About Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
The Edsel & Eleanor Ford House foundation concentrates its modest grantmaking on local civic life in the Grosse Pointe/St. Clair Shores area, funding municipal governments, local chambers and community events. Grants are primarily sponsorships or outright donations that support public programming, civic operations, and occasional individual/memorial assistance. The foundation favors repeat, place-based partners rather than broad national causes.
Focus Areas
Municipal support for Grosse Pointe Shores (village-level donations)Local chamber of commerce sponsorships and community event underwriting in Grosse PointeMunicipal donations to neighboring St. Clair ShoresMemorial or emergency financial assistance (individual contribution/funeral support)
Who They Fund
named individual recipient (Sam Sandifer)
Giving Approach
Concentrated, local grantmaking with repeated, modest-size gifts to a small set of place-based recipients (municipalities and chambers); emphasis on sponsorships and donations rather than programmatic grants.
Funding Style
About Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House gives almost entirely to nearby Michigan organizations, with 98% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s home state. Its recent grant record shows a clear pattern of place-based support for Grosse Pointe Shores, neighboring municipalities, and local civic institutions. The largest recent grant went to the Village of Grosse Pointe Shores for $15,500 in 2025, followed by another $15,000 donation to the same village in 2024. That same local focus appears in support for the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce, the City of St Clair Shores, and community-oriented recipients tied to the Grosse Pointe area. The foundation’s giving is not limited to municipal budgets. It also backs community programming and civic activity through sponsorships and donations to groups such as the Grosse Pointe Chamber Foundation, the Historical Society of Michigan, and the Grosse Pointe Historical Society. In some years, the records also include direct financial help for an individual memorial expense, showing that the foundation’s grantmaking can extend beyond institutional support while staying closely anchored to local needs.
What Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Funds
Municipal and civic support is central to this funder’s pattern. In 2025, Edsel & Eleanor Ford House gave $15,500 to the Village of Grosse Pointe Shores for a donation, and it also gave $5,000 to the City of St Clair Shores in 2024 and again in 2025. Community organizations tied to civic life and events also receive repeated support. The foundation awarded $8,645 to the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce in 2024 and $5,500 in 2025 as sponsorships, then added $4,600 to the Grosse Pointe Chamber Foundation in 2025. Cultural and educational partners appear in the record as well. The College of Creative Studies received $2,500 in 2025 and $2,500 in 2024 as sponsorships, while the Historical Society of Michigan received $2,266 in 2025, $2,016 in 2024, and another $1,350 in 2025.
How Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Gives
Typical grants are small: the 25th percentile is $500, the median is $1,000, and the 75th percentile is $2,137. The recent record shows many awards clustered in the low thousands, with a handful of larger civic donations and sponsorships. Recipients recur across multiple years, including the Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, the City of St Clair Shores, the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce, and the Historical Society of Michigan. The foundation uses direct donations, sponsorships, and contribution-based support rather than program-related investments. It also accepts community donation requests from nonprofit organizations seeking items, experiences, or tickets for auctions or fundraising events.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$45K
Total Assets
$318M
Total Revenue
$19.5M
Total Expenses
$17M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $500 and $2K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$2K
Geographic Reach
Local3 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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