The Charles F & Adeline Barth Charitable Foundation is a highly local Saginaw-focused funder that concentrates giving on children and youth development, basic needs, and arts & culture organizations. Their grants support a mix of direct service providers (soup kitchens, Habitat, Big Brothers Big Sisters), youth development/education programs (READ Association, Boy/Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, Saginaw Promise), and local cultural institutions (art museum, symphony, theatre). A single very large grant to the Saginaw Community Foundation alongside many smaller, repeat grants suggests they balance broad community impact with sustained support for neighborhood nonprofits.
A single $1,492,561 grant to the Saginaw Community Foundation stands out in the Charles F& Adeline Barth Charitable Foundation’s recent giving and frames the rest of its work: almost everything else is built around small, steady support for Saginaw nonprofits. The foundation’s grants go to organizations serving children and youth, basic-needs providers, and local arts and culture groups, with additional support for housing stability, scholarships, and volunteer-driven community work. Recent awards include $5,000 to United Way of Saginaw for volunteerism and $4,500 to READ Association to educate children, alongside a long list of $3,000 gifts that keep local programs operating. That pattern shows a funder focused on neighborhood-level institutions rather than broad regional or national grantmaking. Its recipients include youth-serving groups such as Big Brother Big Sister, Girl Scouts, and Junior Achievement, as well as cultural anchors like Saginaw Bay Symphony, Pit & Balcony Community Theatre, and Saginaw Art Museum. The giving is centered in Saginaw and stays there, reflecting a highly local approach to philanthropy.
In youth development, the foundation supported READ Association with $4,500 to educate children, and also gave $3,000 each to Big Brother Big Sister for one-to-one mentor programs and to Girl Scouts for preeminent leadership development. Education access appears in a separate scholarship grant: Saginaw Promise received $3,000 for scholarships. The foundation also backs practical learning for children through $3,000 to Junior Achievement for financial literacy for children and $3,000 to Mid Michigan Childrens Museum to provide hands-on play and learn experiences. Basic-needs work is another clear area: East Side Soup Kitchen received $3,000 to provide meals to downtown Saginaw, while Old Town Soup Kitchen was funded to provide meals for indigent people. Housing stability is present too, through $3,000 to Habitat for Humanity to restore low income housing and $3,000 to Emmaus House for home maintenance.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile, which shows a highly clustered small-grant pattern. That said, its total annual giving is shaped by one unusually large award alongside many modest grants. Recipients appear across multiple years, including READ Association, Girl Scouts, Big Brother Big Sister, Old Town Soup Kitchen, Saginaw Bay Symphony, and Saginaw Children's Zoo, indicating recurring support rather than isolated one-time gifts. The foundation is a private charitable foundation, not a DAF or program-related investor. Grants in the recent file are project-based or general operating support, depending on the recipient and purpose.
$1.6M
$0
$65K
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $3K and $3K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$3K
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Concentrated, place-based giving: one very large intermediary grant to the Saginaw Community Foundation plus many small-to-midsize, often repeated annual grants to local nonprofits. Funding is broad across sectors but focused geographically and favors steady program support to established community organizations rather than large national initiatives.
Notable grantees: Saginaw Community Foundation, READ Association, Old Town Soup Kitchen, Saginaw Art Museum, Habitat for Humanity (local affiliate)
Giving is fully concentrated in Michigan, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. The strongest cluster is Saginaw, where most grantees are located, including organizations in the city itself and specifically in downtown Saginaw. A smaller number of grants reach nearby Michigan communities such as Brighton and Bloomfield, but the grantmaking footprint remains local. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Its recent grants go to children and youth programs, basic-needs providers, arts and culture organizations, housing-related nonprofits, and scholarship groups. Examples in the data include youth mentoring, soup kitchens, a symphony, a theatre, a museum, and a housing repair organization.
The typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile. Recent giving also includes larger awards, including a $1,492,561 grant to the Saginaw Community Foundation.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including READ Association, Girl Scouts, Big Brother Big Sister, Old Town Soup Kitchen, Saginaw Bay Symphony, and Saginaw Children's Zoo. That pattern suggests recurring support for local groups.
