Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation
The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation is a private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan, established to carry on the legacy of Joseph and Vera Dresner. The foundation supports organizations working in health, youth and family programs, and animal welfare across its designated geographic regions. It ranks among the 20 largest foundations in Southeast Michigan.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$155.2M
+4.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
-13.6% YoY
Grant Count
71
+2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
-16.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is dedicated to transforming lives in profoundly positive ways through grants focused on health, youth and animal welfare. The foundation seeks to improve the lives of people and animals in their communities by empowering community members to benefit from grant investments.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Health – Projects supporting institutions conducting medical research and clinical trials specifically related to Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), as well as projects that improve access to health care and health outcomes
- Youth and Family – Programs serving disadvantaged and underserved populations
- Animal Welfare – Support for animal-focused organizations and programs
Grantmaking
The foundation offers three types of support:
Average Grant
amount: $51,000
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds programs and organizations in the following geographic areas:
- Southeastern Michigan (Oakland County, Macomb County, and Wayne County)
- Metropolitan Denver (City and County of Denver), Colorado
- Aspen-Parachute Corridor, Colorado
- Medical research requests related to Myelodysplastic Syndromes are accepted on a nationwide basis
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets – $155,239,462 (2024)
- Total Giving – $3,037,070 (2024)
- Total Revenues – $5,089,612 (2024)
- Total Expenses – $9,386,395 (2024)
- Number of Employees – 18 (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $155,239,462 | $148,378,898 | $141,138,679 |
| Revenue | $5,089,612 | $5,823,403 | $9,418,735 |
| Expenses | $9,386,395 | $8,495,641 | $8,877,182 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,956,178 | $7,025,482 | $7,586,802 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,940,173 | $4,449,711 | $8,366,402 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,228,703 | $6,899,422 | $7,352,401 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Gleaners Community Food Bank ($400,000), Forgotten Harvest ($262,500), Oregon Health and Science Univ Fou ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK DETROIT, MI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| FORGOTTEN HARVEST OAK PARK, MI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $262,500 |
| OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIV FOU PORTLAND, OR | RESEARCH GRANT | $250,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION SEATTLE, WA | RESEARCH GRANT | $250,000 |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE BRONX, NY | RESEARCH GRANT | $125,000 |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH SEATTLE, WA | RESEARCH GRANT | $125,000 |
| THE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | RESEARCH GRANT | $125,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER DENVER, CO | RESEARCH GRANT | $125,000 |
| MIDNIGHT GOLF PROGRAM BINGHAM FARMS, MI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $110,000 |
| MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY BINGHAM FARMS, MI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lori Dresner – President (daughter of founders)
- Virginia Romano – Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director
- Kevin Furlong – Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LORI DRESNER | DIRECTOR/PRE | 40 | $421,000 |
| KEVIN FURLONG | DIRECTOR/CFO | 40 | $372,000 |
| GARY WEISMAN | DIRECTOR/VP | 15 | $215,000 |
| MARK S COHN | DIRECTOR/SEC | 15 | $132,000 |
| VIRGINIA ROMANO | CEO | 40 | $291,750 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Dresner Community Center Opening (March 2025)**
Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Opens Dresner Community Center \u2014\The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation announced the opening of the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street in Southwest Detroit, located at 3700 Gilbert Street. This marks a significant expansion of the foundation's work beyond traditional grantmaking. The center serves as a vital hub for residents, providing essential services, youth and adult programming, and collaborative space for nonprofit organizations.
Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Opens Dresner Community Center \u2014\The foundation's journey to opening the center began in 2020 with the acquisition of two Southwest Detroit properties: the former St. Andrew Catholic Church and Rectory on McGraw Street (now the foundation's headquarters) and the community building on Gilbert Street (transformed into the community center). The foundation invested over $4 million in the community center project, encompassing property acquisition, renovations, structural enhancements, and furnishings.
Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Opens Dresner Community Center \u2014\According to CEO Virginia Romano, the center reflects the foundation's commitment to moving beyond traditional philanthropy and embedding itself within the neighborhoods it serves.
**MDS Research Fund (2026)**
The foundation invites Letters of Inquiry for the 2026 Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Research Fund, continuing its support for medical research in this specialized area.
Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Invites Letters of Inquiry for 2026 MyelodysplasticSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is dedicated to transforming lives in profoundly positive ways through grants focused on health, youth and animal welfare. The foundation seeks to improve the lives of people and animals in their communities by empowering community members to benefit from grant investments. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Health** – Projects supporting institutions conducting medical research and clinical trials specifically related to Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), as well as projects t…
How do I apply for a grant from Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation?
**Grant Types:** The foundation offers three types of support: • **Project** – Development of new programs, expansion of existing programs, or continuation of sustainable, recognized effective current programming • **Capital** – Equipment purchase, acquisition, construction and/or renovation of facilities • **Special Circumstances** – Funding in support of existing grantee programs, considered on a case-by-case basis (unsolicited proposals not accepted for this category) **Grant Amounts:** • Ty…
Where does Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds programs and organizations in the following geographic areas: • Southeastern Michigan (Oakland County, Macomb County, and Wayne County) • Metropolitan Denver (City and County of Denver), Colorado • Aspen-Parachute Corridor, Colorado • Medical research requests related to Myelodysplastic Syndromes are accepted on a nationwide basis
What size grants does Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation award?
In 2024, Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation awarded 71 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $43K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation's EIN?
Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5838578. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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