The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation focuses on capital and program support for local education and community institutions in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula alongside sizable investments in cancer research and treatment. Grants are often large, designation-specific awards for construction, facility upgrades, and staffing at parish schools, public K–12 districts, regional health providers, and a local health camp, with occasional international emergency relief funding. The foundation tends to fund a small number of high-impact projects rather than many small grants, and it makes repeat awards to key local partners.
The Daniel J Kobasic Foundation’s largest recent awards go to local institutions that keep day-to-day services running in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: teacher salaries at Holy Name Catholic School, a cancer clinic construction project at OSF Healthare Foundation, and an instructional building at Delta Schoolcraft ISD. That mix shows a funder willing to pay for both operating needs and brick-and-mortar projects, often at a scale large enough to move a single institution’s work forward. Across recent grants, the foundation has supported Catholic school staffing, public-school facilities, regional cancer care, and community infrastructure in Escanaba, Big Bay, and Marquette. It has also backed Bay Cliff Health Camp, the William Bonifas Fine Arts Center, the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, and InvestUP, suggesting an emphasis on local institutions that serve children, families, and the broader community. The grant list includes repeat awards to several partners over multiple years, including Holy Name Catholic School, Delta Schoolcraft ISD, Bay Cliff Health Camp, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, OSF Healthcare Foundation, and InvestUP. Occasional grants also extend to emergency relief and refugee repatriation through Save Ukraine.
Education is a core thread in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $305,000 to Delta Schoolcraft ISD for construction of an instructional building, $134,447 to MAPS Education Foundation for educational facilities, and $15,000 to Rapid River Schools Foundation for robotics competition travel expenses. Health-related grants are another major area. The foundation gave $275,000 to Bay Cliff Health Camp for infrastructure improvements and $115,000 for a lake access project, while also funding patient transport through a $50,000 grant to Steve Mariucci Famnily Beacon House. Cancer work appears in both research and treatment-center support. Recent grants include $308,663 to OSF Healthare Foundation for construction of a cancer clinic and $250,000 to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for cancer research. Community institutions have also received support, including $119,100 to The William Bonifas Fine Arts Center for roof replacement.
Typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $8,924 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent list also shows a small set of much larger, designation-specific awards. The foundation is active in repeated giving: Holy Name Catholic School, Delta Schoolcraft ISD, Bay Cliff Health Camp, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, OSF Healthcare Foundation, and InvestUP each appear in multiple years. It funds individuals as well as organizations, and it does not make program-related investments. The pattern is dominated by operational support, capital projects, and one-time project grants rather than broad, open-call funding.
$2.3M
$31.1M
$8.6M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants with multiple repeat awards to a small set of regional institutional grantees; emphasis on capital projects and targeted program support rather than broad-based general operating funding. Mix of local/regional beneficiaries and selective national-level health research funding.
Notable grantees: Holy Name Catholic School, Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Bay Cliff Health Camp, OSF Healthcare Foundation
Giving is highly concentrated in Michigan, with 82% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. The strongest clusters are in Escanaba, Marquette, Big Bay, and Rapid River, all within the Upper Peninsula. Recent recipients outside Michigan are limited to single-grant locations such as Boone, Iowa; Manhattan Beach, California; New York, New York; South Bend, Indiana; and Appleton, Wisconsin. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Recent grants show support for Catholic schools, public school districts, cancer research and treatment organizations, health camp infrastructure, arts facilities, chambers of commerce, economic development groups, and public safety services. The foundation also funds scholarships and student travel costs.
The grant-size distribution centers on $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $8,924 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger project grants, such as $358,000 and $308,663.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Holy Name Catholic School, Delta Schoolcraft ISD, Bay Cliff Health Camp, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, OSF Healthcare Foundation, and InvestUP. That pattern points to ongoing relationships with selected local partners.
