Foundations that fund organizations in Traverse City, Michigan
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Traverse City nonprofits
264 private foundations gave $20M to Traverse City organizations in their latest filings; 31 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
859 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Traverse City around $25K. 60 of these funders are based in Michigan; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 264
- Accept applications
- 31
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Traverse City
- $20M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 859
- Typical median grant
- $25K
- Based in MI
- 60%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Traverse City organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christ Cares for Kids Foundation | Issaquah, WA | 9 | $1.9M | $49K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Foster Family Foundation Dtd 5241997 the | Chicago, IL | 2 | $1.8M | $875K | Preselected only | General support |
| Oleson Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 51 | $1.1M | $15K | Yes | Directors fund; Director's fund; In-kind rental |
| The Pedersen Foundation C/O Gino Zaccardelli - McGuirewoods Llp | Tysons, VA | 1 | $1.1M | $1.1M | Preselected only | General use |
| Eddema Foundation | Oak Park, IL | 4 | $849K | $175K | Preselected only | Unrestricted; The children's house kitchen classroom improvements |
| Jim and Diana Huckle Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 7 | $700K | $25K | Preselected only | Funding for Great Lakes Incubator Farm and Boardman river c…; General & Unrestricted; Bringing It Home Campaign |
| Adele Braun Charitable Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $620K | $620K | Preselected only | For general charitable purposes of the organization |
| The Carls Foundation | Bloomfield Hills, MI | 1 | $500K | $500K | Yes | Capital suppport for warehouse renovation for food rescue |
| Harold C and Janet a Baldauf Foundation | Hemlock, MI | 1 | $500K | $500K | Preselected only | General Fund |
| The Broad Family Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 25 | $500K | $10K | Preselected only | General operating; General Operating |
| Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation | Frankfort, MI | 3 | $475K | $150K | Preselected only | Building campaign-phase ii; Munson orthopedic: surgical equipment; Siemens multix impact c x-ray unit |
| Allen Foundation | Midland, MI | 8 | $378K | $45K | Yes | Farm to school program; Bloom where you are planted; Comm garden irrigation |
| The Maxon Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $351K | $351K | Preselected only | General operating |
| He Rayfield Jr Foundation Inc | Traverse City, MI | 1 | $350K | $350K | Preselected only | General Operating |
| The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 19 | $334K | $10K | Yes | Support transportation services; Youth services program; Purchase baby pantry items & parenting and life skills clas… |
| Les & Ann Biederman Foundation Inc | Traverse City, MI | 27 | $313K | $9,839 | Yes | Charitable activities; Charitable activites |
| Edp Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | 4 | $273K | $62K | Preselected only | General assistance |
| Hitchens Family Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 7 | $226K | $25K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| Ames Family Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 5 | $225K | $50K | Preselected only | Charitable contributions; Charitable contribution |
| Frey Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | 6 | $220K | $30K | Yes | FLOW - Unrestricted; Art Meets Water; Support for a regional housing fund and expansion of existi… |
| Dte Energy Foundation | Detroit, MI | 8 | $208K | $10K | Yes | Human needs; Environmental leadership; Community transformation |
| The Walters Family Foundation | Milford, MI | 2 | $200K | $100K | Preselected only | Wff funding will help to preserve and protect northern mich…; Wff funding will help with affordable loans, mini grants fo… |
| The Brookby Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | 11 | $194K | $1,200 | Yes | General support; Accelerating Farmland and Water Quality Protection; Accelerating Farmland and Water Quality Protection in North… |
| Siebenthaler Foundation C/O Jessica E Thompson | Kewadin, MI | 4 | $185K | $46K | Yes | Per request |
| Timken Foundation of Canton | Canton, OH | 3 | $180K | $75K | Yes | Freshwater research and innovation center; Food rescue repacking equipment to expand access to nutriti…; Single momm capital campaign: audiovisual technology |
| The Shaw & Betty Walker Foundation | North Muskegon, MI | 3 | $180K | $15K | Preselected only | Operational purposes |
| Cosgrove Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 8 | $179K | $22K | Yes | Support for purchase of rescue equipment; Sponsor programming and update equipment; Classroom and event support |
| Wk Kellogg Foundation | Battle Creek, MI | 10 | $167K | $1,650 | Yes | Matching Grant; Food, Strong and Equitable Food Systems; Promise of an Equitable Future |