Its giving is entirely in Michigan, and 100% of grants in the dataset go to recipients in the HQ state. Most recipients are in Saginaw, with a few grants to other Michigan cities such as Brighton and Bloomfield.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw Community Foundation | Saginaw, MI | $1,492,561 | 2026 | Public charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes |
| United Way of Saginaw | Saginaw, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | Promote volunteerism |
| READ Association | Saginaw, MI | $4,500 | 2026 | Educate children |
| Make a Wish - Michigan | Brighton, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Grant wish of medically eligible |
| Saginaw Promise | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Scholarships |
| Habitat for Humanity | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Restore low income housing |
| Junior Achievement | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Financial literacy for children |
| Mid Michigan Childrens Museum | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Provide hands on play and learn |
| East Side Soup Kitchen | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Provide meals to downtown Saginaw |
| Girls on the Run | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | General Fund |
| Girl Scouts | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Preeminent leadership development |
| Saginaw Choral Society | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Meaning, creative music experience |
| Pit & Balcony Community Theatre | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Entertainment & education literature |
| Underground Railroad Inc | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | General Fund |
| Saginaw Art Museum | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Education and preservation of art |
| Saginaw Bay Symphony | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Annual concert series |
| Emmaus House | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Home maintenance |
| Old Town Soup Kitchen | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | Provide meals for indigent |
| Big Brother Big Sister | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | One to one mentor programs |
| Boy Scouts of America | Auburn, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | Outlet for children to learn skills |
| MI Special Olympics | Bloomfield, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | Athletic opportunites for disabled |
| Saginaw Valley State University Humanities | Saginaw, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | General Fund |
| United Way of Saginaw | Saginaw, MI | $4,700 | 2025 | Promote volunteerism |
| Underground Railroad Inc | Saginaw, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | General Fund |
| READ Association | Saginaw, MI | $3,500 | 2025 | Educate children |
| Girl Scouts | Saginaw, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | Preeminent leadership development |
| Emmaus House | Saginaw, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Home maintenance |
| Make a Wish - Michigan | Brighton, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Grant wish of medically eligible |
| Junior Achievement | Saginaw, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Financial literacy for children |
| East Side Soup Kitchen | Saginaw, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Provide meals to downtown Saginaw |
| Habitat for Humanity | Saginaw, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Restore low income housing |
| Saginaw Bay Symphony | Saginaw, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Annual concert series |
| Pit & Balcony Community Theatre | Saginaw, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Entertainment & education literature |
| Old Town Soup Kitchen | Saginaw, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Provide meals for indigent |
| Saginaw Art Museum | Saginaw, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Education and preservation of art |
| Saginaw Choral Society | Saginaw, MI | $2,700 | 2025 | Meaning, creative music experience |
| Big Brother Big Sister | Saginaw, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | One to one mentor programs |
| Boy Scouts of America | Auburn, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | Outlet for children to learn skills |
| LEAD | Midland, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | General Fund |
| Mid Michigan Childrens Museum | Saginaw, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | Provide hands on play and learn |
| MI Special Olympics | Bloomfield, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | Athletic opportunites for disabled |
| UNDERGROUND RAILROAD INC | SAGINAW, MI | $4,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| READ ASSOCIATION | SAGINAW, MI | $3,500 | 2024 | EDUCATE CHILDREN |
| GIRL SCOUTS | SAGINAW, MI | $3,000 | 2024 | PREEMINENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT |
| BIG BROTHER BIG SISTER | SAGINAW, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | ONE TO ONE MENTOR PROGRAMS |
| SAGINAW BAY SYMPHONY | SAGINAW, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | ANNUAL CONCERT SERIES |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | SAGINAW, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | RESTORE LOW INCOME HOUSING |
| UNITED WAY OF SAGINAW | SAGINAW, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | PROMOTE VOLUNTEERISM |
| SAGINAW PROMISE | SAGINAW, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT | SAGINAW, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR CHILDREN |
Public charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes
READ Association
$4,500Educate children
Make a Wish - Michigan
$3,000Grant wish of medically eligible
Saginaw Promise
$3,000Scholarships
Restore low income housing
Junior Achievement
$3,000Financial literacy for children
Mid Michigan Childrens Museum
$3,000Provide hands on play and learn
East Side Soup Kitchen
$3,000Provide meals to downtown Saginaw
Girls on the Run
$3,000General Fund
Saginaw Choral Society
$3,000Meaning, creative music experience
Pit & Balcony Community Theatre
$3,000Entertainment & education literature
Underground Railroad Inc
$3,000General Fund
Saginaw Art Museum
$3,000Education and preservation of art
Saginaw Bay Symphony
$3,000Annual concert series
Emmaus House
$3,000Home maintenance
Old Town Soup Kitchen
$3,000Provide meals for indigent
Big Brother Big Sister
$3,000One to one mentor programs
Boy Scouts of America
$2,500Outlet for children to learn skills
MI Special Olympics
$2,500Athletic opportunites for disabled
Saginaw Valley State University Humanities
$1,000General Fund
Underground Railroad Inc
$4,000General Fund
READ Association
$3,500Educate children
Emmaus House
$2,700Home maintenance
Make a Wish - Michigan
$2,700Grant wish of medically eligible
Junior Achievement
$2,700Financial literacy for children
East Side Soup Kitchen
$2,700Provide meals to downtown Saginaw
Saginaw Bay Symphony
$2,700Annual concert series
Pit & Balcony Community Theatre
$2,700Entertainment & education literature
Old Town Soup Kitchen
$2,700Provide meals for indigent
Saginaw Art Museum
$2,700Education and preservation of art
Saginaw Choral Society
$2,700Meaning, creative music experience
Big Brother Big Sister
$2,500One to one mentor programs
Boy Scouts of America
$2,500Outlet for children to learn skills
LEAD
$2,500General Fund
Mid Michigan Childrens Museum
$2,500Provide hands on play and learn
MI Special Olympics
$2,500Athletic opportunites for disabled
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD INC
$4,000GENERAL FUND
READ ASSOCIATION
$3,500EDUCATE CHILDREN
BIG BROTHER BIG SISTER
$2,500ONE TO ONE MENTOR PROGRAMS
SAGINAW BAY SYMPHONY
$2,500ANNUAL CONCERT SERIES
UNITED WAY OF SAGINAW
$2,500PROMOTE VOLUNTEERISM
SAGINAW PROMISE
$2,500GENERAL FUND
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT
$2,500FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR CHILDREN