The Burt Foundation appears to concentrate its giving on addressing basic infrastructure and equity needs through a sizable, focused gift to a single nonprofit. With a $150,000 grant to DigDeep, the foundation signals interest in water and sanitation solutions for underserved communities—particularly programs that deliver tangible, community-level infrastructure and service access. Their giving profile is highly targeted rather than broad-based.
Concentrated, one-time large gift to a single organization rather than many small grants or diversified funding; appears to favor direct service infrastructure work.
Notable grantees: DigDeep, Inc.
A $150,000 grant to DigDeep in both 2023 and 2024 points to the Burt Foundation C/o Erik H Serr Miller Canfield’s clearest recent pattern: repeat support for basic-needs infrastructure, especially water and sanitation access. That same two-year continuity suggests the foundation favors sustained backing over one-off gifts when it identifies a priority. Alongside DigDeep, its recent giving includes sizable support for animal welfare and community services, with grants of $125,000 each to Paws With a Cause and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. The foundation’s portfolio also reaches into older-adult support, wildlife care, and conservation-oriented work, but the overall shape remains focused and selective. Most of its grants land at familiar nonprofit partners, often at round-dollar amounts that repeat across years. The Burt Foundation C/o Erik H Serr Miller Canfield operates with a national scope, yet its recent grant list shows a strong concentration in Michigan organizations as well as a small set of recurring partners outside the state. The result is a pattern of targeted grants to organizations working on tangible service delivery rather than broad, diffuse funding across many fields.
Water equity is the most distinctive cause area in the recent record. The foundation gave $150,000 in both 2023 and 2024 to DigDeep Inc for work tied to water and sanitation access. It also supported another water-adjacent effort with $50,000 in 2023 and again in 2024 to Alliance for the Great Lakes. Animal welfare is another clear theme. In 2024, it awarded $125,000 to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and $125,000 to Dog Is My Copilot Inc, and in 2023 it also funded a range of animal care groups. Community services appear as well, including $100,000 in 2023 and 2024 to United Methodist Retirement Heritage Foundation and $100,000 in 2023 to Pima Council on Aging Inc. These grants show attention to direct-service organizations with concrete household or community-level impact.
Typical grant size centers on larger awards: the 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. The recent record also includes repeated gifts to the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, indicating recurring support rather than isolated one-time checks. The foundation is a private foundation and does not fund individuals; it also does not make program-related investments. Its recent grants are mostly round amounts, with several partners receiving the same dollar figure in consecutive years.
$2.4M
$14.7M
$4.7M
$2.5M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Grants are national in scope, but Michigan is the most common recipient state, accounting for 52% of grants. Recent Michigan recipients include organizations in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Chelsea, Howell, and another Ann Arbor grant recipient. Outside Michigan, the foundation also gave to nonprofits in Tucson, Los Angeles, Jackson, Kanab, Chicago, Galt, and other U.S. locations. All recent grants listed went to U.S.-based recipients.
Recent grants point to direct-service organizations in water access, animal welfare, conservation, and aging services. Examples include repeated support for DigDeep Inc, Paws With a Cause, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, United Methodist Retirement Heritage Foundation, and Alliance for the Great Lakes.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024, including DigDeep Inc at $150,000 in each year, Paws With a Cause at $125,000 in 2023 and 2024, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at $125,000 in 2023 and 2024.
The grant-size distribution is centered on larger awards. The 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. Recent grants also include higher outliers such as $150,000.
