The Samuel & Jean Frankel
The Samuel & Jean Frankel is a private foundation based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations working in areas including education, end-of-life care, medical research, disability support, food assistance, and child protection.
The Samuel & Jean Frankel at a glance
In short: The Samuel & Jean Frankel gave $1.5M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $58K), mostly in Michigan. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,520,000
- +15.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- -16.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $58,462
- +38.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $23,359,421
- +23.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% 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 Samuel & Jean Frankel
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 273 Lakewood Drive, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Phone: (248) 645-1307
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Samuel & Jean Frankel funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Michigan ($600K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
166 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 135 grants of 166 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were concentrated in Michigan: 97% went to recipients in that state. New York and Virginia each received 1%; Maryland and Pennsylvania each received 0% when rounded as reported.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Samuel & Jean Frankel open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 26 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $65K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 48% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 122% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $910K (2020) to $1.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Education Support | $600,000 |
| Hospice of Michigan (State of Michigan) Bloomfield Hills, MI | End of Life Care and Support Programs | $500,000 |
| Chrons & Colitis Foundation Farmington Hills, MI | Medical Research | $80,000 |
| Far Conservatory Birmingham, MI | Assistance for People with Disabilities | $50,000 |
| Gleaners Detroit, MI | Food Bank | $50,000 |
| Carehouse of Oakland County Pontiac, MI | Assistance for Abused and Neglected Children | $50,000 |
| Bear Hug Foundation Birmingham, MI | Outdoor Educational and Recreational Activities for Foster Children | $35,000 |
| Jewish Senior Life West Bloomfield, MI | Senior/Retirement Facility | $25,000 |
| Michigan League for Public Policy Lansing, MI | Economic Security and Well-Being for People in Michigan | $25,000 |
| American Diabetes Association Alexandria, VA | Medical Research | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Samuel & Jean Frankel?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that a land donation made to the organization in 2016 was not discovered until 2024; the filing gives the value of the land donation as $3,086,803.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $23,359,421 | $2,950,874 | $1,596,988 | $1,520,000 | 26 | $1,520,000 | $1,160,453 | $1,245,536 |
| 2023 | $18,875,039 | $369,288 | $1,378,570 | $1,312,000 | 31 | $1,312,000 | $713,302 | $1,006,809 |
| 2022 | $20,019,630 | $819,720 | $1,105,893 | $1,036,000 | 44 | $1,036,000 | $768,521 | $982,332 |
| 2021 | $20,305,803 | $1,336,973 | $1,116,167 | $1,026,000 | 39 | $1,026,000 | $1,306,852 | $1,016,499 |
| 2020 | $20,253,339 | $815,298 | $999,538 | $910,000 | 26 | — | $782,208 | $1,097,909 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Samuel & Jean Frankel reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — 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 is provided. The foundation’s listed 2024 grants show support for organizations addressing a range of needs. For example, CareHouse of Oakland County describes its mission as preventing child abuse and neglect and protecting children through advocacy, education, intervention, research, and treatment. JARC says it enriches the lives of people with disabilities through support, relationships, and community engagement. The Michigan League for Public Policy describes its work as promoting racial equity, economic security, health, and well-being in Michigan through policy change.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $1,520,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $600,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest awards were $600,000 to the University of Michigan for education support and $500,000 to Hospice of Michigan for end-of-life care and support programs. Other notable grants included $80,000 to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation for medical research and $50,000 each to FAR Conservatory, Gleaners, and CareHouse of Oakland County.
Among the grantees, the University of Michigan describes its mission as representing and advocating for its member physicians. Gleaners says it collects food that would otherwise be discarded and donates it to local charities and shelters. The American Diabetes Association describes its mission as preventing and curing diabetes and improving the lives of people affected by it.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bruce Frankel as president and trustee, Jo Elyn Nyman as vice president and treasurer, and George Nyman as secretary and trustee.
The Samuel & Jean Frankel is led by Bruce Frankel, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bruce Frankel
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George Nyman
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jo Elyn Nyman
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Samuel & Jean Frankel
How much does The Samuel & Jean Frankel give each year?
The Samuel & Jean Frankel gave $1.5M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 31 grants.
What is The Samuel & Jean Frankel's typical grant size?
The Samuel & Jean Frankel's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $58,462, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Samuel & Jean Frankel that year got $21K on average.
Where does The Samuel & Jean Frankel give grants?
The Samuel & Jean Frankel gives mostly in Michigan: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bloomfield Hills, MI (3 grants), Ann Arbor, MI (2 grants), Farmington Hills, MI (2 grants) and Birmingham, MI (2 grants).
Does The Samuel & Jean Frankel give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on The Samuel & Jean Frankel's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Samuel & Jean Frankel's largest grantees?
The Samuel & Jean Frankel's largest 2024 grantees include University of Michigan ($600,000), Hospice of Michigan (State of Michigan) ($500,000) and Chrons & Colitis Foundation ($80,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Samuel & Jean Frankel?
The Samuel & Jean Frankel reported $23.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Samuel & Jean Frankel fund?
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s listed 2024 grants show support for organizations addressing a range of needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Samuel & Jean Frankel?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 Samuel & Jean Frankel's EIN?
The Samuel & Jean Frankel's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0095044. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Samuel & Jean Frankel 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Samuel & Jean Frankel funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-samuel-and-jean-frankel-morg_29c413620e4e496e91b7b6b6ad8c61d5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300095044_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Samuel \& Jean Frankel funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-samuel-and-jean-frankel-morg_29c413620e4e496e91b7b6b6ad8c61d5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Samuel & Jean Frankel'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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