The Alden and Vada Dow Fund concentrates its giving on Midland, MI community infrastructure, funding large operating support for locally rooted organizations that provide environmental education/conservation and neighborhood community services. Grants are sizable and targeted rather than broad, signaling a preference for sustaining established local institutions that serve civic life and outdoor education in the Midland area.
Very concentrated: a small number of large, unrestricted operating grants to local organizations (repeat or flagship-style support within a single city/region).
Alden and Vada Dow Fund’s recent grantmaking is defined by large operating support for Midland-area institutions that anchor community life, environmental education, and local services. The biggest grant in the current record is $190,000 to Chippewa Nature Center for operating support, followed by $125,000 to Greater Midland Community Center, also for operations. Those two awards show the fund’s emphasis on sustaining established organizations rather than funding short-term projects. The foundation’s pattern is highly place-based. Its grants regularly support Midland organizations such as The Little Forks Conservancy, Greater Midland North Family Center, Shelterhouse, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, all on an operating basis. It also backs nearby Michigan institutions tied to education and the environment, including Interlochen Arts Academy and Inland Seas Education Association. Across the record, the fund favors recurring support for organizations that already serve residents, neighborhoods, and civic institutions in and around Midland.
Environmental education and conservation are a clear thread in the Alden and Vada Dow Fund’s grantmaking. It gave $190,000 to Chippewa Nature Center for operating support and another $30,000 to The Little Forks Conservancy for operations, linking the fund to outdoor learning and stewardship in Midland. Community center and family services are another major area. The fund awarded $125,000 to Greater Midland Community Center for operations and $30,000 to Greater Midland North Family Center for operating support, along with $30,000 to Greater Midland Coleman Family Center. It also supports arts and youth-oriented institutions elsewhere in Michigan. Interlochen Arts Academy received $50,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for operating support, and Inland Seas Education Association received $50,000 in 2024 and $25,000 in 2023.
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile, even though several awards are larger. The record shows repeated support for the same organizations across years, including Interlochen Arts Academy, Inland Seas Education Association, Family & Children’s Services, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Can Council Great Lakes Bay Region, Shelterhouse, and Greater Midland North Family Center. Grants are overwhelmingly operating support, and the fund accepts unsolicited applications through annual grant programs. Its activity is structured as a local, targeted grantmaker rather than a broad, national funder.
$805K
$10.7M
$600K
$1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $30K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$30K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in MI.
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Notable grantees: Chippewa Nature Center, Greater Midland Community Center
The fund gives entirely in Michigan, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the state. Midland appears most often, including awards to Chippewa Nature Center, Greater Midland Community Center, The Little Forks Conservancy, Shelterhouse, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Other Michigan cities in the record include Saginaw, Bay City, Interlochen, Suttons Bay, Traverse City, Grayling, Coleman, and Ann Arbor. The pattern reaches beyond Midland while staying within a tight Michigan footprint.
The fund supports nonprofit organizations in Michigan with emphasis on health and human services, the arts, education, the environment, and civic/community programs. Its recent grants also show operating support for locally rooted organizations in Midland and nearby Michigan communities.
Yes. The recent grants list is dominated by operating support, including awards such as $190,000 to Chippewa Nature Center, $125,000 to Greater Midland Community Center, and multiple $30,000 and $25,000 operating grants to local nonprofits.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. The record also includes larger awards, showing that the fund can make substantial operating grants to selected organizations.
Yes. The active grant programs listed for the fund indicate that annual grant cycles accept unsolicited applications. The programs are designed for nonprofit organizations in Michigan, with priority given to Midland, Bay, and Saginaw counties and areas north.