Michigan is the top recipient state, with 52% of grants going to recipients there. Recent Michigan grantees are spread across several cities, including Ann Arbor, Detroit, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Chelsea, and Howell.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LE MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE | PONTIAC, MI | $300,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY | KANAB, UT | $175,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| MICHIGAN ANTI-CRUELTY SOC MICHIGAN ANTI-CRUELTY SOCIETY | DETROIT, MI | $150,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| UMRC FOUNDATION UNITED METHODIST RETIREMENT HERITAGE FOUNDATION | CHELSEA, MI | $150,000 | 2026 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| DOG IS MY COPILOT INC DOG IS MY COPILOT INC | JACKSON, WY | $150,000 | 2026 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PAWS WITH A CAUSE PAWS WITH A CAUSE | AUBURN HILLS, MI | $150,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| FRIENDS OF PIMA CO ANIMAL CARE FRIENDS OF PIMA CO ANIMAL CARE | TUCSON, AZ | $125,000 | 2026 | CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF HURON V HUMANE SOCIETY OF HURON VALLEY | ANN ARBOR, MI | $125,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY | GALT, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PILOTS TO THE RESCUE PILOTS TO THE RESCUE | BORRKLYN, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED | PETOSKEY, MI | $75,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PROJECT ST VET PROJECT ST VET | ENCINITAS, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| HORSES HAVEN HORSES HAVEN | HOWELL, MI | $75,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS |
| TUCSON WILDLIFE CENTER INC TUCSON WILDLIFE CENTER INC | TUCSON, AZ | $75,000 | 2026 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| FISHER HOUSE FISHER HOUSE | TUSCON, AZ | $75,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM | TUSCON, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| SOUTHERN AZ ANIMAL FOOD BANK SOUTHERN AZ ANIMAL FOOD BANK | TUCSON, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN LAND SOUTHEST MICHIGAN LAND CONSERVANCY | SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| LEGACY LAND CONSERVANCY LEGACY LAND CONSERVANCY | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| HERMITAGE NO KILL CAT SHELTER MERMITAGE NO KILL CAT SHELTER | TUCSON, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS |
| SASHA FARM SASHA FARM | MANCHESTER, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVAN LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY | HARBOR SPRINGS, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| CHEBOYGAN CO HUMANE SOCIETY CHEBOYGAN CO HUMANE SOCIETY | CHEBOYGAN, MI | $40,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PIMA PAWS FOR LIFE PIMA PAWS FOR LIFE | TUCSON, AZ | $25,000 | 2026 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | ROYAL OAK, MI | $20,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| BURT LAKE PRESERVATION ASSOC BURT LAKE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION | INDIAN RIVER, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| TRAILS END WILDLIFE REFUG TRAILS END WILDLIFE REFUGE | MARTINSVILLE, IN | $4,000 | 2026 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY | KANAB, UT | $175,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PRIMAVERA FUNDRAISER PRIMAVERA FUNDRAISER | TUSCON, AZ | $150,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| UMRC FOUNDATION UNITED METHODIST RETIREMENT HERITAGE FOUNDATION | CHELSEA, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PAWS WITH A CAUSE PAWS WITH A CAUSE | AUBURN HILLS, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| DIG DEEP INC DIG DEEP INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| MICHIGAN ANTI-CRUELTY SOC MICHIGAN ANTI-CRUELTY SOCIETY | DETROIT, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| DOG IS MY COPILOT INC DOG IS MY COPILOT INC | JACKSON, WY | $125,000 | 2025 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LE MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE | PONTIAC, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| FRIENDS OF PIMA CO ANIMAL CARE FRIENDS OF PIMA CO ANIMAL CARE | TUCSON, AZ | $125,000 | 2025 | CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF HURON V HUMANE SOCIETY OF HURON VALLEY | ANN ARBOR, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY | GALT, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS AMERICAN RED CROSS | JACKSON, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PIMA PAWS FOR LIFE PIMA PAWS FOR LIFE | TUCSON, AZ | $75,000 | 2025 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| PROJECT ST VET PROJECT ST VET | ENCINITAS, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| TUCSON WILDLIFE CENTER INC TUCSON WILDLIFE CENTER INC | TUCSON, AZ | $75,000 | 2025 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| FRIENDS OF PIMA CO COUNTY ANIMAL FRIENDS OF PIMA CO COUNTY ANIMAL | TUSCON, AZ | $75,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS |
| TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED | PETOSKEY, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| SASHA FARM SASHA FARM | MANCHESTER, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
