Rotary Charities of Traverse City
Traverse City, MI · EIN 38-2170564. Reported 148 grants totalling $7,237,202 to 105 organizations across tax years 2021-2024, on Form 990 Schedule I.
Does this grantmaker accept applications?
Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.
Three things in the filing do bear on it:
- What kind of organization it is. For Rotary Charities of Traverse City, the IRS classifies it under community improvement rather than as a grantmaker (NTEE S800) -- it is an operating charity that also makes grants.
- How spread out its giving is. 105 distinct organizations, with 19% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
- How much its list changes. 23% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 3 year-to-year transitions. That is below the 57% median for grantmaking charities, and well below the 67% private foundations manage. A list that turns over this much is one a newcomer can realistically join.
How big are its grants?
The median reported grant is $18,500. Half of what it reported fell between $10,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $6,000 and the largest $439,495. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.
42 of those grants were non-cash -- goods, property or services worth $1,757,182 in total. In-kind giving is real support but it is not a cheque.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotary Camps & Services of Traverse City | Traverse City, MI | $1,347,695 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Discovery Center Great Lakes | Traverse City, MI | $1,041,483 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| United Way of Northwest Michigan | Traverse City, MI | $395,751 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan Inc | Traverse City, MI | $274,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Downtown Development Authority of Traverse City | Traverse City, MI | $261,656 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Traverse City Area Public Schools | Traverse City, MI | $195,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Benzie Conservation District | Beulah, MI | $179,780 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency Inc | Traverse City, MI | $170,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| District Health Department #10 | Cadillac, MI | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Seeds | Traverse City, MI | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc | Traverse City, MI | $128,400 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology | Bellaire, MI | $113,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Homestretch Nonprofit Housing Corporation | Traverse City, MI | $110,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Paddle Antrim | Elk Rapids, MI | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Grow Benzie Inc | Benzonia, MI | $90,069 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians | Peshawbestown, MI | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Northern Michigan Health Consortium | Charlevoix, MI | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Traverse City Dance Project | Traverse City, MI | $71,172 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Northwest Michigan Rural Housing Partnership | Traverse City, MI | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Village of Kalkaska | Kalkaska, MI | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| New Community Vision | Northport, MI | $65,350 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Grand Traverse Conservation District | Traverse City, MI | $61,260 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Grand Traverse Foodshed Alliance | Traverse City, MI | $60,020 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Disability Network Northern Michigan | Traverse City, MI | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| East Bay Charter Township | Traverse City, MI | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Thompsonville Area Revitalization Project | Thompsonville, MI | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Traverse Area Recreation & Transportation Trails Inc | Traverse City, MI | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friendship Community Center Inc | Suttons Bay, MI | $53,600 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inland Seas Education Association | Suttons Bay, MI | $53,159 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bay Community Theatre Organization | Suttons Bay, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Botanical Garden Society of Northwest Michigan Inc | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Frankfort Area Community Land Trust | Frankfort, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Iff | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Immigration Law & Justice Michigan | Grand Rapids, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Leelanau Conservancy | Leland, MI | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Leelanau School for Education | Glen Arbor, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Northwest Michigan Health Services Inc | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Traverse Area Historical Society | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Traverse Symphony Orchestra | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Venture North Funding and Development | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Village of Kingsley | Kingsley, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Grand Traverse Industries Inc | Traverse City, MI | $41,328 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Interlochen Center for the Arts | Interlochen, MI | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Memorial Park Pickleball Association | Interlochen, MI | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Title Track | Williamsburg, MI | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse Inc | Traverse City, MI | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Benzie Area Historical Society | Benzonia, MI | $34,863 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mindimooyenh Healing Circle | Suttons Bay, MI | $34,732 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Traverse Bay Childrens Advocacy Center Inc | Traverse City, MI | $33,758 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce | Elk Rapids, MI | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Traverse Area Pickleball Association | Traverse City, MI | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northwestern Michigan College Foundation | Traverse City, MI | $26,489 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dolly Partons Imagination Library Gtr | Traverse City, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Leland Township Library | Leland, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mission Impact Inc | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Great Lakes Childrens Museum | Traverse City, MI | $23,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Good Samaritan Family Services | Ellsworth, MI | $21,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities Inc | Traverse City, MI | $20,981 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mt Holiday Inc | Traverse City, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Alliance on Mental Illness Grand Traverse | Traverse City, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Traverse City Garfield Township Recreational Authority | Traverse City, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Norte Youth Cycling | Traverse City, MI | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative Inc | Traverse City, MI | $13,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Village of Ellsworth | Ellsworth, MI | $13,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation | Traverse City, MI | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Catholic Charities West Michigan | Grand Rapids, MI | $11,725 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Generations Ahead | Traverse City, MI | $10,295 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northport Arts Association | Northport, MI | $10,077 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Advocates for Benzie County | Frankfort, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| American Legion | Old Mission, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Asi Community Inc | Bellaire, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Benzie Aquatic Center | Frankfort, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Benzie Senior Resources | Honor, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Elk Rapids District Library | Elk Rapids, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Fife Lake Public Library | Fife Lake, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of the Historic Commons | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore | Grand Rapids, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation Inc | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grass River Natural Area Inc | Bellaire, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Health Department of Northwest Michigan | Harbor Springs, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area Foundation Inc | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kalkaska County Library | Kalkaska, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society | Empire, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Leelanau Energy | Northport, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mashup Rock & Roll Musical | Interlochen, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mills Community House Association | Benzonia, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Waves Housing Inc | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Northwest Education Services | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture Network | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Parallel 45 | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Peninsula Housing | Suttons Bay, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Power Book Bags | Suttons Bay, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear | Empire, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rotary International | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Antrim Foundation | Bellaire, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Leelanau Township Community Foundation Inc | Northport, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Womens Resource Center for the Grand Traverse Area | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Rock of Kingsley Inc | Kingsley, MI | $9,819 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Festival Foundation | Traverse City, MI | $9,750 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Glen Arbor Arts Center | Glen Arbor, MI | $9,700 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Traverse City Center of Entrepreneurship | Traverse City, MI | $9,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Solon Township | Cedar, MI | $9,350 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Honor Area Restoration Project | Honor, MI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Leelanau Childrens Center Inc | Leland, MI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Clearwater Township | Rapid City, MI | $7,440 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
31 of 105 (30%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose column of its filings, largest first. This is the closest thing to a statement of what it funds, in its own words.
- Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan Inc
SYSTEMS CHANGE ACCELERATOR & EMERGING NEEDS FUND - Traverse City Area Public Schools
SYSTEMS CHANGE ACCELERATOR / EMERGING NEEDS FUND - United Way of Northwest Michigan
SEED GRANT/LEARNING FUND/SYSTEMS CHANGE ACCELERATOR - Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency
SEED GRANT &SYSTEMS CHANGE ACCELERATOR - Benzie Conservation District
SYSTEMS CHANGE ACCELERATOR - Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region
SEED GRANT & ASSETS FOR THRIVING COMMUNITIES
What kind of organizations it funds
By each recipient's own IRS classification, for the 71 of 105 recipients we could match to a registered organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants reported | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42 | $1,602,998 | $20,490 |
| 2022 | 34 | $2,010,089 | $13,000 |
| 2023 | 30 | $1,866,933 | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 42 | $1,757,182 | $14,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.
Where its money goes
99% of its giving went to organizations in Michigan. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.
Down to the city
Find more funders like Rotary Charities of Traverse City
We read newly filed IRS returns and email you the grantmakers whose giving matches your state and cause, as they are published. Free.
No spam, unsubscribe in one click. We never sell or share your address.
Funders that support the same organizations
These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are the strongest signal available 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 grantmaker
- Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
- Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $18,500 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in Michigan.
- Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Rotary Charities of Traverse City's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred or estimated.
On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 40 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 2 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.
Address of record on the latest return: 800 Cottageview Drive 1090, Traverse City, MI, 49684.
EIN 38-2170564 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your organization? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.