Allen Foundation
Midland, MI · EIN 51-0152562. Reported 180 grants totalling $6,568,176 to 128 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Allen Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $25,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $15,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $268,700. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham & Womens Hospital | Boston, MA | $278,360 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Crawford Co Comm on Aging | Grayling, MI | $268,700 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Bridge Food Center | Midland, MI | $255,856 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Regents of the University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $218,246 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boston Children's Hospital | Boston, MA | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $197,060 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Acta Non Verba Urban Youth Farm | Oakland, CA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Botanical Garden Society of Nw Mi | Traverse City, MI | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Northwest Education Services | Traverse City, MI | $142,324 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $128,246 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Interlochen Center for the Arts | Interlochen, MI | $125,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | New York, NY | $118,120 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inland Seas Education Center | Suttons Bay, MI | $116,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of Maine | Orono, ME | $114,360 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Boston, MA | $109,064 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Queensland | St Lucia | $108,918 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| University of Vienna | Vienna | $108,775 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tufts University | Boston, MA | $105,356 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Food Rescue | Traverse City, MI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Groundworks Center | Traverse City, MI | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Northwest Mi Comm Action Agency | Traverse City, MI | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Oregon State Univesity Foundation | Corvallis, OR | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Univeristy of Chester | Chester | $93,141 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Macquarie University | Macquarie Park Sw | $91,650 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mil Milagros Inc | Somerville, MA | $90,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Sagniw Valley State University | University Center, MI | $82,512 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Nemcsa Food Programs | Alpena, MI | $82,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ascension St John Foundation | Dallas, TX | $79,988 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Royal Melbourne Inst of Tech University | Melbourne Victoria | $76,478 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Global Volunteers | Little Canada, MN | $75,530 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Botanical Gardent Soc of Nw Mi | Traverse City, MI | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Mathile Institute | Dayton, OH | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Roscommon Co Food Pantry | Houghton Lake, MI | $74,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| West Midland Family Center | Midland, MI | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Traverse Area Public Schools | Traverse City, MI | $67,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Abundant Harvest Comm Garden Outreach | Colorado Springs, CO | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Flint Cultural Ctr Corp | Flint, MI | $62,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Celiac Disease Program Boston Child Hosp | Boston, MA | $61,064 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Eagle Village | Hersey, MI | $61,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends Grand Traverse Cons Dist | Traverse City, MI | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Univeristy of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $59,854 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Agape Comm Transformation | Midland, MI | $59,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Alima USA Inc | New York, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Food Bank of Central and Eastern Nc | Raleigh, NC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lundquist Instituteharbour UCLA | Torrance, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Microbine Hlth Research Institute | Cambridge, MA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North County Health Project Inc | San Marcos, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Plant Powered Metro New York | New York, NY | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Giving Grove | Kansas City, MO | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Toronto | Toronto Ontario | $48,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Eskenazi Health Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | $47,583 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Huntsville Hospital Foundation | Huntsville, AL | $46,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Acta Non Verba | Oakland, CA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of Interlochen Public Library | Interlochen, MI | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lundquist Inst UCLA Med Center | Torrance, CA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Son of a Saint | New Orleans, LA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Viviendas Leon | San Francisco, CA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Growing Lives Foundation | Fort Wayne, IN | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Texas A&m Agrilife Research | College Station, TX | $34,680 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hearth to Hearth Ministries | Lake Ann, MI | $32,343 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| HAND2HAND | Jenison, MI | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| More Health Inc | Tampa, FL | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sustainable Liberia | Decatur, GA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Westview Presbyterian Church | Watsonville, CA | $25,187 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Food Bank of Eastern Michigan | Flint, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rise Against Hunger | Raleigh, NC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| School District of Osceola Co | Cloud, FL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Second Mile Haiti | Tuscon, AZ | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Southeast Health Foundation | Cape Girardeau, MO | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Society of St Andrew | Jackson, MS | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| YWCA Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| YWCA of Asheville & Western Nc | Asheville, NC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gladwin Community Services Corp | Gladwin, MI | $23,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, TN | $22,560 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Zion Lutheran Church | Hemlock, MI | $22,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| American Heart Association Nw Ohio | Maumee, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Common Roots Inc | South Burlington, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| East Side Soup Kitchen | Saginaw, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Spoon | Portland, OR | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wellkind | Marina Del Mar, CA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Westwoods Elementary School | Traverse City, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| YMCA of Saginaw | Saginaw, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Your Store of the Queen City | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Flying Kites | Boston, MA | $19,300 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | $18,621 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| FAN4KIDS | Brooklyn, NY | $18,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Basic Needs Inc of South Washington Co | St Paul, MN | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bastyr University | San Diego, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cancer Support Cc New Jersey | Bedminster, NJ | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chef Ann Foundation | Boulder, CO | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Elk Rapids Schools | Elk Rapids, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mary's Meals USA | Bloomfield, NJ | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mpc Rescue | Kaleva, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Salvation Army Augusta Area | Augusta, GA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design Inc | Savannah, GA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Western Carolina Rescue Ministries | Ashville, NC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rhode Island Community Food Bank | Providence, RI | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Kindness in a Box | Villa Ridge, MO | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bemore Caring Inc | Glen Burnie, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bronx Eats Inc | The Bronx, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Christian Direction Inc | Montral | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City of Midland | Midland, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Family Network of Wy | Wyoming, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Flow Foundation Inc | Matteson, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Interfaith Alliance Corporation | Shelby, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ishi Odamtten Foundation | Dewitt, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Resurrection Lutheran Church of Alpena | Alpena, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Arc of Midland | Midland, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy | Traverse City, MI | $9,300 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| El Caldito | Las Cruces, NM | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Benzie Senior Resources | Honor, MI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Redwood Empire Food Bank | Santa Rosa, CA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Crawford Co Comm Christian Help Center | Grayling, MI | $7,200 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Connections to Independence | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lee County Diabetes Coalition | Beattyville, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rolilng Harvest Food Rescue | Lumberville, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ronald Mcdonald Charities of Augusta | Augusta, GA | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Westwoods PTO | Traverse City, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Barryton Area Mobile Food Pantry | Barryton, MI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Liberty House | Manchester, NH | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Raise and Relish Inc | Sussex, WI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Grain Valley School District Pat Program | Grain Valley, MO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Greater Green Bay YMCA | Green Bay, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Valley Community Center | Clarkston, WA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Loaves & Fishes Community Services | Naperville, IL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Youth Garden Project | E Moab, UT | $1,300 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels | Ypsilanti, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
38 of 128 (30%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 40%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Regents of the University of Minnesota
RESEARCH GACTERIAL INTEST GUT MODIFICATION - University of Vienna
RESEARCH MACRONUTRIENTS RESTRICTION - Food Rescue
LOW INCOME FRUITS AND VEG ACCESS - Boston Children's Hospital
RESEARCH IRON TRANSPORT IN THE PLACENTA - Michigan State University
STR LOCAL FRUIT VEGIE ACCESS - Ascension St John Foundation
IMPROVING BREASTFEEDING OUTCOMES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 78 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40 | $1,559,202 | $21,895 |
| 2022 | 50 | $1,814,764 | $25,093 |
| 2023 | 45 | $1,611,269 | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 45 | $1,582,941 | $26,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 44% of this one's giving went to organizations in Michigan. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $25,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Michigan.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Allen Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 1606, Midland, MI, 48641. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 51-0152562 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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