| HORSES HAVEN HORSES HAVEN | HOWELL, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | USED CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS |
| SOUTHERN AZ ANIMAL FOOD BANK SOUTHERN AZ ANIMAL FOOD BANK | TUCSON, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS |
MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LE MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE
$300,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY
$175,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
MICHIGAN ANTI-CRUELTY SOC MICHIGAN ANTI-CRUELTY SOCIETY
$150,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
UMRC FOUNDATION UNITED METHODIST RETIREMENT HERITAGE FOUNDATION
$150,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
DOG IS MY COPILOT INC DOG IS MY COPILOT INC
$150,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PAWS WITH A CAUSE PAWS WITH A CAUSE
$150,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
FRIENDS OF PIMA CO ANIMAL CARE FRIENDS OF PIMA CO ANIMAL CARE
$125,000CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS
HUMANE SOCIETY OF HURON V HUMANE SOCIETY OF HURON VALLEY
$125,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
$100,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PILOTS TO THE RESCUE PILOTS TO THE RESCUE
$75,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES
$75,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED
$75,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PROJECT ST VET PROJECT ST VET
$75,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
HORSES HAVEN HORSES HAVEN
$75,000USED CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS
TUCSON WILDLIFE CENTER INC TUCSON WILDLIFE CENTER INC
$75,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
FISHER HOUSE FISHER HOUSE
$75,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM
$50,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
SOUTHERN AZ ANIMAL FOOD BANK SOUTHERN AZ ANIMAL FOOD BANK
$50,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN LAND SOUTHEST MICHIGAN LAND CONSERVANCY
$50,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
LEGACY LAND CONSERVANCY LEGACY LAND CONSERVANCY
$50,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
HERMITAGE NO KILL CAT SHELTER MERMITAGE NO KILL CAT SHELTER
$50,000CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS
SASHA FARM SASHA FARM
$50,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVAN LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY
$50,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
CHEBOYGAN CO HUMANE SOCIETY CHEBOYGAN CO HUMANE SOCIETY
$40,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PIMA PAWS FOR LIFE PIMA PAWS FOR LIFE
$25,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY
$25,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
$20,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
BURT LAKE PRESERVATION ASSOC BURT LAKE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
$15,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
TRAILS END WILDLIFE REFUG TRAILS END WILDLIFE REFUGE
$4,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY
$175,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PRIMAVERA FUNDRAISER PRIMAVERA FUNDRAISER
$150,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
UMRC FOUNDATION UNITED METHODIST RETIREMENT HERITAGE FOUNDATION
$150,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PAWS WITH A CAUSE PAWS WITH A CAUSE
$150,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
DIG DEEP INC DIG DEEP INC
$150,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
MICHIGAN ANTI-CRUELTY SOC MICHIGAN ANTI-CRUELTY SOCIETY
$125,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
DOG IS MY COPILOT INC DOG IS MY COPILOT INC
$125,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LE MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE
$125,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
FRIENDS OF PIMA CO ANIMAL CARE FRIENDS OF PIMA CO ANIMAL CARE
$125,000CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS
HUMANE SOCIETY OF HURON V HUMANE SOCIETY OF HURON VALLEY
$125,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
$100,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
AMERICAN RED CROSS AMERICAN RED CROSS
$100,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES
$75,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PIMA PAWS FOR LIFE PIMA PAWS FOR LIFE
$75,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
PROJECT ST VET PROJECT ST VET
$75,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
TUCSON WILDLIFE CENTER INC TUCSON WILDLIFE CENTER INC
$75,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
FRIENDS OF PIMA CO COUNTY ANIMAL FRIENDS OF PIMA CO COUNTY ANIMAL
$75,000USED CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS
TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED
$50,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
SASHA FARM SASHA FARM
$50,000USED CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS
HORSES HAVEN HORSES HAVEN
$50,000USED CONSISTENT W/501(C)(3) STATUS
SOUTHERN AZ ANIMAL FOOD BANK SOUTHERN AZ ANIMAL FOOD BANK
$50,000CONSISTENT W/ 501(C)(3) STATUS