Michigan receives 82% of grants, and the recent list is concentrated in Upper Peninsula communities such as Escanaba, Marquette, Big Bay, and Rapid River. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent record points to education, cancer care and research, health and accessibility infrastructure, and community institutions. Specific examples include school staffing and facilities, cancer clinic construction, health camp infrastructure, and support for arts and civic organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSF Healthare Foundation | Escanaba, MI | $308,663 | 2025 | Construction of cancer clinic |
| Delta Schoolcraft ISD | Escanaba, MI | $305,000 | 2025 | Construction of instructional building |
| Holy Name Catholic School | Escanaba, MI | $264,000 | 2025 | Teacher salary support |
| Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | Boone, IA | $250,000 | 2025 | Cancer research |
| MAPS Education Foundation | Marquette, MI | $134,447 | 2025 | Educational facilities |
| The William Bonifas Fine Arts Center | Escanaba, MI | $119,100 | 2025 | Roof replacement |
| Bay Cliff Health Camp | Big Bay, MI | $115,000 | 2025 | Lake access project |
| Save Ukraine | New York, NY | $110,000 | 2025 | Child rescue |
| Delta County Chamber of Commerce | Escanaba, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | Mortgage paydown |
| UP State Fair | Escanaba, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | Event sponsorship |
| InvestUP | Marquette, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | Economic development |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton, MI | $16,081 | 2025 | Scholarships |
| Rapid River Schools Foundation | Rapid River, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | Robotics competition travel expenses |
| Lawrence University | Appleton, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| University of Notre Dame | South Bend, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Bay de Noc Community College | Escanaba, MI | $13,358 | 2025 | Scholarships |
| Sharing Notes | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | Musical programming |
| Steve Mariucci Family Beacon House | Marquette, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | General operations |
| Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI | $8,994 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Holy Name Catholic School | Escanaba, MI | $6,000 | 2025 | Band programming |
| The William Bonifas Fine Arts Center | Escanaba, MI | $5,500 | 2025 | Community outreach |
| Catholic Social Services of the UP | Marquette, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | Recovery house operations |
| City of Escanaba | Escanaba, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | City band centennial celebration |
| ACAP | Concord, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | General operations |
| WNMU-TV | Marquette, MI | $3,500 | 2025 | Science programming |
| St Thomas the Apostle Parish | Escanaba, MI | $3,070 | 2025 | General Operations |
| St Anthony of Padua Parish | Escanaba, MI | $3,070 | 2025 | General operations |
| St Joseph & St Patrick Parish | Escanaba, MI | $3,070 | 2025 | General operations |
| St Anne Parish | Escanaba, MI | $3,070 | 2025 | General operations |
| Friends of the Escanaba Public Library | Escanaba, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | Purchase of library materials |
| La Scuola International School | San Francisco, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | Education |
| WNMU-FM | Marquette, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | Classical music programming |
| Bay Cliff Health Camp | Big Bay, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | Year end picnic |
| Delta County Chamber of Commerce | Escanaba, MI | $1,100 | 2025 | Event sponsorship |
| OSF Healthcare Foundation | Escanaba, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | Fundraiser sponsorship |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $789 | 2025 | Scholarships |
| The William Bonifas Fine Arts Center | Escanaba, MI | $400 | 2025 | Fundraiser sponsorship |
| JACOB SCHAEFER | Garden, MI | $359 | 2025 | Educational materials |
| Holy Name Catholic School | Escanaba, MI | $352,000 | 2024 | Teacher salary support |
| Bay Cliff Health Camp | Big Bay, MI | $275,000 | 2024 | Infrastructure improvements |
| Delta Schoolcraft ISD | Escanaba, MI | $195,000 | 2024 | Construction of instructional building |
| Save Ukraine | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | Repatriation of refugees |
| Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | Manhattan Beach, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | Cancer research |
| Escanaba Public Safety | Escanaba, MI | $24,000 | 2024 | Purchase of rescue equipment |
| InvestUP | Marquette, MI | $20,000 | 2024 | Economic development |
| University of Notre Dame | South Bend, IN | $15,000 | 2024 | Scholarships |
| Lawrence University | Appleton, WI | $15,000 | 2024 | Scholarships |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI | $12,500 | 2024 | Scholarships |
| Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI | $11,949 | 2024 | Scholarships |
| Bay de Noc Community College | Escanaba, MI | $9,381 | 2024 | Scholarships |
OSF Healthare Foundation
$308,663Construction of cancer clinic
Delta Schoolcraft ISD
$305,000Construction of instructional building
Holy Name Catholic School
$264,000Teacher salary support
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
$250,000Cancer research
MAPS Education Foundation
$134,447Educational facilities
The William Bonifas Fine Arts Center
$119,100Roof replacement
Save Ukraine
$110,000Child rescue
Delta County Chamber of Commerce
$50,000Mortgage paydown
UP State Fair
$50,000Event sponsorship
InvestUP
$20,000Economic development
Michigan Technological University
$16,081Scholarships
Rapid River Schools Foundation
$15,000Robotics competition travel expenses
Lawrence University
$15,000Scholarship
University of Notre Dame
$15,000Scholarship
Bay de Noc Community College
$13,358Scholarships
Sharing Notes
$10,000Musical programming
Steve Mariucci Family Beacon House
$10,000General operations
Western Michigan University
$8,994Scholarship
Holy Name Catholic School
$6,000Band programming
The William Bonifas Fine Arts Center
$5,500Community outreach
Catholic Social Services of the UP
$5,000Recovery house operations
City of Escanaba
$5,000City band centennial celebration
ACAP
$5,000General operations
WNMU-TV
$3,500Science programming
St Thomas the Apostle Parish
$3,070General Operations
St Anthony of Padua Parish
$3,070General operations
St Joseph & St Patrick Parish
$3,070General operations
St Anne Parish
$3,070General operations
Friends of the Escanaba Public Library
$3,000Purchase of library materials
WNMU-FM
$2,500Classical music programming
Delta County Chamber of Commerce
$1,100Event sponsorship
OSF Healthcare Foundation
$1,000Fundraiser sponsorship
University of Michigan
$789Scholarships
The William Bonifas Fine Arts Center
$400Fundraiser sponsorship
JACOB SCHAEFER
$359Educational materials
Holy Name Catholic School
$352,000Teacher salary support
Delta Schoolcraft ISD
$195,000Construction of instructional building
Save Ukraine
$100,000Repatriation of refugees
Escanaba Public Safety
$24,000Purchase of rescue equipment
InvestUP
$20,000Economic development
University of Notre Dame
$15,000Scholarships
Lawrence University
$15,000Scholarships
Central Michigan University
$12,500Scholarships
Western Michigan University
$11,949Scholarships
Bay de Noc Community College
$9,381Scholarships