Its giving is entirely in Michigan, with 100% of grants to recipients in the state. Midland is the most frequent recipient location, and the broader pattern includes grants in Saginaw, Bay City, Interlochen, Suttons Bay, Traverse City, Grayling, Coleman, and Ann Arbor.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interlochen Arts Academy | Interlochen, MI | $45,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Family and Children's Services | Saginaw, MI | $36,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Planned Parenthood of MI | Ann Arbor, MI | $35,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region | Midland, MI | $30,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region | Saginaw, MI | $30,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| West Midland Family Center | Shepherd, MI | $30,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| MyMichigan Health Foundation | Midland, MI | $30,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Greater Midland Coleman Family Center | Coleman, MI | $28,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Shelterhouse - Council of Domestic Violence | Midland, MI | $28,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Greater Midland North Family Center | Midland, MI | $28,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Child & Family Services of Saginaw | Saginaw, MI | $27,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| The Legacy Center | Midland, MI | $26,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| The ARC of Midland County | Midland, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| The Little Forks Conservancy | Midland, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Bay Area Women's Center | Bay City, MI | $23,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| River House Inc | Grayling, MI | $23,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| GRACE | Grayling, MI | $23,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Inland Seas Education Association | Suttons Bay, MI | $22,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Underground Railroad | Saginaw, MI | $22,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Northern Michigan Assessment Center | Roscommon, MI | $21,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Hidden Harvest | Saginaw, MI | $20,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Raven Hill Discovery Center | East Jordan, MI | $20,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Chippewa Nature Center | Midland, MI | $18,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| The Rock Center for Youth Development | Midland, MI | $16,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Great Lakes Discovery Ctr & Pier | Traverse City, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee | Owosso, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| The ARC of Shiawassee | Owosso, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Studio 23The Arts Center | Bay City, MI | $14,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Alden and Vada Dow Creativity Foundation | Midland, MI | $12,700 | 2026 | Operating |
| New Dimensions | Essexville, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Muskegon Community College Foundation | Muskegon, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| First Baptist Church | Midland, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Iosco County Coats for Kids | Tawas City, MI | $8,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Rayola Inc | West Branch, MI | $8,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Japanese Cultural Center | Saginaw, MI | $7,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Teenage Musicals | Midland, MI | $6,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Imagination Library | Midland, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | Operating |
| Chemical City Band | Midland, MI | $3,300 | 2026 | Operating |
| CHIPPEWA NATURE CENTER | MIDLAND, MI | $190,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| INLAND SEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | SUTTONS BAY, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| INTERLOCHEN ARTS ACADEMY | INTERLOCHEN, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES | SAGINAW, MI | $40,024 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES OF SAGINAW | SAGINAW, MI | $35,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | MIDLAND, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| GREATER MIDLAND NORTH FAMILY CENTER | MIDLAND, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| MYMICHIGAN HEALTH FOUNDATION | MIDLAND, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| THE LITTLE FORKS CONSERVANCY | MIDLAND, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| SHELTERHOUSE | MIDLAND, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| GREATER MIDLAND COLEMAN FAMILY CENT | COLEMAN, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
| YWCA GREAT LAKES BAY REGION | BAY CITY, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | OPERATING |
Interlochen Arts Academy
$45,000Operating
Family and Children's Services
$36,000Operating
Planned Parenthood of MI
$35,000Operating
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region
$30,000Operating
CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region
$30,000Operating
West Midland Family Center
$30,000Operating
MyMichigan Health Foundation
Operating
Greater Midland Coleman Family Center
$28,000Operating
Shelterhouse - Council of Domestic Violence
$28,000Operating
Greater Midland North Family Center
$28,000Operating
Child & Family Services of Saginaw
$27,000Operating
The Legacy Center
$26,000Operating
The ARC of Midland County
$25,000Operating
The Little Forks Conservancy
$25,000Operating
Bay Area Women's Center
$23,000Operating
River House Inc
$23,000Operating
GRACE
$23,000Operating
Inland Seas Education Association
$22,000Operating
Underground Railroad
$22,000Operating
Northern Michigan Assessment Center
$21,000Operating
Hidden Harvest
$20,000Operating
Raven Hill Discovery Center
$20,000Operating
Chippewa Nature Center
$18,000Operating
The Rock Center for Youth Development
$16,000Operating
Great Lakes Discovery Ctr & Pier
$15,000Operating
Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee
$15,000Operating
The ARC of Shiawassee
$15,000Operating
Studio 23The Arts Center
$14,000Operating
Alden and Vada Dow Creativity Foundation
$12,700Operating
New Dimensions
$10,000Operating
Muskegon Community College Foundation
$10,000Operating
First Baptist Church
$10,000Operating
Iosco County Coats for Kids
$8,000Operating
Rayola Inc
$8,000Operating
Japanese Cultural Center
$7,000Operating
Teenage Musicals
$6,000Operating
Imagination Library
$5,000Operating
Chemical City Band
$3,300Operating
CHIPPEWA NATURE CENTER
$190,000OPERATING
INLAND SEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$50,000OPERATING
INTERLOCHEN ARTS ACADEMY
$50,000OPERATING
FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES
$40,024OPERATING
CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES OF SAGINAW
$35,000OPERATING
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
$30,000OPERATING
GREATER MIDLAND NORTH FAMILY CENTER
$30,000OPERATING
MYMICHIGAN HEALTH FOUNDATION
$30,000OPERATING
THE LITTLE FORKS CONSERVANCY
$30,000OPERATING
SHELTERHOUSE
$30,000OPERATING
GREATER MIDLAND COLEMAN FAMILY CENT
$30,000OPERATING
YWCA GREAT LAKES BAY REGION
$25,000OPERATING
Current and upcoming funding from Alden and Vada Dow Fund that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRC 501(c)(3) and not classified as private foundations under 509(a). Grants will not be made to individuals. Organizations may apply through an eligible fiscal sponsor that provides written authorization.
Deadline: Letters of Inquiry due April 1 each year; Full Proposals (by invitation) due May 31 each year.
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