The Ludington Family Foundation
The Ludington Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Sanford, Michigan. In its 2025 filing, it reported 28 grants totaling $29,500 to organizations in Michigan and other states.
The Ludington Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ludington Family Foundation gave $30K across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Michigan. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $29,500
- +10.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- -3.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,054
- +14.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $727,819
- +2.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (6 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (86% 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 Ludington Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says to apply by letter to Thomas L. Ludington. It reports no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Thomas L Ludington
Mailing address: 299 Barden Rd, Sanford, MI 49657-9534
Phone: (989) 631-2370
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ludington Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation ($5K). Together the top 10 received $23K.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 147 grants of 147 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan. The remaining shares were Indiana (5%), California (5%), Illinois (2%), and Georgia (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ludington Family Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 28 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $692; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $375 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 72% 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 $25K (2021) to $37K (2023). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $30K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation Petoskey, MI | Operating | $5,000 |
| Midland First United Methodist Church Midland, MI | Operating | $5,000 |
| Albion College Endowment Albion, MI | Operating | $5,000 |
| Center for the Arts Midland Michigan Midland, MI | Operating | $1,500 |
| Purdue Foundation West Lafayette, IN | Operating | $1,500 |
| University of San Diego School of Law San Diego, CA | Operating | $1,500 |
| United Way of Midland County Midland, MI | Operating | $1,200 |
| Sanford Lake Association Sanford, MI | Operating | $1,000 |
| SVSU Foundation University Center, MI | Operating | $1,000 |
| Midland Open Door Midland, MI | Operating | $600 |
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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 | $727,819 | $65,959 | $48,155 | $29,500 | 28 | $31,984 | $23,089 | $44,467 |
| 2024 | $710,015 | $86,652 | $55,091 | $26,625 | 29 | $31,910 | $39,117 | $40,553 |
| 2023 | $678,454 | $-2,962 | $44,482 | $37,320 | 33 | $37,486 | $16,253 | $36,380 |
| 2022 | $725,898 | $60,121 | $44,206 | $26,600 | 31 | $28,954 | $20,547 | $35,715 |
| 2021 | $709,983 | $110,418 | $41,315 | $25,350 | 26 | $27,556 | $57,171 | $38,970 |
| 2020 | $640,880 | $23,341 | $45,494 | $29,200 | 24 | — | $9,155 | $32,796 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ludington Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation says its mission is to improve quality of life in Emmet County through philanthropy and community grantmaking. United Way of Midland County describes its mission as improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of the Midland community. The Little Forks Conservancy says it works to protect and improve natural environments in Mid-Michigan.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $29,500. Grants ranged from $150 to $5,000, with a median of $500. Its largest grants were $5,000 each to the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, Midland First United Methodist Church, and Albion College Endowment. Other recipients included Center for the Arts Midland Michigan ($1,500), Purdue Foundation ($1,500), University of San Diego School of Law ($1,500), United Way of Midland County ($1,200), Sanford Lake Association ($1,000), and SVSU Foundation ($1,000). The filing lists the purpose of these grants as operating.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas L. Ludington as president, treasurer, and director, and Katrina K. Ludington as secretary and director.
The Ludington Family Foundation is led by Thomas L. Ludington, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas L. Ludington
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katrina K. Ludington
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 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.
Frequently asked questions about The Ludington Family Foundation
How much does The Ludington Family Foundation give each year?
The Ludington Family Foundation gave $30K across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 29 grants.
What is The Ludington Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ludington Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,054, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ludington Family Foundation that year got $692 on average.
Where does The Ludington Family Foundation give grants?
The Ludington Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Indiana (5%) and California (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Midland, MI (10 grants), Grand Rapids, MI (2 grants) and Bay City, MI (2 grants).
Does The Ludington Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Ludington Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ludington Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ludington Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation ($5,000), Midland First United Methodist Church ($5,000) and Albion College Endowment ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ludington Family Foundation?
The Ludington Family Foundation reported $728K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (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 Ludington Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation says its mission is to improve quality of life in Emmet County through philanthropy and community grantmaking. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ludington Family Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says to apply by letter to Thomas L. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ludington Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ludington Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3323700. 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 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 June 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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