to the Detroit Institute of Arts for programming; $55,000 to the Detroit Zoological Society for programming; and $54,320 to Loyola High School for educational programming. Other reported grants included $20,000 to the Cranbrook Institute of Science for educational programming and $15,000 each to the Michigan Humane Society and The Nature Conservancy Michigan Chapter.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Drew Peslar as chairman, Karen Peslar as director/treasurer, Samantha Durakovic as director/secretary, and Virginia Webster-Smith as president/executive director.
The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation is led by Virginia Webster-Smith, President & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Virginia Webster-Smith
President & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$54K (2020) → $57K (2025)
Drew Peslar
Chairman
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Durakovic
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $18K (2025)
Karen Peslar
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $57K, to Virginia Webster-Smith (President/Executive Direct). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation
How much does The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation give each year?
The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation gave $557K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $302K across 20 grants.
What is The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation's typical grant size?
The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $30,934, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation give grants?
The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (9 grants) and Oak Park, MI (2 grants).
Does The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "For Educational Programming" (5 grants), "For Programming" (4 grants) and "For Assistance to Needy Families" (4 grants).
Who are The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation's largest grantees?
The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Detroit Symphony Orchestra ($110,000), Angel's Place ($110,000) and Detroit Institute of Arts ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation?
The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $661K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $418K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for arts and cultural programming, education, services for people with developmental disabilities, animal welfare, environmental issues, and assistance to families in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation's EIN?
The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3374272. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Karen & Drew Peslar 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 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 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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
United Jewish Foundation
Bloomfield Hills, MI
United Jewish Foundation funds Jewish community continuity, including Jewish organizations, human services, education, and related community programs. Its 2025 grants had a median of $18,000, though awards ranged widely; 87% of grant dollars went to Michigan, with some support elsewhere. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$761.7M
Grants
274
Total Given
$43.6M
The Skillman Foundation
Detroit, MI
The Skillman Foundation funds Detroit organizations working on education systems change, youth development, and community services that support Detroit youth. Its 2024 grants had a median of $10,000 and ranged from $50 to $500,000; it generally proactively invites partnership applications, though it welcomes connections from organizations and currently accepts applications to its $2,500–$10,000 President’s Discretionary Fund.
Assets
$418.5M
Grants
416
Total Given
$17.8M
DTE Energy Foundation
Detroit, MI
DTE Energy Foundation funds community transformation, human needs, economic development, education, employment, and environmental initiatives, primarily in Michigan. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $10,000, though amounts ranged from $100 to $1.2 million. Its general application process is invitation-only, but it has offered open calls for specific Michigan programs.
Assets
$129.1M
Grants
442
Total Given
$15.8M
Butzel Long Charitable Trust
Detroit, MI
The Butzel Long Charitable Trust supports qualified charitable organizations, with emphasis on legal institutions and bar-related activities, alongside community organizations serving areas where its people live and work, primarily in Michigan. In 2025 it made 54 grants totaling $76,507, ranging from $219 to $10,000, with a median grant of $1,000. It accepts requests by letter; the filing lists a December 31 deadline.
Assets
$35K
Grants
54
Total Given
$77K
Edsel B Ford II Fund
Detroit, MI
The fund supports charitable organizations working in areas such as hunger relief, health, social services, arts and culture, religion, and literacy, with most 2024 funding going to Michigan and some to Idaho and Tennessee. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $35,000, with a median of $8,750. It accepts requests by brief letter with financial and tax-status documents, but awards generally go to organizations already known to and of interest to its contributors.
Assets
$4.9M
Grants
28
Total Given
$259K
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-karen-and-drew-peslar-foundation-morg_5be49ed25e474fc796fe7d88fdf0bd08
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383374272_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Karen \& Drew Peslar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-karen-and-drew-peslar-foundation-morg_5be49ed25e474fc796fe7d88fdf0bd08},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Karen & Drew Peslar 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 Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?