| Charles Stewart Mott Foundation | Flint, MI | 9 | $164K | $750 | Preselected only | For the general purposes or other charitable purposes of th…; To protect the land and water resources in a five-county re…; To develop and expand work on fresh food, transportation, c… |
| Green Brick Foundation Inc | Traverse City, MI | 29 | $160K | $1,000 | Preselected only | General operation; Food rescue; 2 half membership |
| John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $150K | $150K | Preselected only | In support of general operations |
| Daniel & Pamella Devos Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | 2 | $150K | $75K | Yes | General operating; Capital campaign |
| The Hershey Family Foundation | Bonita Springs, FL | 3 | $147K | $60K | Preselected only | For unrestricted use in exempt purpose |
| Travis Nt Lucille Olson Fdn | Pennington, NJ | 1 | $146K | $146K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Kegley Family Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 17 | $133K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Community program; Promote recreation; Support for disabled community |
| Hattie Hannah Keeney Xxxxx1004 | Chicago, IL | 2 | $122K | $61K | Yes | General operating; General |
| Ralph L & Winifred E Polk Foundation | Birmingham, MI | 5 | $108K | $15K | Preselected only | Animal care and support; General welfare services; Education services |
| Joseph G and Helen I Zimmerman Charitable Trust | Traverse City, MI | 6 | $108K | $10K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Andrew R and Janet F Miller Foundation C/O Robert T Napier Harrison Llp | Naples, FL | 3 | $105K | $30K | Preselected only | General purposes |
| Barton J Ingraham & Gail G Ingraham Foundation | Williamsburg, MI | 4 | $101K | $30K | Preselected only | Refurbish public park; Preservation of open space; Upgrade sound equipment |
| Newman's Own Foundation | Westport, CT | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans for k- 12… |
| The Schmidt Family Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels |
| Laus Deo Foundation Inc | Traverse City, MI | 6 | $100K | $20K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Victor Foundation | Clarkston, MI | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Dmb2 Foundation | Northville, MI | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Donation for stated mission |
| The Lourie Foundation Inc | West Palm Beach, FL | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General |
| Wilda C Tiffany Charitable Trust | Traverse City, MI | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Scholarship fund |
| Thomas Family Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General operations |
| Mariel Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 7 | $96K | $13K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Consumers Energy Foundation | Jackson, MI | 11 | $95K | $5,000 | Yes | Boardman river clean sweep; Wild roots; Essential needs: food |
| The Alabaster Fund | Traverse City, MI | 4 | $90K | $23K | Preselected only | General |
| Harry a and Margaret D Towsley Foundation | Ann Arbor, MI | 2 | $82K | $41K | Yes | Program support |
| Klorfine Foundation | Riviera Beach, FL | 4 | $81K | $15K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| David P Sheetz Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | 6 | $80K | $5,000 | Yes | General |
| Tricoastal Foundation | Monroe, CT | 4 | $80K | $20K | Preselected only | Unrestricted grant for donee's exempt purpose |
| The Julius H and Barbara B Beers Family Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 20 | $78K | $3,000 | Preselected only | General |
| Arie and Ida Crown Memorial | Chicago, IL | 1 | $75K | $75K | Yes | Program |
| Boundless Futures Foundation C/O Jessica Sullivan | Traverse City, MI | 3 | $75K | $25K | Yes | Inventory, packaging, digital marketing and website costs,…; Scholarships for women participating in the Women's Leaders…; Business support and mentorship for female business owners… |
| Baiardi Family Foundation Inc | Harbor Springs, MI | 2 | $75K | $38K | Preselected only | Help fund safe haven north in h.s.; Stress test equip for new petoskey |
| Gilbert L Justice Family Foundation | Dallas, TX | 2 | $75K | $38K | Yes | Operational support |
| Mahogany Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 3 | $74K | $20K | Preselected only | Community; Educational |
| Wildfong Family Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 8 | $72K | $6,750 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Cascade Hemophilia Consortium | Ann Arbor, MI | 1 | $69K | $69K | Preselected only | Support for medical services for persons with hemophilia an… |
| The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation Inc C/O Leslie Lee | Traverse City, MI | 16 | $66K | $1,000 | Preselected only | General charitable; Laboratory; 2025 environmentalist of the year underwriting |
| Robet Foundation Inc | Muncie, IN | 8 | $66K | $6,750 | Preselected only | General purpose; Petes place youth shelter; General mission purpose |
| Hayden Foundation | Williamsburg, MI | 16 | $63K | $500 | Preselected only | General purpose |
