The Serra Foundation
The Serra Foundation is a private foundation based in Fenton, Michigan. Its 2025 filing reports 53 grants totaling $2,393,177, with grant dollars primarily going to recipients in Michigan and Illinois.
The Serra Foundation at a glance
In short: The Serra Foundation gave $2.4M across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $45K), mostly in Michigan. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,393,177
- +139.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- -5.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $45,154
- +153.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $9,542,091
- +4.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (14 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Serra Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists a letter-form application and no award restrictions. The website describes an annual application cycle with a September 30 deadline.
- Review Cycle
- September 30 for the next year’s funding cycle, according to the website.
- Deadline
- September 30 for the next year’s funding cycle, according to the website.
- Contact
Application contact: The Serra Foundation - Joseph Serra
Mailing address: 13338 Wenwood Drive, Fenton, MI 48430
Phone: (810) 694-1720
Website: https://theserrafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Serra Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was McLaren Flint Foundation ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
254 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 237 grants of 254 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website says the foundation supports organizations worldwide. In its 2025 filing, 80% of grant dollars went to Michigan recipients, 19% to Illinois, and 1% to Ohio. Listed website recipients and examples include organizations in the United States and other countries, including Vietnam, Cameroon, Kenya, India, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, and Nigeria.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Serra Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 14 of 53 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $59K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 88% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 306% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $407K (2023) to $2.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| McLaren Flint Foundation Flint, MI | General Use | $1,202,000 |
| Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL | General Use | $420,000 |
| Albion College Albion, MI | General Use | $205,000 |
| Play Right Sports Academy Albion, MI | General Use | $153,602 |
| Friends of Berston Field House Flint, MI | General Use | $60,000 |
| Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | General Use | $60,000 |
| The Ally Challenge Presented by McL Ann Arbor, MI | General Use | $45,000 |
| Miami University Foundation Oxford, OH | General Use | $30,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Rochester Rochester Hills, MI | General Use | $25,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan Detroit, MI | General Use | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Serra Foundation?
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 | $9,542,091 | $9,821,319 | $2,488,021 | $2,393,177 | 53 | $2,393,177 | $389,162 | $782,257 |
| 2024 | $9,161,688 | $2,847,330 | $1,092,689 | $999,299 | 56 | $999,299 | $1,510,160 | $715,433 |
| 2023 | $8,653,266 | $6,738,504 | $454,208 | $407,233 | 50 | $407,233 | $1,702,858 | $461,307 |
| 2022 | $5,681,213 | $208,686 | $1,387,737 | $1,270,978 | 38 | $1,270,978 | $171,209 | $400,689 |
| 2021 | $6,897,676 | $6,137,261 | $1,471,668 | $1,423,073 | 57 | $1,423,073 | $4,054,202 | $408,300 |
| 2020 | $3,737,091 | $3,837,562 | $1,397,095 | $1,361,200 | 38 | — | $284,167 | $232,220 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Serra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $782K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The website states that the Serra International Foundation’s purposes are to support programs fostering and promoting vocations to the Catholic ministerial priesthood, support formation programs for men and women in consecrated religious life, and enhance recognition of Serra International as a global lay apostolate for vocations.
Grantees listed in the filing include organizations with varied missions. Albion College describes itself as an undergraduate liberal arts institution committed to academic excellence. Play Right Sports Academy says it uses basketball and other sports to teach youth values such as honesty, respect, and responsibility. McLaren Flint Foundation says it funds research and provides operating or capital funds to McLaren Flint. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not additional stated purposes of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 53 grants totaling $2,393,177. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $1,202,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest awards included $1,202,000 to McLaren Flint Foundation, $420,000 to Loyola University Chicago, $205,000 to Albion College, and $153,602 to Play Right Sports Academy. Each was listed with the purpose “General Use.”
The foundation’s website describes an annual competitive grant cycle for organizations whose work aligns with its vocations mission. It says the application is open year-round, with a September 30 deadline for the next funding cycle; applications are reviewed in December, a slate is presented to the Serra International Board in January, recipients are notified in February, and grants are disbursed in July. Mid- and end-of-year reports are due in January and July. The website says it receives close to 150 applications annually and that its volunteer grant committee reviews applications.
The 2025 filing states that applications may be made by letter, lists no deadlines or award restrictions, and names Joseph Serra as the contact. The website’s application information gives a September 30 deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Julie A Serra as president, Joseph O Serra as vice president, Lauren M Serra as secretary, and Matthew J Serra as treasurer.
The Serra Foundation is led by Julie A Serra, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Julie A Serra
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph O Serra
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren M Serra
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew J Serra
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Serra Foundation
How much does The Serra Foundation give each year?
The Serra Foundation gave $2.4M across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $999K across 56 grants.
What is The Serra Foundation's typical grant size?
The Serra Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $45,154, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Serra Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does The Serra Foundation give grants?
The Serra Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Flint, MI (22 grants), Grand Blanc, MI (6 grants), Fenton, MI (5 grants) and Albion, MI (2 grants).
Does The Serra Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Serra Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (53 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Serra Foundation's largest grantees?
The Serra Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include McLaren Flint Foundation ($1,202,000), Loyola University Chicago ($420,000) and Albion College ($205,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Serra Foundation?
The Serra Foundation reported $9.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $782K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Serra Foundation fund?
The website states that the Serra International Foundation’s purposes are to support programs fostering and promoting vocations to the Catholic ministerial priesthood, support formation programs for men and women in consecrated religious life, and enhance recognition of Serra International as a global lay apostolate for vocations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Serra Foundation?
The filing lists a letter-form application and no award restrictions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Serra Foundation's EIN?
The Serra Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1675789. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Serra Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Serra Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-serra-foundation-morg_349e75e3edcf4d239e8656913ea0be7d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261675789_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Serra Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-serra-foundation-morg_349e75e3edcf4d239e8656913ea0be7d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Serra 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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