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The Power Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Kalamazoo, MI EIN: 38-6119490 Website

The Power Foundation is a private foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Its 2024 filing reports 21 grants totaling $363,700, primarily to Michigan recipients.

The Power Foundation at a glance

In short: The Power Foundation gave $364K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Michigan. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$363,700
-14.7% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
21
-4.5% vs 2023
Average grant
$17,319
-10.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,000
Total assets
$8,579,283
+2.7% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
26% first-time grantees (5 of 19, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Michigan (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Power Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 136 East Michigan Avenue Suite 1201, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3936
Phone: (269) 382-5800

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Power Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

The Center for Michigan Inc: $300KThe Center for Michigan Inc$300KEmpowered Teaching Initiative: $20KEmpowered Teaching Initiative$20KPlanned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains: $14KPlanned Parenthood of theRocky Mountains$14KUnited Way for Southeastern Michigan: $10KUnited Way for SoutheasternMichigan$10KSt Andrew's Episcopal Church: $5KSt Andrew's Episcopal Church$5KDenver South PTSA: $3K across 2 grantsDenver South PTSA$3K · 2 grantsAmerican Friends of University College Oxford: $2KAmerican Friends of UniversityCollege Oxford$2KHuron Mountain Wildlife Foundation: $1KHuron Mountain WildlifeFoundation$1KCommunity Foundation of Marquette County: $1KCommunity Foundation ofMarquette County$1KCitizens Research Council of Michigan: $1KCitizens Research Council ofMichigan$1K

The largest 2024 recipient was The Center for Michigan Inc ($300K). Together the top 10 received $357K.

Grant Size Distribution

105 grants across all recorded years

93<$50K1$50–100K2$100–250K9$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 105 (89%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 5% to recipients in Colorado. The filing lists 1% for an unspecified state; Florida and New York each account for 0% of grant dollars.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

Ann ArborDenverKalamazooMarquetteNew YorkLivoniaAlamosaCovingtonMadisonDetroitAuroraBoulderCalexicoCulver CityGrand RapidsGross Pointe FarmsGrosse PointeGrosse Pointe FarmsGrosse Pt PKHobe Sound

Is The Power Foundation open to new grantees?

26%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 19 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $24K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.

  • 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 48% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 81% 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 (2019–2024). 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M24 grants2019 21 grants2020 22 grants2021 19 grants2022 22 grants2023 21 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $364K (2024) to $1.0M (2019). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $364K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Center for Michigan Inc Kalamazoo, MIOperating Support$300,000
Empowered Teaching Initiative Ann Arbor, MIStart-up Costs$20,000
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Denver, COOperating Support$13,500
United Way for Southeastern Michigan Detroit, MIOperating Support$10,000
St Andrew's Episcopal Church Ann Arbor, MIOperating Support$5,000
American Friends of University College Oxford Annual Fund$2,000
Denver South PTSA Denver, COI Am Denver South Campaign$2,000
Huron Mountain Wildlife Foundation Hobe Sound, FLOperating Support$1,000
Community Foundation of Marquette County Marquette, MIHuron Mountain Club Fund$1,000
Citizens Research Council of Michigan Livonia, MIOperating Support$1,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$8,579,283$718,835$494,158$363,70021$458,467$586,953$569,448
2023$8,354,706$678,728$533,015$426,23822$507,321$305,702$501,336
2022$8,208,993$1,281,635$832,423$697,10019$777,136$183,100$480,630
2021$7,759,781$1,411,102$820,249$698,50022$782,859$1,280,024$510,610
2020$7,168,928$555,963$1,018,812$923,00021—$378,671$432,045
2019$7,631,777$283,753$1,142,995$1,026,50024—$237,977$468,572

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Power Foundation reported a distributable amount of $569K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, The Center for Michigan describes its work as providing high-quality, nonpartisan journalism and engagement, including explanatory and watchdog reporting. United Way for Southeastern Michigan says it mobilizes the caring power of Detroit and southeastern Michigan to improve communities and individual lives.

Other grantees describe missions that include enriching life in Marquette County through charitable giving and community collaboration (Community Foundation of Marquette County); sponsoring conferences on global concerns (The American Ditchley Foundation); providing Jewish outreach to college students (Jewish Resource Center); and supporting natural science research in the Lake Superior area (Huron Mountain Wildlife Foundation).

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 21 grants totaling $363,700. Grants ranged from $100 to $300,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest grant was $300,000 to The Center for Michigan for operating support. Other larger grants included $20,000 to Empowered Teaching Initiative for start-up costs, $13,500 to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains for operating support, and $10,000 to United Way for Southeastern Michigan for operating support.

The foundation also gave $5,000 to St Andrew’s Episcopal Church for operating support. Grants of $1,000 included support for the Community Foundation of Marquette County, Citizens Research Council of Michigan, and Huron Mountain Wildlife Foundation.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Philip H Power as President and Trustee; James C Melvin as Vice President and Trustee; Loyal A Eldridge III as Secretary and Trustee; Scott T Sutton as Trustee; Bradley E Weller as Treasurer; and Nathan E Power as Trustee.

The Power Foundation is led by Philip H. Power, President & Trustee on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Philip H. Power

    President & Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • James C. Melvin

    Vice President & Trustee

    Trustee → Vice President & Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Loyal A. Eldridge III

    Secretary & Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Scott T. Sutton

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nathan E. Power

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bradley E. Weller

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Kathleen K. Power (2019–2023) — Vice President & Trustee · Filing note: Through 111923

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Power Foundation

How much does The Power Foundation give each year?

The Power Foundation gave $364K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $426K across 22 grants.

What is The Power Foundation's typical grant size?

The Power Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $17,319, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Power Foundation that year got $6K on average.

Where does The Power Foundation give grants?

The Power Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ann Arbor, MI (7 grants), Denver, CO (4 grants) and Marquette, MI (2 grants).

Does The Power Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 57% of The Power Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Power Foundation's largest grantees?

The Power Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Center for Michigan Inc ($300,000), Empowered Teaching Initiative ($20,000) and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains ($13,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Power Foundation?

The Power Foundation reported $8.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $458K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $569K (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 Power Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, The Center for Michigan describes its work as providing high-quality, nonpartisan journalism and engagement, including explanatory and watchdog reporting. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Power Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Power Foundation's EIN?

The Power Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6119490. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Does The Power 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 October 2026.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 21, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Power Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-power-foundation-morg_b9e9a20c59824758adaf2f97b4b2f91b

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_386119490_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Power Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-power-foundation-morg_b9e9a20c59824758adaf2f97b4b2f91b},
  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 Power 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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