The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 2015, it supports community organizations and initiatives in Southeast Michigan and Western New York, focusing on active lifestyles, preparation for success, caregivers, and entrepreneurship and economic development. It plans to spend down its funds by 2035.
Key facts about The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation
In short: The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation gave $141.2M across 413 grants in 2024 (avg $342K), top state New York. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 45-0921232
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $141,170,822
- Grants made (2024)
- 413
- Average grant
- $341,818
- Median grant
- $100,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (74 of 281, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted year-round; specific initiatives or RFPs may have deadlines.
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$141.2M
+2.2% YoY
Grant Count
413
-21.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$342K
+30.7% YoY
Is The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 74 of 281 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $266K; repeat grants $587K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $114K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to continue Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s legacy through investments in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. Its four focus areas are:
- Active Lifestyles: Youth sports and recreation, and parks, trails, and green design.
- Preparing for Success: Skills and supports that help people grow and adapt through life and work.
- Caregivers: Elevating and supporting people caring for older adults.
- Entrepreneurship & Economic Development: Small-business growth, place-based community and economic development, and talent attraction and retention.
A special initiative, Nonprofit Support and Innovation, aims to strengthen the nonprofit sector. The Foundation also describes direct work to bring Western New York community leaders together to develop a vision and support model for the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo describes its work as improving lives in Western New York through goals including education, racial equity, environment, and arts and culture. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy says it works to establish, improve, operate, maintain, and expand the Detroit Riverwalk and associated green spaces. Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper describes its mission as protecting and restoring water and surrounding ecosystems, while Pedals Michigan says it works with early childhood professionals to support children’s social-emotional development.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 413 grants totaling **$141,170,822**. Grant amounts ranged from **$81 to $10 million**, with a median grant of **$100,000**.
Review Cycle
Applications are accepted year-round; specific initiatives or RFPs may have deadlines.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation
Ready to take the next step with The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation concentrates its giving in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. It defines Southeast Michigan as Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston counties. Western New York comprises Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.
In 2024, 49% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 45% to recipients in Michigan. The remainder went to recipients in Massachusetts (3%), Washington, D.C. (1%), and Minnesota (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 413 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $115.8M (2020) to $155.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 413 grants totaling $141.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo ($21.7M across 24 grants). Together the top 10 received $73.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
2,550 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,389 grants of 2,550 (54%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Buffalo, NY | City Within a Park Fund | $10,000,000 |
| Southeast Michigan Foundation for Public Spaces Detroit, MI | Detroit Riverfront Finishline Fund | $7,500,000 |
| Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Detroit, MI | Construction Support - Ralph Wilson Park | $6,532,800 |
| Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Detroit, MI | RCWJRF Inclusive Arts & Culture Initiative | $5,000,000 |
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Buffalo, NY | RCWJRF Inclusive Arts & Culture Initiative | $5,000,000 |
| Budc Buffalo, NY | Ralph Wilson Park: Phase 1 GMP Package 2 | $4,000,000 |
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Buffalo, NY | Support for the Arts and Culture Sector in WNY | $3,750,000 |
| Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Detroit, MI | To sustain the Arts and Culture Sector | $3,750,000 |
| Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Inc Buffalo, NY | Ralph Wilson Park/ Shoreline Implementation & Capacity | $2,625,000 |
| Budc Buffalo, NY | Phase 1 Expansion/ Ralph Wilson Park | $2,500,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant dollars | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $141,170,822 | 413 |
| 2023 | $138,135,387 | 528 |
| 2022 | $155,857,838 | 533 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation is led by David O. Egner, President & Chief Excecutive Officer on every filing since 2020; all 12 officers listed in 2023 are compensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
The latest filing that lists officers: our copy of the 2024 filing lists none.
David O. Egner
President & Chief Excecutive Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$577K (2020) → $687K (2023)
Mary M. Wilson
Chairwoman & Trustee
Trustee → Chairwoman & Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$45K (2020) → $51K (2023)
David J. Colligan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$47K (2020) → $47K (2023)
Gerard T. Mazurkiewicz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $51K (2023)
Jeffrey C. Littmann
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$67K (2020) → $63K (2023)
Mary M. Owen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
17 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $63K (2023)
W. Frank Fountain
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$59K (2020) → $44K (2023)
Elizabeth Woike-Ganga
Trustee
New on the 2023 filing
3 hrs/week
$30K (2023)
Howard Morris
Committee Member
Trustee → Committee Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$12K (2020) → $16K (2023)
Maura Dewan
Secretary
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$229K (2020) → $316K (2023)
Norah M. O'Brien
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$260K (2020) → $353K (2023)
Thomasina Stenhouse
Committee Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$7K (2022) → $11K (2023)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Eugene Driker (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $687K, to David O Egner (President/Chief Excecutive Officer). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Ralph Wilson Jr Foundation
Mailing address: 3101 East Grand Blvd Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: (313) 885-1895
Email: info@rcwrf.org
Website: https://ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation
How much does The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation give each year?
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation gave $141.2M across 413 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $138.1M across 528 grants.
What is The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $341,818, across 413 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation that year got $266K on average.
Where does The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation give grants?
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation's top state is New York, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. The next largest state was Michigan (45%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (109 grants), Buffalo, NY (75 grants), Rochester, NY (20 grants) and Lansing, MI (17 grants).
Does The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 413) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Recurring purposes include "Employee Matching Grant" (78 grants), "Trustee Designated Grant" (34 grants) and "Trustee Matching Grant" (19 grants).
Who are The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo ($21,666,580 across 24 grants), Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan ($12,168,375 across 21 grants) and Budc ($10,823,000 across 6 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to continue Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s legacy through investments in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. Its four focus areas are: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation?
In 2024, the Foundation reported 413 grants totaling $141,170,822. Grant amounts ranged from $81 to $10 million, with a median grant of $100,000.
What is The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation's EIN?
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-0921232. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation by hand.
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