The Dart Foundation concentrates on place-based philanthropic investments in the greater Lansing/Mason, MI area while making selective national gifts tied to the founder’s interests (notably journalism). Grants skew toward capital and capacity building — endowments, facility construction/upgrade, and equipment — for cultural, educational and community-serving institutions. Recipients include science and discovery centers, public media, animal welfare/zoo infrastructure, and health/hospice services, indicating a preference for tangible, long‑term community assets.
Dart Foundation fka Solid Waste Management Foundation gives at a scale that includes seven-figure support for museums, journalism, and community infrastructure. The largest recent award in the data is $1.5 million to Impression 5 Science Center for endowment support, and the foundation has also made repeated $900,000 grants to Columbia University for the Dart Center for Journalism. Those awards point to two durable threads in its portfolio: long-term institutional support and selective national funding tied to the founder’s interests. The foundation’s recent grants also show a strong preference for tangible, place-based assets in the Lansing area. It has funded facility expansion at Child and Family Charities, a new veterinary facility for Potter Park Zoological Society, and improvements for Lansing Public Media Authority. Other gifts support hospice, hospitals, schools, and nonprofit buildings, suggesting that the foundation often backs physical improvements, capital projects, and equipment rather than short-term program-only work. Across the portfolio, the pattern is consistent: support organizations that serve children, families, public media, health care, and community culture, with Michigan receiving the largest share of grants.
In STEM and museum work, the foundation backed Impression 5 Science Center several times, including $300,000 for exhibit support, $200,000 for exhibit support, $185,000 for exhibit support, and $58,000 for COVID relief STEM kits for the HeadStart population. That mix shows support for both public programming and educational materials. In health and clinical infrastructure, it gave $250,000 to McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation for a new state-of-the-art hospital campus in Lansing and $300,000 to Hospice of Lansing for expansion of facilities. It also supported Mid-Michigan Recovery Services with $150,000 for facility expansion. Family and youth services appear as another thread. The foundation awarded $750,000 to Child and Family Charities for facility expansion and improvement, $130,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region Inc for a school-based mentorship program in the Lansing and Waverly school districts, and $125,000 to Lansing School District for a literacy program.
$2.9M
$72K
$3M
$3M
Most grants fall between $14K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants with an emphasis on capital projects, endowment and facility/equipment upgrades. The foundation makes relatively few but large awards, often repeat or multi-grant relationships with local institutions, while occasionally funding a strategic national partner aligned with founder interests.
Notable grantees: Impression 5 Science Center, Columbia University (Dart Center for Journalism), Child and Family Charities, Lansing Public Media Authority, Potter Park Zoological Society
Typical grant size clusters at $13,750 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent file also includes several larger capital and operating awards. The pattern suggests a mix of many smaller gifts and a smaller number of large, strategic grants. Recipients recur across years, especially in Lansing. Impression 5 Science Center appears multiple times from 2023 through 2024, Columbia University received major support in both 2024 and 2025, and Boys & Girls Club of Lansing appears in consecutive years. The foundation structure is a private foundation, and the data shows it funds individuals. Some grants are proactive or local community grants, while unsolicited applications are accepted in at least one active program.
Michigan is the center of gravity: 45% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Lansing alone appears repeatedly across the recent grant list. East Lansing, Onondaga, and other Mid-Michigan locations also show up. Outside Michigan, grants land in New York City, Sarasota, Easton, Plano, Elizabethtown, Norcross, Urbana, Twin Falls, and New Castle through named recipients. The recipient-country data is entirely U.S.-based, with 119 grants in the United States.
The recent grants point to museums and science centers, public media, health care and hospice, child and family services, school districts, food security organizations, and animal welfare groups. Examples include a science center, a journalism center at Columbia University, a hospital foundation, and a zoo society.
The typical grant size is $13,750 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger awards, including seven-figure support for major institutions and capital projects.
Yes. Michigan is the top state by grant count, and 45% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of Michigan. Lansing appears frequently in the recent grants, alongside East Lansing and Onondaga.
At least one active program accepts unsolicited applications. The Community Grants program is marked as accepting unsolicited requests, while the proactive local grant programs are described as board-driven and proactive.
