The Serra Foundation
Fenton, MI · EIN 26-1675789. Reported 201 grants totalling $4,100,583 to 106 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. The Serra 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 $1,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $500 and $9,100; the smallest was $100 and the largest $1,000,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion College | Albion, MI | $2,205,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL | $460,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Ally Challenge Presented By Mcl | Ann Arbor, MI | $336,800 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $130,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Miami University Foundation | Oxford, OH | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Holy Family Church | Grand Blanc, MI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan | Detroit, MI | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Kirk Gibson Gold Classic | Grosse Pointe, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Sloan Museum | Flint, MI | $42,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Grand Blanc Community School | Grand Blanc, MI | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Orchards Children's Services | Southfield, MI | $38,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Farmington Family YMCA | Farmington Hills, MI | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Kirk Gibson Foundation | Grosse Pointe, MI | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Rochester | Rochester Hills, MI | $26,750 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| City of Rochester Hills | Rochester Hills, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ascension Genesys Foundation | Grand Blanc, MI | $22,475 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Community Partners for Affordable Housing | Libertyville, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Everest Academy | Clarkston, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Flint Institute of Music | Flint, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Holy Family School | Grand Blanc, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Holy Family | Grand Blanc, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Villanova University | Villanova, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mclaren Flint Foundation | Flint, MI | $19,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce | Flint, MI | $17,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St John Fenton School | Fenton, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Play Right Sports Academy | Albion, MI | $14,338 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Powers Catholic High School | Flint, MI | $12,300 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Karing Home Youth Project | Gaylord, MI | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Vehicle City Gridiron Sports | Flint, MI | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grand Blanc Education Foundation | Grand Blanc, MI | $11,100 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Faith Lutheran Church | Grand Blanc, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Long Island Falcons Travel Baseball | Ronkonkoma, NY | $10,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Way of Genesee County | Flint, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Vehicle City Gridiron Sports Commit | Flint, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Flint Institute of Art | Flint, MI | $8,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Communities First | Flint, MI | $7,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nw Mi | Flint, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Capital Area Down Syndrome Associat | East Lansing, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Flint Rotary Charitable Foundation | Davison, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grand Blanc Youth Arts | Swartz Creek, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame | Flint, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Neighborhood House | Rochester Hills, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shelter Animal Donations | Fenton, MI | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Disability Network | Flint, MI | $5,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Vechile City Gridiron Sports Commit | Flint, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Catholic Charities | Flint, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Voice for Children Advocacy Center | Flint, MI | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Flint & Genesee Chamber Foundation | Flint, MI | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gottagetit | Burton, MI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hurley Foundation | Flint, MI | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Grand Blanc High School | Grand Blanc, MI | $2,250 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Fenton, MI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Food Bank of Eastern Michigan | Flint, MI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Flint & Genesee Group Foundation | Flint, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Greater Flint Area Baseball Softbal | Fenton, MI | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St Thomas More Academy | Burton, MI | $2,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Far | Birmingham, MI | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Leader Dogs for the Blind | Rochester Hills, MI | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Voices for Children Advocacy Center | Flint, MI | $1,250 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dads of Southeast Michigan | Sterling Heights, MI | $1,070 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Can Council | Saginaw, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Elga Credit Union Foundation for Impact | Grand Blanc, MI | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Eton Academy | Birmingham, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Flint Diaper Bank Inc | Flint, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gigi's Playhouse Detroit | Southfield, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jack & Jill Center in Ft Lauderdale | Ft Lauderdale, FL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Knights of Columbus Council 6742 | Grand Blanc, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Maroone Cancer Center Cleveland C | Weston, FL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Our Lady Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church | Flint, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sylvester Broome Empowerment Villag | Flint, MI | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Salvation Army | Flint, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Special Olympics of Michigan | Mt Pleasant, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Xceptional Heros | Grand Blanc, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kiwanis Health Camp Foundation | Flint, MI | $800 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Team Buddy Forever Foundation | Grand Blanc, MI | $800 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Fenton Area Public Schools | Fenton, MI | $700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Boy Scouts of America | Burton, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Crime Stoppers of Flint & Genesee C | Flint, MI | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Dads of Southest Michigan | Sterling Heights, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ele's Place | Burton, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Family Promise of Genesee County | Flint, MI | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| First Book | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Food for the Poor | Coconut Creek, FL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Harbor Springs Chamber Foundation | Harbor Springs, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Michigan Ballet Academy | Grand Rapids, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Old Newsboys of Flint | Flint, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Patterson Elementary School | Holly, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pink Par-Tee of Warwick Hills | Grand Blanc, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Spill the Honey Foundation | Southfield, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Spred Ministry Visitation Parish | Elmhurst, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Jude Hospital for Children | Royal Oak, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Anti-Cruelty Society | Chicago, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michiga | Detroit, MI | $450 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Foutch Baseball | Flint, MI | $300 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| American Red Cross | Flint, MI | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Center for Hope | Flint, MI | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Fenton Community Orchestra | Fenton, MI | $250 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Genesee County Habitat for Humanity | Flint, MI | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inter-Faith Food Shuttle | Raleigh, NC | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Miracle League of Plymouth | Plymouth, MI | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Shelter of Flint | Flint, MI | $200 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| City Church | Traverse City, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Fish of Grand Blanc | Flint, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ken & Jane Rogers Cmu Scholarship E | Mt Pleasant, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shiawassee Humane Society | Owosso, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Einstein Method | Bloomfield Hills, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
48 of 106 (45%) 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 71%, across 3 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 kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 76 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57 | $1,423,073 | $1,000 |
| 2022 | 38 | $1,270,978 | $1,500 |
| 2023 | 50 | $407,233 | $1,625 |
| 2024 | 56 | $999,299 | $1,750 |
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. 85% 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 $1,500. 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 The Serra 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: 13338 Wenwood Drive, Fenton, MI, 48430. 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 26-1675789 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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