Tri-star Charitable Foundation

SAGINAW, MI EIN: 27-1866546

Tri-star Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAGINAW, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $417K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 21 grants totaling $172K. Net investment income was $11K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$417K

+21.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$172K

+6.7% YoY

Grant Count

21

+23.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

-13.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tri-star Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Tri-star Charitable Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Tri-star Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAGINAW, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $417K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 21 grants totaling $172K. Net investment income was $11K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Cities

Bay CityCincinnatiFentonFrankenmuthKawkawlinLansingMidlandMt PleasantOkemosOxfordPapillionSaginawSt JohnsSt PaulUniversity Center

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$105K$211K$316K$421K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$416,729$343,131$375,074
Revenue$342,737$221,554$382,769
Expenses$269,139$253,497$260,216
Qualifying Distributions$172,400$162,351$192,867
Net Investment Income$11,254$11,332$24,559
Distributable Amount$23,284$21,821$23,385

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$48K$96K$144K$192K1 grants20200 grants202116 grants202217 grants202321 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

CAN COUNCIL$20KSAGINAW COUNTY DEPARTMEN…$20KBARB SMITH SUICIDE RESOU…$12KCMU MEDICAL EDUCATION$10KLOVE FOR A CHILD$10KTHE ROCK CENTER FOR YOUT…$10KSAGINAW COMMUNITY FOUNDA…$10KSAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNI…$10KUNDERGROUD RAILROAD INC$10KGREAT LAKES BAY HEALTH C…$5K

Grant Size Distribution

55 grants across all recorded years

55<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Can Council ($20,000), Saginaw County Department of Public Health ($20,000), Barb Smith Suicide Resource and Response Network ($12,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ADOPTION OPTION INC MIDLAND, MILEAP PROGRAM$5,000
BARB SMITH SUICIDE RESOURCE AND RESPONSE NETWORK SAGINAW, MIYELLOW RIBBON EVENTS, ENNIS CENTER SUICIDE TRAINING, FOSTER FAMILIES RESOURCE NETWORK SUICIDE TRAINING$12,000
BIERLEIN COMPANIES FOUNDATION MIDLAND, MICHILDHOOD DIABETES$5,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION BAY CITY, MIKITCHEN UPGRADES FOR VOCATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL COOKING TRAINING$5,000
CAN COUNCIL SAGINAW, MISAFE BABY PROGRAM & 24/7 DAD KEY BEHAVIORS PROGRAM$20,000
CARE FREE MEDICAL LANSING, MIHEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN IN THE METRO LANSING AREA$5,000
CHILD AND FAMILY CHARITIES LANSING, MISTREET OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR TEENS$5,000
CMU MEDICAL EDUCATION MT PLEASANT, MICENTERING FOR PREGNANCY & PARENTING PROGRAM$10,000
GREAT LAKES BAY HEALTH CENTER SAGINAW, MISMILES ARE EVERYWHERE MOBILE DENTAL PROGRAM, UNRESTRICTED GIFT$5,400
LOVE FOR A CHILD OXFORD, MIFRANKENMUTH FOSTER KID CAMP$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
GENE PICKELMANPRESIDENT1
JOHN W KIDWELLSECRETARY1
MIKE BIERLEINDIRECTOR0.25
DICK GARBERDIRECTOR0.25
MARK FLEGENHEIMERDIRECTOR0.25
PAVEL KONECNYTREASURER1
DR WAHEED AKBARDIRECTOR0.25

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tri-star Charitable Foundation?

Tri-star Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAGINAW, MI. It holds $417K in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Tri-star Charitable Foundation?

As of 2024, Tri-star Charitable Foundation holds $417K in total assets with $343K in annual revenue. It awarded 21 grants totaling $172K in 2024.

Where does Tri-star Charitable Foundation operate?

Tri-star Charitable Foundation has awarded grants in Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio.

What size grants does Tri-star Charitable Foundation award?

In 2024, Tri-star Charitable Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $172K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Tri-star Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Tri-star Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Tri-star Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Tri-star Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1866546. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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