Yes. Impression 5 Science Center appears multiple times across 2023 and 2024, Columbia University received major support in 2024 and 2025, and Boys & Girls Club of Lansing received grants in both 2024 and 2025.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | New York, NY | $900,000 | 2025 | Support of Dart Center for Journalism at Columbia University. |
| Lansing Public Media Authority | Lansing, MI | $625,000 | 2025 | Upgrades to the Ovation's sound system. |
| Boys & Girls Club of Lansing | Lansing, MI | $250,000 | 2025 | Renovations to their kitchen and dining hall. |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region Inc | Lansing, MI | $130,000 | 2025 | Establishment of a School Based Mentorship Program in the Lansing and Waverly School Districts. |
| Highfields Inc | Onondaga, MI | $120,000 | 2025 | Technology upgrades and restructuring their Home-Based Mental Health Model. |
| Capital Area Humane Society | Lansing, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | Relocation/expansion of their Spay & Neuter Clinic. |
| Feeding America Kentucky's Heartland Inc | Elizabethtown, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | Support of hunger relief programming in Hart County and the 7 adjacent counties. |
| North Texas Food Bank | Plano, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Food purchases for their clients. |
| CASA of Talbot County Inc | Easton, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | Technology upgrades and challenge grant in honor of their 35th anniversary. |
| REACH Studio Art Center | Lansing, MI | $70,000 | 2025 | Capital improvements to building and parking lot. |
| Feeding America Riverside and San Bernardino Counties | Riverside, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Support of their Grab n Go program, feeding children beyond school hours. |
| Cristo Rey Community Center | Lansing, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | Capital improvement projects at the facility. |
| Rockdale County Emergency Relief Fund Inc | Conyers, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | Purchases of food and hot/cold storage containers. |
| Friends of Joshua House Foundation Inc | Lutz, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | Facility repairs, new generators and upgrading technology. |
| RUSH Ministries Inc | Thomaston, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | Completion of a new bunkhouse for their summer campers. |
| Anderson Animal Shelter DBA Anderson Humane | South Elgin, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | Repairs to the building and parking lot, as well as off setting costs for spay/neuter clinic. |
| Highfields Inc | Onondaga, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | Support for strengthening families. |
| Lodi Boys and Girls Club | Lodi, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Improvements to their rainwater and drainage improvements and club programming. |
| Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse Inc | Delray Beach, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | Security upgrades to their residential campus. |
| A Child's Voice Child Advocacy Center Inc | Social Circle, GA | $25,000 | 2025 | Support forensic interview program. |
| The Nemours Foundation | Jacksonville, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | Purchase of a C-Mac airway training equipment. |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | Support to music camp for those with disabilities. |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | $900,000 | 2024 | General operating support for the Dart Center for Journalism. |
| Potter Park Zoological Society | Lansing, MI | $500,000 | 2024 | New veterinary facility. |
| Hospice of Lansing | Lansing, MI | $300,000 | 2024 | Expansion of facilities. |
| Impression 5 Science Center | Lansing, MI | $300,000 | 2024 | Science Center exhibit support. |
| Boys & Girls Club of Lansing | Lansing, MI | $250,000 | 2024 | Renovations to their kitchen and dining hall. |
| McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation | Lansing, MI | $250,000 | 2024 | Grant will be utilized towards the new state-of-the-art hospital campus in Lansing. |
| Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc | Sarasota, FL | $210,000 | 2024 | Grant supported their large capital improvement endeavor. |
| Impression 5 Science Center | Lansing, MI | $200,000 | 2024 | Science Center exhibit support. |
| Mid-Michigan Recovery Services | Lansing, MI | $150,000 | 2024 | Expansion of facilities. |
| Lansing School District | Lansing, MI | $125,000 | 2024 | Literacy program. |
| McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation | Lansing, MI | $100,000 | 2024 | Grant will be utilized towards the new state-of-the-art hospital campus in Lansing. |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Magic Valley | Twin Falls, ID | $53,000 | 2024 | Combi Oven for kitchen. |
