William & Martha Ford Fund
Detroit, MI · EIN 38-6066335. Reported 270 grants totalling $5,003,000 to 112 recipients 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. William & Martha Ford Fund 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 $1,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,000 and $5,000; the smallest was $150 and the largest $2,150,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Ford Health System | Detroit, MI | $2,468,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Children's Foundation | Detroit, MI | $502,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Christ Church Grosse Pointe | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $403,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Henry Ford | Dearborn, MI | $402,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Detroit Institute of Arts | Detroit, MI | $160,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Henry Ford Health System Foundation | Detroit, MI | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Our Lady of the Elms School | Akron, OH | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | $85,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Fair Lane | Dearborn, MI | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jupiter Medical Center Foundation Inc | Jupiter, FL | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Catch | Detroit, MI | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Racquet Up Detroit | Detroit, MI | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Detroit Zoological Society | Royal Oak, MI | $31,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Greening of Detroit | Detroit, MI | $26,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Detroit Riverfront Conservancy | Detroit, MI | $25,000 | 5 | 3 | 2023 |
| Schaap Center for Performing Arts | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital | Southfield, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Freedom Insititute | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Freedom Institute | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hobe Sound Community Chest | Hobe Sound, FL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mackinac Center for Public Policy | Midland, MI | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Planned Parenthood | Ann Arbor, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Southampton Hospital Foundation Inc | Southampton, NY | $17,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Christ Memorial Chapel | Hebe Sound, FL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Helm | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Alzheimer's Association | Southfield, MI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Focushope | Detroit, MI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hebe Sound Community Chest | Hebe Sound, FL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hobe Sound Community | Hobe Sound, FL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Arthritis Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The East Hampton Healthcare Foundation | East Hampton, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The East Hampton Healthcare Foundation | East Hampton, MI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Belle Isle Conservancy | Detroit, MI | $9,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Alzheimer's Association | Chicago, IL | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Festival of Trees | Livonia, MI | $7,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Arthritis Foundation | Washington, DC | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Jupiter Island Medical Clinic Inc | Hobe Sound, FL | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mistletoe Magic | Grosse Pointe Park, MI | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chandler Park Conservancy | Detriot, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Eisenhower Health Foundation | Rancho Mirage, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Focus Hope | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pope Francis Center | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Tau Beta Association | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Helm Life Center | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Grosse Pointe War Memorial Association | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Camp Casey | Farmington Hills, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Detroit Artists Market | Detroit, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Detroit Goodfellows | Detroit, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Detroit Public Safety Foundation | Detroit, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries | Detroit, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| East Hampton Historical Society | East Hampton, NY | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Forgotten Harvest | Oak Park, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education | Grosse Pointe Woods, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Grosse Pointe Historical Society | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Grosse Pointe Library Foundation | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mariners Inn | Detroit, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Neighborhood Club | Grosse Pointe, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Racing for Kids | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Salvation Army | Detroit, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Village Preservation Society of East Hampton | East Hampton, NY | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Detroit Pal | Detroit, MI | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| George & Barbara Bush Foundation | College Station, TX | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Nature Conservancy Michigan | Lansing, MI | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Suffolk County Police Athletic League | Yaphank, NY | $2,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| American Red Cross | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation | Detroit, MI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit | Detroit, MI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Grosse Pointe Theatre | Grosse Pointe, MI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jupiter Island Medical Clinicinc | Hobe Sound, FL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Michigan United Cerebral Palsy | Southfield, MI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Pewabic Pottery | Detroit, MI | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Special Olympics Michigan | Grand Rapids, MI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| United Negro College Fund Inc | Detroit, MI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| United Service Organization | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| United Negro College Fund Inc | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| United Service Organizations | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars | Topeka, KS | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sigma Gamma Association and Tau Beta Association | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The War Memorial | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan | Detroit, MI | $1,300 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Alzheimer's Disease Research | Clarksburg, MD | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Red Cross | Detroit, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Barbara Bush Foundation | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Children's Hospital of Michigan | Livonia, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Detroit Athletic Club Foundation | Detroit, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Goodwill of Greater Detroit | Detroit, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grosse Point Chamber Foundation | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Goodwill Detroit | Detroit, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hollyfest the Family Center | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative | Chelsea, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mackinac Center | Midland, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mi United Cerebral Palsy | Southfield, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mi-Ucp | Southfield, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shriners Children's | Tampa, FL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shriners Hospital for Children | Tampa, FL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children | Tampa, FL | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Family Center of Grosse Point | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Family Center of Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States | Topeka, KS | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Grosse Pointe Shores | Grosse Pointe Shores, MI | $650 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gleaners Community Food Bank | Detroit, MI | $600 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Christ Church | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Frank Collins Caddie Scholarship Trust | East Hampton, NY | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pallottine Missionary Center | Wyandotte, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pewabic | Detroit, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Maidstone Charitable Trust | East Hampton, NY | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jupiter Island Historical Society | Hebe Sound, FL | $450 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
75 of 112 (67%) 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 73%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. 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.
- Planned Parenthood
NAVIGATING UNCHARTERED WATERS CAMPAIGN - Catch
NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS FUNDRAISER - Alzheimer's Association
CHOCOALTE JUBILEE FACTORY - The East Hampton Healthcare Foundation
FUND PROGRAMS AT EAST HAMPTON HEALTHCARE CENTER AND EAST HAMPTON URGENT MEDICAL CARE - American Red Cross
PROGRAM SERVICES (SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN CHAPTER) - Mariners Inn
RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 168 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | $545,700 | $1,000 |
| 2022 | 68 | $646,200 | $1,000 |
| 2023 | 73 | $646,700 | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 65 | $3,164,400 | $1,000 |
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
92% 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 $1,000. 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 William & Martha Ford Fund's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). 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: 1901 St Antoine Street 6TH Floor, Detroit, MI, 48226. 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 38-6066335 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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