The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President
The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President is a private foundation, based in Troy, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $873K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $73K. Net investment income was $65K.
The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President at a glance
In short: The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President gave $73K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $72,500
- -3.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,056
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $873,381
- -0.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Michigan (82% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Ignace Area Schools ($20K). Together the top 9 received $73K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 44 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2020) to $86K (2021). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $73K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Ignace Area Schools St Ignace, MI | ZEBRA K9 | $20,000 |
| Corporate Accountability International Boston, MA | Unrestricted Use | $10,000 |
| Detroit Public Television Wixom, MI | Unrestricted Use | $10,000 |
| Forgotten Harvest Oak Park, MI | Unrestricted Use | $10,000 |
| Oakland University Rochester, MI | John Dodge House | $10,000 |
| Salvation Army Southfield, MI | Unrestricted Use | $5,000 |
| Peace Lutheran Church Southfield, MI | Unrestricted Use | $4,500 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Tampa, FL | Unrestricted Use | $2,000 |
| National American Indian Museum Washington, DC | Unrestricted Use | $1,000 |
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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 | $873,381 | $83,834 | $92,127 | $72,500 | 9 | $72,500 | $65,227 | $63,694 |
| 2023 | $881,674 | $95,080 | $94,810 | $74,770 | 10 | $74,770 | $76,940 | $61,086 |
| 2022 | $880,789 | $130,317 | $93,967 | $72,900 | 9 | $72,900 | $110,594 | $66,361 |
| 2021 | $844,439 | $98,536 | $106,006 | $86,100 | 8 | — | $78,630 | $67,925 |
| 2020 | $851,909 | $44,055 | $67,706 | $48,100 | 8 | — | $27,249 | $58,137 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President reported a distributable amount of $64K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President is led by Margaret Savage, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Margaret Savage
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Jones
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James Savage
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President
How much does The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President give each year?
The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President gave $73K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $75K across 10 grants.
What is The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President's typical grant size?
The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $8,056, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President give grants?
The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President gives mostly in Michigan: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Southfield, MI (2 grants).
Does The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President's largest grantees?
The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President's largest 2024 grantees include St Ignace Area Schools ($20,000), Corporate Accountability International ($10,000) and Detroit Public Television ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President?
The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President reported $873K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $73K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $64K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President's EIN?
The WJ and Lillian Kemler Foundation Margaret Savage President's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3384888. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 October 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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