Sage Foundation
Brighton, MI · EIN 38-6041518. Reported 229 grants totalling $5,757,750 to 107 organizations across tax years 2022-2024. 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. Sage 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 $12,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $7,500 and $25,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $200,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window to the World Communications Inc | Chicago, IL | $910,000 | 9 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | $400,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Grant Park Orchestral Association | Chicago, IL | $350,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Joffrey Ballet | Chicago, IL | $315,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Orchestral Association Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | $300,000 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lenawee Chamber Foundation | Adrian, MI | $275,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ravinia Festival | Highland Park, IL | $160,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Sand Lake Volunteer Fire Department | Tipton, MI | $145,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Kartemquin Educational Films | Chicago, IL | $135,000 | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists | Chicago, IL | $110,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Marian Catholic High School | Chicago Heights, IL | $105,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| Big Shoulders Fund | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Adrian College | Adrian, MI | $98,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cedille Chicago Nfp | Chicago, IL | $90,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Community Tv Network | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee | Adrian, MI | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County | Adrian, MI | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hope Community Center | Adrian, MI | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Providence St Mel School | Chicago, IL | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lifeline Pilots | Peoria, IL | $62,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The College Funduncf | Detroit, MI | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Barenboim-Said Foundation | New York, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Shedd Aquarium Society | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| City of Tecumseh Downtown Development Authority | Tecumseh, MI | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Merit School of Music | Chicago, IL | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St Mary's Home Little Sisters of the Poor | Chicago, IL | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Night Ministry | Chicago, IL | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lenawee County Education Foundation | Adrian, MI | $42,000 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Alice Lloyd College | Pippa Passes, KY | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Misericordia Heart of Mercy | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| St James Episcopal Church | Taylor, TX | $40,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Tipton Community Congregational Church | Tipton, MI | $37,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| After School Matters | Chicago, IL | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired | Winnetka, IL | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art | Chicago, IL | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Tecumseh Pops Orchestra | Tecumseh, MI | $32,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Adrian Center for the Arts | Adrian, MI | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Catholic Church Extension Society | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cleveland High School | Reseda, CA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Dental Lifeline Network - Illinois | Peoria, IL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Inc | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lenawee County Mission Neighbors of Hope | Adrian, MI | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Patient Airlift Services | Farmingdale, NY | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Evans Scholars Foundation | Glenview, IL | $27,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| YMCA of Greater Toledo | Adrian, MI | $27,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Art | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Center for Independent Documentary | Newton, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Purple Rose Theatre Company | Chelsea, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| San Diego Symphony Orchestra | San Diego, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lenawee Community Foundation | Adrian, MI | $22,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Afterimage Public Media | San Francisco, CA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Associated Charities of Lenawee County | Adrian, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Museum of Science and Industry | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Tennessee Kids Belong | Franklin, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Christ Episcopal Church | Laurium, MI | $18,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Chicago Lighthouse | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan | Southfield, MI | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Julie & Michael Tracy Family Foundation Dba Urban Autism Solutions | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation Inc | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Special Olympics Michigan | Mount Pleasant, MI | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Tecumseh Area Historical Society | Tecumseh, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Croswell | Adrian, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Thresholds | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mercy Home for Boys & Girls | Chicago, IL | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| One Patient Global Health Initiative | Glenview, IL | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Disabled Patriot Fund | Tinley Park, IL | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Ascension Providence Foundation | Novi, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness | Olympia Fields, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fill a Heart 4 Kids | Lake Forest, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Gigi's Playhouse Tinley Park | Tinley Park, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization | Tinsley Park, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Housing Help of Lenawee | Adrian, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| I Can Dream Center | Tinley Park, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Maplewood Housing for the Visually Impaired Friedman Place | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mercy Housing Lakefront | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Music Institute of Chicago | Evanston, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sister House | Oak Park, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| South Suburban Pads | Chicago Heights, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Tennessee Youth Symphony | Nashville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Elizabeth Catholic Church | Tecumseh, MI | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Epic Experience | Arvada, CO | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mental Health Association in Michigan | Troy, MI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Milies' Manor Inc | Highland Park, IN | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg, KY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority | Adrian, MI | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chicago Folks Operetta Nfp | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Equip for Equality | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Eversight | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hyde Park Youth Symphony | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Math Circles of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Miss Hall's School | Pittsfield, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Beds 4 Kids | Oak Park, MI | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Detroit Public Schools Foundation | Detroit, MI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Halo Lenawee | Adrian, MI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Music of the Baroque | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Historical Society of Clinton | Clinton, MI | $1,750 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Flossmoor Service Leagu | Flossmoor, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Flossmoor Service League | Flossmoor, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
64 of 107 (60%) received money in more than one year over the 3 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 68%, across 2 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. 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.
- Hillsdale College
General, charitable, educational - Choral Scholars Program Scholarships - Window to the World Communications Inc
General, charitable, educational - Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival film - Grant Park Orchestral Association
General, charitable, educational - Orchestral Association Chicago Symphony Orchestra
General, charitable - Sempre Always capital campaign - Sand Lake Volunteer Fire Department
General, charitable, educational - Tanker and rescue vehicles - Joffrey Ballet
General, charitable, educational - Live Music Program
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 116 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 80 | $2,020,750 | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 79 | $1,863,000 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 70 | $1,874,000 | $12,000 |
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.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Sage Foundation has 3 of them, worth $1,550,000. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | $800,000 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | $600,000 |
| Window to the World Communications Inc | Chicago, IL | $150,000 |
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 66% of this one's giving went to organizations in Illinois. 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 $12,000. 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 Illinois.
- 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 Sage 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 1919, Brighton, MI, 48116. 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 38-6041518 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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