The Isabel Foundation
Flint, MI · EIN 38-2853004. Reported 366 grants totalling $13.8M to 86 recipients across tax years 2020-2024. 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. The Isabel 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 $10,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $250,000. 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. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure Unlimited | Greenwood Village, CO | $1,335,500 | 13 | 5 | 2024 |
| First Church of Christ Scientist Boston the | Boston, MA | $850,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Principia the | St Louis, MO | $760,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| Flint Institute of Arts | Flint, MI | $566,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| Crystal Lake Camps Inc | Hughesville, PA | $455,000 | 8 | 5 | 2024 |
| Cedars Camps the | Lebanon, MO | $395,000 | 8 | 5 | 2024 |
| Arden Wood Inc | San Francisco, CA | $380,000 | 8 | 5 | 2024 |
| Camps Newfoundowatonna Corporation | Harrison, ME | $375,000 | 8 | 5 | 2024 |
| Camps Leelanau & Kohahna Foundation Inc | Maple City, MI | $370,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| Leaves Inc the | Richardson, TX | $360,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (tart) Trails Inc | Traverse City, MI | $335,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association | Chestnut Hill, MA | $330,000 | 6 | 5 | 2024 |
| Campership Fund for Christian Scientists in the Se and Mw | St Louis, MO | $310,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| First Church of Christ Scientist Flint the | Flint, MI | $305,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Broadview Inc | Los Angeles, CA | $300,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Peace Haven Association | St Louis, MO | $300,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| E3 Elevating Education Everywhere Inc | Knoxville, TN | $290,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| Twelveacres Inc | Campbell, CA | $255,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Fern Lodge Inc | Castro Valley, CA | $250,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Glenmont | Hilliard, OH | $245,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| Wide Horizon Inc | Wheat Ridge, CO | $245,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Flint Institute of Science and History | Flint, MI | $225,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Principle Foundation Extended Services | Overland Park, KS | $225,000 | 8 | 5 | 2024 |
| Friends of Camp Bow-Isle Inc | Renton, WA | $215,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| Flint Cultural Center Corporation | Flint, MI | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies | Los Angeles, CA | $200,000 | 8 | 5 | 2024 |
| Friends of Gya | Woodland Hills, CA | $198,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Flint | Flint, MI | $170,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| High Ridge House Inc | Riverdale, NY | $160,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Link School the | Buena Vista, CO | $160,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Lynn House of Potomac Valley Inc | Alexandria, VA | $160,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Albert Baker Fund the | Folsam, CA | $152,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| Daystar Inc | Davie, FL | $145,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Principle Foundation the | Overland Park, KS | $143,000 | 8 | 5 | 2024 |
| Smith College | Northampton, MA | $140,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Sunrise of Africa School Charitable Foundation Inc | Venice, FL | $140,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy | Traverse City, MI | $120,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tenth Church of Christ Scientist - Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $120,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Berkeley Hall School | Los Angeles, CA | $115,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Sunland Home Foundation | Encinitas, CA | $115,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Beacon Haven | New Brighton, MN | $110,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Wellsprings of Florida | St Petersburg, FL | $107,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Hobart and William Smith Colleges | Geneva, NY | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Association of Organizations for Christian Science Nursing | Encinitas, CA | $92,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Clearview Home Corporation | Delafield, WI | $90,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Dominion Foundation the | Herndon, VA | $90,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Olive Glen Foundation Inc the | Carmichael, CA | $80,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Sunrise Haven | Kent, WA | $80,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Longyear Foundation | Chestnut Hill, MA | $70,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Commission the | Boston, MA | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Noontide Visiting Christian Science Nurse Service of Michigan | Owosso, MI | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Overlook House Incorporated | Fairlawn, OH | $52,000 | 6 | 5 | 2024 |
| Branch School the | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Council of Michigan Foundations | Grand Haven, MI | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Christian Science Nursing Network Inc | Manchester, MO | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Christian Science Provider Network | Plymouth, MA | $45,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint | Flint, MI | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cherishability | Portland, OR | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Morning Light Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | $39,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Rainbow Valley Resource Network | Buena Vista, CO | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Wildwood School | Los Angeles, CA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity | Harbor Springs, MI | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Redwood Community for Christian Scientists | Santa Rosa, CA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Canterbury Crest Inc | Portland, OR | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Rainbow Valley Resource Network | Queen Creek, AZ | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| First Church of Christ Scientist Petoskey the | Petoskey, MI | $16,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Albion College | Albion, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Clairbourn School | San Gabriel, CA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Friends of the Petoskey Club | Petoskey, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Institute for Field Research | Los Angeles, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Philanthropy Roundtable the | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Visiting Christian Science Nursing Services for Los Angeles County Inc | Glendale, CA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Northmen Den Youth Pantries Inc | Petoskey, MI | $13,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Alaska Association for Christian Science Nursing | Anchorage, AK | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hymnstream | Petaluma, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Artsconnection Inc | New York, NY | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Christian Science Nursing Network Inc | Tulsa, OK | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| North Central Michigan College Foundation | Petoskey, MI | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Christian Science Joint Media Partnership of Greater St Louis | Creve Coeur, MO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Heal the Bay | Santa Monica, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| La Room & Board | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation | Petoskey, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| World Central Kitchen Inc | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New Hampshire Home for Christian Scientists | Concord, NH | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Chubby's Project the | Hopewell, NJ | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
68 of 86 (79%) received money in more than one year over the 5 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 89%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
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.
- Adventure Unlimited
2022-2024 PLEDGE - GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES - First Church of Christ Scientist Boston the
2024-2026 PLEDGE - YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT ACTIVITIES AT THE MOTHER CHURCH - Principia the
2021-2023 PLEDGE - SUPPORT FOR SIMON FIELD HOUSE - First Church of Christ Scientist Flint the
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES - Leaves Inc the
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE NURSES TRAINING CLASSROOMS AND PRACTICAL ROOMS - Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (tart) Trails Inc
MATCHING GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 194 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 65 | $2,481,600 | $30,000 |
| 2021 | 68 | $2,473,700 | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 83 | $2,585,000 | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 68 | $2,922,200 | $30,000 |
| 2024 | 82 | $3,292,000 | $25,000 |
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
18% of its giving went to organizations in Michigan. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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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 a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $25,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- 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 The Isabel Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 111 E Court Street 3D, Flint, MI, 48502. 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 38-2853004 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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