The Samuel L Westerman Foundation
The Samuel L Westerman Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1971 in Michigan. Based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting nonprofit initiatives aligned with its charitable mission.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.2M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$482K
-12.3% YoY
Grant Count
133
-6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-6.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Samuel L Westerman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $523K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on working together to support programs and initiatives that promote education, family unity, positive Catholic values, and provide assistance to the poor and the abused.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Youth services and children and at-risk youth
- Religious programs with emphasis on Christian and Catholic organizations
- Social services
- Health, including medical research
- Arts and culture
- Assistance to the poor and abused
The foundation is guided by the principle of "enriching the lives of the poor by making a quality education available to them," as articulated by founder Laura Jane Westerman.
Grantmaking
As of 2025, the foundation has transitioned to an invitation-only grant application process and will not be accepting unsolicited applications. The foundation has introduced an updated application process and encourages prospective applicants to monitor communications for future updates and instructions regarding the new funding plan.
Grant Range
$0 to $25,000
Review Cycle
or restrictions.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Michigan, with some grants also made in Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (2024):
- Total Assets: $5,196,761
- Total Revenue: $467,826
- Total Expenses: $537,611
- Total Giving: $481,500
- Net Income: -$69,785
The foundation maintains substantial assets and continues active grantmaking despite expenses exceeding revenue in the most recent year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,196,761 | $5,266,545 | $5,352,138 |
| Revenue | $467,826 | $516,709 | $330,791 |
| Expenses | $537,611 | $602,303 | $553,736 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $487,800 | $551,373 | $497,663 |
| Net Investment Income | $212,700 | $205,480 | $248,707 |
| Distributable Amount | $523,079 | $468,489 | $477,599 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Camp Westminster ($19,500), Culver Educational Foundation ($12,500), Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan ($12,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADRIAN DOMINICAN SISTERS ADRIAN, MI | RELIGIOUS | $2,000 |
| AGE WELL SERVICES MUSKEGON, MI | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| BUILDING BEDS FOR KIDS OAK PARK, MI | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
| ALLENDALE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ALLENDALE, MI | EDUCATIONAL | $10,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION GREAT MICHIGAN CHAPTER SOUTHFIELD, MI | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN PIANISTS ASSOCIATION INC INDIANAPOLIS, IN | CHARITABLE | $750 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA GRAND RAPIDS, MI | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
| ALANO CLUB OF KENT COUNTY GRAND RAPIDS, MI | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER HOLLAND HOLLAND, MI | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER GRAND RAPIDS, MI | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- James H LoPrete, President
- Kent G LoPrete, Vice President
- Gordon Muir, Vice President
- Cameron K Muir, Treasurer
- Ruth R LoPrete, Grant Officer
- Mary M Lyneis, Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James H LoPrete | President | 2 | $4,000 |
| Kent G LoPrete | Vice President | 1 | $4,000 |
| Cameron K Muir | Treasurer | 1 | $8,000 |
| Gordon Muir | Vice President | 1 | $4,000 |
| Ruth R LoPrete | Grant Officer | 3 | $4,750 |
| Mary M Lyneis | Secretary | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the Samuel L Westerman Foundation announced a significant change to its grantmaking approach. The foundation introduced an updated invitation-only grant application process and will no longer accept unsolicited applications. The foundation has committed to sharing additional details regarding the new funding plan and process through future communications, encouraging interested parties to monitor for updates and instructions as they become available.
Winners of Herman O. West Foundation Scholarship: $20,000 for Higher EducationThe foundation maintains an active newsletter subscription option for those wishing to receive news, updates, and important grant cycle notifications.
Jerome Westheimer Family Foundation Gifts Grant for SONEC, Westheimer NamedFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Samuel L Westerman Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on working together to support programs and initiatives that promote education, family unity, positive Catholic values, and provide assistance to the poor and the abused. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Youth services and children and at-risk youth • Religious programs with emphasis on Christian and Catholic organizations • Social services • Health, including medical research • Arts and culture • Assistance to the poor and abused The foundation is g…
How do I apply for a grant from The Samuel L Westerman Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation awarded 146 grants in its most recent fiscal year • Median grant amount: $2,000 • Grant range: $0 to $25,000 **Types of Support:** • General operating support • Project support **Application Process:** As of 2025, the foundation has transitioned to an invitation-only grant application process and will not be accepting unsolicited applications. The foundation has introduced an updated application process and encourages prospective applicants to monitor commun…
Where does The Samuel L Westerman Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Michigan, with some grants also made in Indiana.
What size grants does The Samuel L Westerman Foundation award?
In 2024, The Samuel L Westerman Foundation awarded 133 grants totaling $482K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Samuel L Westerman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Samuel L Westerman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $523K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Samuel L Westerman Foundation's EIN?
The Samuel L Westerman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7108795. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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