| James a Childs and Susan M Childs Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 17 | $63K | $2,000 | Preselected only | General purpose |
| John C Markey Charitable Fund | Charlotte, NC | 1 | $60K | $60K | Yes | General fund |
| The Joyce Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $60K | $60K | Yes | Environment |
| The Carl a Lemcool Memorial Foundation Inc | Traverse City, MI | 5 | $60K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Provided amount to support initial year of the traverse cit…; Provided amount to support the repair of damaged monuments…; Provided amount to support their mission to provide breakfa… |
| The John and Matilda Shumsky Foundation C/O Dgn - 415 Munson Avenue Ste 201 | Traverse City, MI | 16 | $57K | $1,750 | Preselected only | Food pantry; Physically and developmentally disabled that are in need of…; Food bank & needy families |
| Worthington Family Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 2 | $56K | $28K | Yes | Underwrite current and new programs; Share ecologic knowledge in schools |
| Two Eagles Foundation Inc | Tomahawk, WI | 1 | $55K | $55K | Preselected only | Tuition assistance |
| Nickless Family Charitable Foundation | Saginaw, MI | 2 | $53K | $26K | Yes | Cardiac ultrasound echocardiography; Innovation awards/scholarships |
| The Sally Guzowski Foundation | Chicago, IL | 3 | $50K | $15K | Preselected only | General fund; Family child services |
| Begonia Charitable Foundation | Bellaire, MI | 5 | $48K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Family services; Human services; Environmental |
| Baird Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 7 | $47K | $75 | Preselected only | Environment; Health and human services; Ethnic and religious |
| Tuktawa Foundation | Orchard Lake, MI | 8 | $47K | $5,000 | Yes | Social welfare; Educational |
| Kettering Family Foundation | Dayton, OH | 2 | $45K | $23K | Yes | Flow: ensuring the great lakes are healthy, public, and pro…; Unrestricted operating support |
| Blue Waters Foundation | Boca Grande, FL | 2 | $45K | $23K | Preselected only | General support |
| Suzanne Upjohn Delano Parish Foundation | Kalamazoo, MI | 2 | $40K | $20K | Preselected only | Ensuring the waters of the great lakes basin are healthy, p…; Designated to the charlevoix munson hospital for the orthop… |
| John L Mulvaney Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| The Edward C and Janet W Dietz Family Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 4 | $35K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Religious education; Medical services; General charitable purposes |
| C John and Reva Miller Charitable Founda | Kalamazoo, MI | 2 | $35K | $18K | Preselected only | Unrestricted contribution |
| Andrew M Vander Molen Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | 3 | $34K | $14K | Preselected only | Project/program support |
| John C and Mary Jane Howard Foundation | Richland, MI | 8 | $33K | $2,750 | Preselected only | General support |
| Two Seven Oh Inc | New Hudson, MI | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | Emergency medical funding, surgical equipment |
| Hamp Family Fund | Detroit, MI | 2 | $30K | $15K | Yes | Conservancy fund; Program services |
| Hp Foundation | Suttons Bay, MI | 4 | $28K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Groundwater reform strategy; The ridge property; Housing ready community planning & action strategy implemen… |
| Happy Buddha Foundation F/K/A Harvey's Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 2 | $26K | $13K | Preselected only | Ottawa crossing; Conservancy fund |
| Servant's Heart Foundation Inc | Newport Beach, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Charitable purposes |
| Kenneth & Harle Montgomery Foundation C/O Bell & Anderson LLC | Chicago, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Educational |
| The Seabury Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Software |
| Thomas Piraino and Barbara McWilliams Family Fndn Inc | Cleveland Heights, OH | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Land preservation |
| William G Janis & Susanne M Janis Family Foundation | Palm Beach, FL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General |
| Alpern Family Foundation Inc | Huntington Station, NY | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Visa Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Edwin J and Ruth M Shoemaker Foundation | Detroit, MI | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General |
| Americana Foundation | Novi, MI | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Fresh food connections - wholesale readiness |
| The D Jerome & Margery C Slack Foundation | Traverse City, MI | 1 | $24K | $24K | Preselected only | Scholarship fund |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Traverse City, Michigan?
Christ Cares for Kids Foundation, Foster Family Foundation Dtd 5241997 the, Oleson Foundation, The Pedersen Foundation C/O Gino Zaccardelli - McGuirewoods Llp, Eddema Foundation and 95 others reported grants to Traverse City organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Traverse City. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.