| Cunningham Children's Home of Urbana IL | Urbana, IL | $52,000 | 2024 | Expansion of facilities. |
| Common Ground Ministries | Waxahachie, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | Transportation vehicle. |
| Clare House Inc | Lancaster, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | Direct support for clients. |
| Abba's Tables Incorporated | Ada, OK | $50,000 | 2024 | Upgrades to parking lot and outside eating area. |
| Helping Mamas Inc | Norcross, GA | $50,000 | 2024 | Car seats. |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | Food for their "Prepared Meals Program." |
| Hospice of the Piedmont Inc | High Point, NC | $48,000 | 2024 | Hospital beds. |
| Mississippi First | Jackson, MS | $46,300 | 2024 | Outdoor learning center. |
| Highfields Inc | Onondaga, MI | $45,000 | 2024 | Grant will be used to sponsor their annual event for three years (2021-2023). |
| Borrowed Hearts Owensboro | Owensboro, KY | $42,000 | 2024 | Clothing and basic needs for youth entering foster care. |
| Highfields Inc | Onondaga, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | Support for strengthening families. |
| The Foundation for Rush | Meridian, MS | $30,000 | 2024 | Grant purchased a variety of equipment for the facility. |
| Corona-Norco Settlement House | Corona, CA | $29,755 | 2024 | Grant purchased a cargo van to assist in transporting perishable donations to their food bank. |
| Impression 5 Science Center | Lansing, MI | $27,500 | 2024 | Grant was used to cover costs for materials and labor to create and deliver hands-on STEM kits to all HeadStart children (ages 3-5) within mid-Michigan. |
| Highfields Inc | Onondaga, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | Grant is a match for funds raised during their Annual Fundraising Breakfast. |
| The Night Ministry | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | Grant paid for renovations to the elevator in their Open Door shelter. |
Columbia University
$900,000Support of Dart Center for Journalism at Columbia University.
Lansing Public Media Authority
$625,000Upgrades to the Ovation's sound system.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region Inc
$130,000Establishment of a School Based Mentorship Program in the Lansing and Waverly School Districts.
Technology upgrades and restructuring their Home-Based Mental Health Model.
Capital Area Humane Society
Relocation/expansion of their Spay & Neuter Clinic.
Support of hunger relief programming in Hart County and the 7 adjacent counties.
Technology upgrades and challenge grant in honor of their 35th anniversary.
REACH Studio Art Center
$70,000Capital improvements to building and parking lot.
Support of their Grab n Go program, feeding children beyond school hours.
Rockdale County Emergency Relief Fund Inc
$50,000Purchases of food and hot/cold storage containers.
Friends of Joshua House Foundation Inc
$50,000Facility repairs, new generators and upgrading technology.
RUSH Ministries Inc
$50,000Completion of a new bunkhouse for their summer campers.
Repairs to the building and parking lot, as well as off setting costs for spay/neuter clinic.
Lodi Boys and Girls Club
$25,000Improvements to their rainwater and drainage improvements and club programming.
Security upgrades to their residential campus.
Support forensic interview program.
Michigan State University
$5,000Support to music camp for those with disabilities.
Columbia University
$900,000General operating support for the Dart Center for Journalism.
Hospice of Lansing
$300,000Expansion of facilities.
Grant will be utilized towards the new state-of-the-art hospital campus in Lansing.
Grant supported their large capital improvement endeavor.
Mid-Michigan Recovery Services
$150,000Expansion of facilities.
Lansing School District
$125,000Literacy program.
Grant will be utilized towards the new state-of-the-art hospital campus in Lansing.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Magic Valley
$53,000Combi Oven for kitchen.
Cunningham Children's Home of Urbana IL
$52,000Expansion of facilities.
Common Ground Ministries
$50,000Transportation vehicle.
Abba's Tables Incorporated
$50,000Upgrades to parking lot and outside eating area.
Helping Mamas Inc
$50,000Car seats.
Hospice of the Piedmont Inc
$48,000Hospital beds.
Grant will be used to sponsor their annual event for three years (2021-2023).
Borrowed Hearts Owensboro
$42,000Clothing and basic needs for youth entering foster care.
The Foundation for Rush
$30,000Grant purchased a variety of equipment for the facility.
Corona-Norco Settlement House
$29,755Grant purchased a cargo van to assist in transporting perishable donations to their food bank.
Grant was used to cover costs for materials and labor to create and deliver hands-on STEM kits to all HeadStart children (ages 3-5) within mid-Michigan.
Grant is a match for funds raised during their Annual Fundraising Breakfast.
Grant paid for renovations to the elevator in their Open Door shelter.