The Summers Foundation Inc
The Summers Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with all reported grant dollars going to recipients in Michigan.
The Summers Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Summers Foundation Inc gave $17K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $986.647), mostly in Michigan. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $16,773
- -18.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +13.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $987
- -28.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $800
- Total assets
- $321,261
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (8 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% 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 Summers Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1916 Waldenwood Trail, Harbor Springs, MI 49740
Phone: (313) 550-2303
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Summers Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Harbor Springs School System ($3K). Together the top 10 received $14K.
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 77 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Michigan. Listed recipients include organizations in Harbor Springs, Boyne Falls, Grand Rapids, and Petoskey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Summers Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 17 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $686; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $714 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 29% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 57% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 53% 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 (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 $14K (2020) to $39K (2021). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $17K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harbor Springs School System Harbor Springs, MI | General Fund | $3,068 |
| Little Traverse Bay Humane Soc Harbor Springs, MI | General Fund | $1,749 |
| Challenge Mountain Boyne Falls, MI | General Fund | $1,509 |
| Little Traverse Conservancy Harbor Springs, MI | General Fund | $1,449 |
| Bissell Pet Foundation Grand Rapids, MI | General Fund | $1,237 |
| Holy Childhood Church Harbor Springs, MI | General Fund | $1,200 |
| Rising Hope Harbor Springs, MI | General Fund | $1,025 |
| Toponexus-Center for Learn Local Harbor Springs, MI | General Fund | $1,000 |
| Lakeview Cemetery Harbor Springs, MI | General Fund | $800 |
| Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre Harbor Springs, MI | General Fund | $750 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $321,261 | $41,178 | $33,028 | $16,773 | 17 | $16,773 | $21,299 | $31,384 |
| 2023 | $313,202 | $21,795 | $33,475 | $20,576 | 15 | $20,576 | $6,316 | $28,014 |
| 2022 | $324,952 | $22,205 | $35,650 | $26,902 | 20 | $26,902 | $7,634 | $25,183 |
| 2021 | $338,536 | $24,157 | $47,359 | $38,673 | 17 | $38,673 | $16,864 | $30,361 |
| 2020 | $331,811 | $9,578 | $21,843 | $14,401 | 8 | — | $5,555 | $11,586 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Summers Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $31K 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
The available information does not state the foundation’s mission. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose work, as described by the organizations themselves, includes community theatre and arts education, responding to domestic and sexual violence, music and arts programming, and library resources and lifelong learning.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $16,773. Grants ranged from $250 to $3,068, with a median grant of $800. The largest listed grants were $3,068 to Harbor Springs School System, $1,749 to Little Traverse Bay Humane Soc, $1,509 to Challenge Mountain, and $1,449 to Little Traverse Conservancy. Each was reported for a general fund.
Other listed recipients included Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre ($750), Women’s Resource Center ($749), and Blissfest Music Organization ($678). The Lyric Theatre describes its work as providing a community-supported venue for film, drama, music, and literature; the Women’s Resource Center describes its mission as protecting, sheltering, and empowering people impacted by domestic and sexual violence; and Blissfest describes its mission as preserving traditions and promoting innovation in music, arts, and sustainable living.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Denice Summers Claridge as president and Elizabeth Skau as treasurer. Stephanie Skau is secretary. Listed trustees are David Summers Jr, Gregory Skau, Matthew Summers, Michael Summers, Paul Summers, Emily Keen, and Derick Claridge.
The Summers Foundation Inc is led by Denice Summers Claridge, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 10 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Denice Summers Claridge
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David Summers Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Derick Claridge
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Emily Keen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Gregory Skau
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Matthew Summers
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Michael Summers
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paul Summers
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Skau
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
$2K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Stephanie Skau
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: David S. Summers (2020–2021) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2020 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2020 filing was $2K, to Elizabeth Skau (Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about The Summers Foundation Inc
How much does The Summers Foundation Inc give each year?
The Summers Foundation Inc gave $17K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $21K across 15 grants.
What is The Summers Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Summers Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $800, and its average grant was $987, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Summers Foundation Inc that year got $686 on average.
Where does The Summers Foundation Inc give grants?
The Summers Foundation Inc gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Harbor Springs, MI (12 grants) and Petoskey, MI (3 grants).
Does The Summers Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Summers Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Summers Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Summers Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Harbor Springs School System ($3,068), Little Traverse Bay Humane Soc ($1,749) and Challenge Mountain ($1,509), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Summers Foundation Inc?
The Summers Foundation Inc reported $321K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $17K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $31K (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 Summers Foundation Inc fund?
The available information does not state the foundation’s mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Summers Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it 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 Summers Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Summers Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3403606. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Summers Foundation Inc 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Summers Foundation Inc funds
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