Tyler-Little Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Kalamazoo, MI EIN: 20-0880483

The Tyler-Little Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 2024, it reported 71 grants totaling $524,285, with 92% of grant dollars going to recipients in Michigan.

Tyler-Little Family Foundation at a glance

In short: Tyler-Little Family Foundation gave $524K across 71 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Michigan. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$524,285
-41.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
71
-56.2% vs 2023
Average grant
$7,384
+32.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$4,000
Total assets
$3,776,429
+15.5% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
8% first-time grantees (5 of 62, 2024)
Primary geography
Michigan (92% 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 Tyler-Little Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 136 East Michigan Avenue 1201, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3936
Phone: (269) 254-0614

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Tyler-Little Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Ecumenical Senior Center: $50KEcumenical Senior Center$50KAir Zoo Legacy Foundation: $44K across 2 grantsAir Zoo Legacy Foundation$44K · 2 grantsHeritage Community of Kalamazoo: $32K across 2 grantsHeritage Community ofKalamazoo$32K · 2 grantsKalamazoo College: $29K across 2 grantsKalamazoo College$29K · 2 grantsBronson Health Foundation: $28K across 2 grantsBronson Health Foundation$28K · 2 grantsFarmers Alley Theatre: $25KFarmers Alley Theatre$25KGilmore Car Museum: $25KGilmore Car Museum$25KKalamazoo Cultural Center: $25KKalamazoo Cultural Center$25KKalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition: $25KKalamazoo Nonprofit AdvocacyCoalition$25KKalamazoo Institute of Arts: $20K across 2 grantsKalamazoo Institute of Arts$20K · 2 grants

The largest 2024 recipient was Ecumenical Senior Center ($50K). Together the top 10 received $303K.

Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($4,000), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

647 grants across all recorded years

633<$50K9$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 633 grants of 647 (98%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan. Other recipient states were Colorado (4%), Illinois (1%), New York (1%), and Ohio (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

20states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 71 itemized grants.

Cities

KalamazooPortageWashingtonNew YorkAugustaBattle CreekGrand RapidsChicagoDenverRichlandFort CollinsAlexandriaComstockCulverDallasHickory CornersMattawanNew ConcordAlbionBrighton

Is Tyler-Little Family Foundation open to new grantees?

8%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 62 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $9K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 89% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 38% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 74% 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

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M135 grants2020 139 grants2021 140 grants2022 162 grants2023 71 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $524K (2024) to $902K (2023). In 2024 it made 71 grants totaling $524K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Ecumenical Senior Center Kalamazoo, MICapital Building Campaign$50,000
Air Zoo Legacy Foundation Portage, MIExhibit Sponsor$40,000
Bronson Health Foundation Kalamazoo, MIGolf Annual Pledge$25,000
Farmers Alley Theatre Kalamazoo, MIAnnual Gift$25,000
Gilmore Car Museum Hickory Corners, MIAnnual Gift$25,000
Heritage Community of Kalamazoo Kalamazoo, MIEducation and Learning Fund$25,000
Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MIAnnual Gift$25,000
Kalamazoo Cultural Center Kalamazoo, MIEpic Center$25,000
Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition Kalamazoo, MIGeneral Support$25,000
United Way of Battle Creek & Kalamazoo Region Kalamazoo, MIGeneral Support$15,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$3,776,429$1,049,561$543,420$524,28571$539,901$1,041,042$733,921
2023$3,270,288$898,063$923,220$902,284162$919,909$894,752$654,692
2022$3,295,445$862,347$909,989$879,911140$906,693$859,051$672,091
2021$3,343,087$951,190$857,971$851,875139—$948,015$526,019
2020$3,249,868$728,350$726,870$721,765135—$725,207$565,811

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tyler-Little Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $734K 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 went to organizations working in areas including senior services, arts and culture, education, healthcare, and community support.

Grantees describe their own missions in varied terms. Ecumenical Senior Center says it works to improve quality of life for older adults; Farmers Alley Theatre says it produces professional educational theatre; and Kalamazoo College describes a mission of preparing graduates to understand and lead in a diverse, complex world. Bronson Health Foundation says it connects philanthropic support with Bronson’s healing mission, while the Air Zoo Legacy Foundation says it supports the Air Zoo’s charitable and educational activities.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 71 grants totaling $524,285. Grants ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median grant of $4,000.

Among the largest reported grants were $50,000 to Ecumenical Senior Center for a capital building campaign; $40,000 to Air Zoo Legacy Foundation for an exhibit sponsor; and $25,000 each to Bronson Health Foundation for a golf annual pledge, Farmers Alley Theatre as an annual gift, Heritage Community of Kalamazoo for an education and learning fund, Kalamazoo College as an annual gift, Kalamazoo Cultural Center for the Epic Center, and Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition for general support.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Timothy J. Tyler as president; Sarah Tyler Chase as vice president and treasurer; James C. Melvin as assistant treasurer; Mari Blain as assistant secretary; and Julie Tyler Knudsen as director.

Tyler-Little Family Foundation is led by Timothy J. Tyler, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Timothy J. Tyler

    President

    Director → President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julie Tyler Knudsen

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah Tyler Chase

    Vice President & Treasurer

    Director → Vice President & Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • James C. Melvin

    Assistant Treasurer

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mari Blain

    Assistant Secretary

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Mary L. Tyler (2020–2023) — President & Secretary
  • Former: Toni Lyn Tyler (2020–2023) — Director

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 Tyler-Little Family Foundation

How much does Tyler-Little Family Foundation give each year?

Tyler-Little Family Foundation gave $524K across 71 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $902K across 162 grants.

What is Tyler-Little Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Tyler-Little Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,000, and its average grant was $7,384, across 71 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Tyler-Little Family Foundation that year got $7K on average.

Where does Tyler-Little Family Foundation give grants?

Tyler-Little Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Kalamazoo, MI (51 grants), Portage, MI (4 grants) and Augusta, MI (2 grants).

Does Tyler-Little Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 31% of Tyler-Little Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 71) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Annual Gift" (20 grants).

Who are Tyler-Little Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Tyler-Little Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Ecumenical Senior Center ($50,000), Air Zoo Legacy Foundation ($44,000 across 2 grants) and Heritage Community of Kalamazoo ($32,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($4,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Tyler-Little Family Foundation?

Tyler-Little Family Foundation reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $540K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $734K (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 Tyler-Little Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including senior services, arts and culture, education, healthcare, and community support. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Tyler-Little Family Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Tyler-Little Family Foundation's EIN?

Tyler-Little Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0880483. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Tyler-Little Family 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Tyler-Little Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/tyler-little-family-foundation-morg_a9083be589e443d5a30fe2bf9d80f8dc

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200880483_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Tyler-Little Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/tyler-little-family-foundation-morg_a9083be589e443d5a30fe2bf9d80f8dc},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Tyler-Little Family 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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