Tri-Star Charitable Foundation
Tri-Star Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Saginaw, Michigan. It made 21 grants totaling $172,400 in filing year 2024, supporting organizations working on programs that include infant and family well-being, youth development, health, and suicide prevention.
Tri-Star Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Tri-Star Charitable Foundation gave $172K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $172,400
- +6.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- +23.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,210
- -13.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $416,729
- +21.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Tri-Star Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1004 N Michigan Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 921-0010
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tri-Star Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Can Council ($20K). Together the top 10 received $117K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 55 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 3% to recipients in Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
How Tri-Star Charitable Foundation gives
- 14% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 740% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $10K (2020) to $192K (2022). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $172K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Can Council Saginaw, MI | Safe baby program & 24/7 dad key behaviors program | $20,000 |
| Saginaw County Department of Public Health Saginaw, MI | Safe sleep for infants program, move the menu for healthy schools | $20,000 |
| Barb Smith Suicide Resource and Response Network Saginaw, MI | Yellow ribbon events, ennis center suicide training, foster families resource network suicide training | $12,000 |
| CMU Medical Education Mt Pleasant, MI | Centering for Pregnancy & Parenting Program | $10,000 |
| Love for a Child Oxford, MI | Frankenmuth Foster Kid Camp | $10,000 |
| The Rock Center for Youth Development Midland, MI | Discover You Program | $10,000 |
| Saginaw Community Foundation Saginaw, MI | Well Doula Program Expansion for Saginaw County | $10,000 |
| Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI | Opportunity Days | $10,000 |
| Undergroud Railroad Inc Saginaw, MI | Mommy & me, trauma informed summer camp, tutor program | $10,000 |
| Great Lakes Bay Health Center Saginaw, MI | Smiles Are Everywhere Mobile Dental Program, Unrestricted Gift | $5,400 |
Ready to take the next step with Tri-Star Charitable 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $416,729 | $342,737 | $269,139 | $172,400 | 21 | $172,400 | $11,254 | $23,284 |
| 2023 | $343,131 | $221,554 | $253,497 | $161,551 | 17 | $162,351 | $11,332 | $21,821 |
| 2022 | $375,074 | $382,769 | $260,216 | $192,467 | 16 | $192,867 | $24,559 | $23,385 |
| 2021 | $252,521 | $158,866 | $710 | — | — | $325 | $8,541 | $13,092 |
| 2020 | $94,365 | $101,803 | $10,021 | $10,000 | 1 | — | $1,803 | $4,831 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for programs related to infant safety, pregnancy and parenting, foster families, youth development, suicide prevention, dental care, and childhood diabetes.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Saginaw Valley State University says its mission is to cultivate donors who contribute to developing a premier university. Saginaw Community Foundation says it fulfills donor wishes and enables community initiatives. Michigan Public Health Institute says it advances population health through public health innovation and collaboration. Other 2024 recipients include organizations whose stated missions involve shelter and care for people experiencing homelessness (Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan), child and family services (Child and Family Charities), primary and preventive care for underserved people (Care Free Medical Inc), and improving the lives of children and families (Adoption Option Inc).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $172,400. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest reported grants included $20,000 to CAN COUNCIL for its Safe Baby Program and 24/7 Dad Key Behaviors Program, and $20,000 to Saginaw County Department of Public Health for its Safe Sleep for Infants Program and Move the Menu for Healthy Schools. Other grants included $12,000 to Barb Smith Suicide Resource and Response Network; $10,000 each to CMU Medical Education, Love for a Child, The Rock Center for Youth Development, Saginaw Community Foundation, Saginaw Valley State University, and Underground Railroad Inc; and $5,400 to Great Lakes Bay Health Center. Adoption Option Inc and Bierlein Companies Foundation each received $5,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gene Pickelman as president; John W. Kidwell as secretary; Pavel Konecny as treasurer; and Mike Bierlein, Dick Garber, Mark Flegenheimer, and Dr. Waheed Akbar as directors.
Tri-Star Charitable Foundation is led by Gene Pickelman, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gene Pickelman
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dick Garber
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Flegenheimer
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Bierlein
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Waheed Akbar
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John W. Kidwell
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pavel Konecny
Treasurer
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 Tri-Star Charitable Foundation
How much does Tri-Star Charitable Foundation give each year?
Tri-Star Charitable Foundation gave $172K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $162K across 17 grants.
What is Tri-Star Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Tri-Star Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,210, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tri-Star Charitable Foundation give grants?
Tri-Star Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Saginaw, MI (8 grants), Midland, MI (5 grants) and Lansing, MI (2 grants).
Does Tri-Star Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Tri-Star Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Tri-Star Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Tri-Star Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Can Council ($20,000), Saginaw County Department of Public Health ($20,000) and Barb Smith Suicide Resource and Response Network ($12,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Tri-Star Charitable Foundation?
Tri-Star Charitable Foundation reported $417K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $172K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $23K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Tri-Star Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for programs related to infant safety, pregnancy and parenting, foster families, youth development, suicide prevention, dental care, and childhood diabetes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tri-Star Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 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.
Does Tri-Star Charitable Foundation 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Tri-Star Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/tri-star-charitable-foundation-morg_d4a3509a5f9643bca828b0c123dc7dd6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_271866546_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Tri-Star Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/tri-star-charitable-foundation-morg_d4a3509a5f9643bca828b0c123dc7dd6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Tri-Star Charitable 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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