The Walters Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Milford, Michigan, established in 2014. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to strengthening communities through philanthropic initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+27.9% YoY
Grant Count
22
+57.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$57K
-18.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation seeks to strengthen communities through four primary focus areas:
- Conserving the natural environment
- Celebrating arts and culture
- Advancing economic vitality
- Empowering people to reach their full potential through innovative learning initiatives
The foundation's grantmaking emphasizes education, human services, and philanthropy, with particular attention to environmental conservation and community development.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
& Frequency:**
Average Grant
approximately $53,000–$200,000 (median)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations and initiatives across multiple states and regions, with primary focus areas including:
- Michigan (particularly Northern Michigan and Detroit)
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Ohio
- Utah
- Washington D.C.
Specific cities where the foundation has supported work include Alpena, Ann Arbor, Cary, and Detroit.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $17,936,169
- Total giving: $1,248,000
- Total revenue: $2,273,869
- Total expenses: $1,697,646
Assets & Giving (2023):
- Total assets: $17,387,861–$17.4 million
- Total giving: $956,000
- Total revenue: $809,544
- Total expenses: $1,416,021
Giving Rate: Approximately 5.5% of assets annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
81 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Walters Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Conservation Resource Alliance ($150,000), Huron Pines Resource Conservation & Development Council Inc ($125,000), Lawrence Technological University ($120,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC WASHINGTON, DC | WFF FUNDING WILL HELP TO PROTECT WILD RIVERS, RESTORE DAMAGED RIVERS, AND CONSERVE CLEAN WATER FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE. | $25,000 |
| BOOK HARVEST DURHAM, NC | WFF FUNDING WILL HELP TO PROVIDE BOOKS TO CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM AND ENGAGE FAMILITIES AND COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE CHILDREN'S LIFELONG LITERACY AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS. | $30,000 |
| CENTER FOR SUCCESS NETWORK DETROIT, MI | WFF FUNDING WILL HELP TO UNITE LITERACY AND COMMUNITY TO EMPOWER STUDENTS IN THE JOURNEY OF EDUCATION. | $65,000 |
| CONSERVATION RESOURCE ALLIANCE TRAVERSE CITY, MI | WFF FUNDING WILL HELP TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S WATERWAYS, WILDLIFE, AND FORESTS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. | $150,000 |
| DESIGNED FOR JOY RALEIGH, NC | WFF FUNDING WILL PROVIDE WOMEN IN CRISIS WITH STABILITY THROUGH IMMEDIATE EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT, REMOVING THE STIGMA OF VULNERABILITY. | $15,000 |
| DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL FDN NOVI, MI | WFF FUNDING WILL PROVIDE TUITION ASSISTANCE, ENDOWMENT GROWTH,, AND OTHER SCHOOL NEEDS. | $15,000 |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED INC MEMPHIS, TN | WFF FUNDING WILL HELP CONSERVE, RESTORE, AND MANAGE WETLANDS AND ASSOCIATED HABITATS FOR NORTH AMERICA WATERFOWL. | $50,000 |
| GIVE MERIT DETROIT, MI | WFF FUNDING WILL HELP TO ENHANCE AND EXTEND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSERVE YOUTH THROUGH INNOVATIVE ENRICHMENT MENTORSHIP AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES. | $40,000 |
| HURON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL ANN ARBOR, MI | WFF FUNDING WILL HELP PROTECT AND RESTORE THE RIVER FOR HEALTHY AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. | $50,000 |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OH | WFF FUNDING WILL HELP SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Carol A. Walters – President and Director
- Peter S. Walters – Director
- Matthew D. Walters – Director
- Joseph P. Walters – Director
- Sarah J. Early – Director
All directors serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROL A WALTERS | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| PETER S WALTERS | SECRETARY, TREASURER, DIRE | 10 | — |
| MATTHEW D WALTERS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOSEPH P WALTERS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SARAH J EARLY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Lawrence Technological University's Centrepolis Accelerator secured a $360,000 grant from the Walters Family Foundation, supporting the university's innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Walters Family Foundation fund?
The foundation seeks to strengthen communities through four primary focus areas: • Conserving the natural environment • Celebrating arts and culture • Advancing economic vitality • Empowering people to reach their full potential through innovative learning initiatives The foundation's grantmaking emphasizes education, human services, and philanthropy, with particular attention to environmental conservation and community development.
How do I apply for a grant from The Walters Family Foundation?
**Grant Size & Frequency:** • Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $200,000 • Average grant size: approximately $53,000–$200,000 (median) • Annual giving: approximately $956,000–$1,248,000 • Recent activity shows 13–15 grants awarded annually **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. **Recent Grants:** • Conservation Resource Alliance: $150,000 (2024) for preservation and protection of Northern Michigan's waterway…
Where does The Walters Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations and initiatives across multiple states and regions, with primary focus areas including: • Michigan (particularly Northern Michigan and Detroit) • North Carolina • Tennessee • Ohio • Utah • Washington D.C. Specific cities where the foundation has supported work include Alpena, Ann Arbor, Cary, and Detroit.
What size grants does The Walters Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Walters Family Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $57K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Walters Family Foundation's EIN?
The Walters Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1395696. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Walters Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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