The Michael Foundation Inc
The Michael Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, that supports Waldorf education in North America, with a priority on teacher training. Its 2025 filing reports 15 grants totaling $89,165.
The Michael Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Michael Foundation Inc gave $89K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $89,165
- +1.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,944
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,208,699
- -7.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Michael Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing says applications may be written or verbal and require proof of financial need. The website’s individual-application guidance requests a biographical sketch, three personal and professional references, the requested amount and intended use, other funding sources, relevant dates, and documentation of financial need. Individual tuition grants are generally partial payments made directly to an AWSNA/WECAN member institution or program on the applicant’s behalf. The foundation may consider support for travel when funds allow, but does not fund living expenses. Institutional applicants are asked for information including the requested amount and use of funds, financial statements, proof of 501(c)(3) status, nondiscrimination policies, and DEI information. The foundation does not fund children’s Waldorf-school tuition, teacher living expenses at training centers, training at non-AWSNA/WECAN-accredited institutes, or charter schools.
- Review Cycle
- The stated annual deadline is February 1, with possible exceptions for special needs according to the 2024 filing. The February 1, 2026 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The stated annual deadline is February 1, with possible exceptions for special needs according to the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Edward Hill
Mailing address: 504 Westridge Run, Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone: (484) 995-7005
Email: info@michaelfound.org
Website: https://www.michaelfound.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 Michael Foundation Inc
Who The Michael Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training (Bacwtt) ($14K). Together the top 6 received $53K.
Organizations only. It also paid 9 grants to individuals ($36,165), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 71 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission covers North America: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania (41%), New York (21%), California (16%), Michigan (10%), and New Hampshire (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Michael Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 150% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $83K (2020) to $101K (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $89K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training (Bacwtt) Sausalito, CA | Grant for Scholarships | $14,000 |
| Sunbridge Institute Chestnut Ridge, NY | Grant for Scholarships | $14,000 |
| Detroit Waldorf School Detroit, MI | Adult Intern Training | $9,000 |
| Center for Anthroposophy Wilton, NH | Grant for Scholarships | $7,000 |
| 9 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $36,165 |
| The Fiber Craft Studio Chestnut Ridge, NY | Grant for Scholarships | $5,000 |
| The Nature Institute Godfrey, IL | Grant for Scholarships | $4,000 |
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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 | $1,208,699 | $42,853 | $134,322 | $89,165 | 15 | $97,165 | $37,807 | $64,837 |
| 2024 | $1,300,168 | $79,466 | $146,977 | $88,025 | 16 | $104,025 | $45,836 | $65,623 |
| 2023 | $1,367,679 | $7,340 | $141,743 | $87,000 | 14 | $103,000 | $21,505 | $68,718 |
| 2022 | $1,502,082 | $144,413 | $159,673 | $100,645 | 14 | $116,645 | $105,802 | $80,216 |
| 2021 | $1,517,342 | $64,975 | $162,043 | $93,000 | 12 | — | $21,238 | $82,422 |
| 2020 | $1,614,410 | $79,219 | $146,540 | $83,000 | 11 | — | $41,317 | $83,217 |
| 2019 | $1,681,731 | $123,378 | $142,960 | $85,600 | 11 | — | $81,371 | $84,499 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Michael Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $65K 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
The foundation’s stated mission is to foster, promote, and support the advancement of quality Waldorf education in North America, defined on its website as Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It supports AWSNA-approved training centers, programs, and individuals, with priority for teacher training for qualified people intending to teach in AWSNA/WECAN-recognized independent or private Waldorf schools.
Institutional grants primarily support Waldorf teacher training, Eurythmy training, and Arts & Crafts. The foundation prefers to direct funds to students most in need and to individuals who have completed their first year of training. Sunbridge Institute, which received a grant in 2025, describes its mission as providing Waldorf teacher education for adults.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $89,165. Its website says grants are generally $2,000 to $6,000, with occasional grants in the $10,000 range. The 2025 itemized grants ranged from $3,000 to $14,000, with a median of $5,000. The website says the foundation typically receives more than 25 requests annually.
Notable 2025 grants included $14,000 each to Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training and Sunbridge Institute for scholarships, $9,000 to Detroit Waldorf School for adult intern training, and $7,000 to Center for Anthroposophy for scholarships. Other listed institutional grants included $5,000 to The Fiber Craft Studio for scholarships and $4,000 to The Nature Institute for scholarships. Individual recipients received scholarship grants, including awards of $5,500 and $5,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Edward Hill as president and director, Marsha Hill as secretary and director, Jeffrey Spade as treasurer and director, and Francine Marquiss as director.
The Michael Foundation Inc is led by Edward Hill, President & Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Edward Hill
President & Director
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$30K (2019) → $16K (2025)
Marsha Hill
Secretary & Director
Vice President & Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Spade
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Francine Marquiss
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Francine Marquiss Adams (2019–2020) — Treasurer & Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $16K, to Edward Hill (Pres/Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Michael Foundation Inc
How much does The Michael Foundation Inc give each year?
The Michael Foundation Inc gave $89K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $88K across 16 grants.
What is The Michael Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Michael Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,944, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Michael Foundation Inc give grants?
The Michael Foundation Inc's top state is Pennsylvania, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (21%) and California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chestnut Ridge, NY (2 grants).
Does The Michael Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Michael Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (8 grants) and "Grant for Scholarships" (5 grants).
Who are The Michael Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Michael Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training (Bacwtt) ($14,000), Sunbridge Institute ($14,000) and Detroit Waldorf School ($9,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 9 grants to individuals ($36,165), which are not listed by name. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Michael Foundation Inc?
The Michael Foundation Inc reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $97K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $65K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Michael Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to foster, promote, and support the advancement of quality Waldorf education in North America, defined on its website as Canada, Mexico, and the United States. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Michael Foundation Inc?
The 2024 filing says applications may be written or verbal and require proof of financial need. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Michael Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Michael Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1992204. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Michael Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-michael-foundation-inc-morg_224c1c05b6414b95a3ef2b7de1a949ff
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581992204_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Michael Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-michael-foundation-inc-morg_224c1c05b6414b95a3ef2b7de1a949ff},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Michael Foundation Inc'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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