The Elaine Stern Foundation concentrates its philanthropy in Detroit-area youth development and education, funding organizations that advance college/career readiness, mentoring, and neighborhood youth hubs. Grants emphasize program and capital support for locally rooted nonprofits that serve underserved young people, with repeated multi-year support to a few core partners. The foundation also uses a donor-advised vehicle at the Community Foundation for flexible general support.
Elaine Stern Foundation gives repeatedly to Detroit-area youth pathways that connect school support, mentoring, and college planning. A defining thread in the recent record is sustained backing for Alternatives for Girls, including $100,000 in 2023 for academic counselor and support staff tied to college placement and two further $100,000 grants in 2024 and 2025 for its college and career readiness program serving girls from sixth grade through college. The foundation also keeps funding neighborhood-based work that reaches young people outside a classroom setting. Brilliant Detroit received support for operations at its Dexter-Linwood neighborhood hub in 2023, 2024, and 2025, alongside porch and backyard construction in 2023. Another repeated pattern is support for programs that help students stay on track through graduation and beyond, including Midnight Golf Program and its successor naming, College Career and Beyond. Across the recent grant list, the foundation favors locally rooted organizations in Detroit and nearby cities, with many awards tied to program delivery, operations, and capital needs rather than one-time events.
College and career readiness is a core theme. Alternatives for Girls received $100,000 in 2024 and again in 2025 for its college and career readiness program for sixth graders through college, following a 2023 award of $100,000 for academic counselor and support staff to assist girls with college placement. The foundation also supports graduation-focused programming: Midnight Golf Program received $75,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2024 for Making Graduation Possible, followed by $50,000 in 2025 to College Career and Beyond for the same program. In mentoring and life skills, Winning Futures received $50,000 in 2023 for school-based mentoring and $45,000 in 2025 for 10th grade life skills. Beyond Basics received $50,000 in 2023 and $40,000 in 2024 for summer literacy programming.
Typical grants cluster around the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $28,750, a median of $50,000, and a p75 of $60,250. The pattern is not limited to one-time awards: several recipients appear across multiple years, including Alternatives for Girls, Brilliant Detroit, Humble Design Inc, Beyond Basics, Detroit Horse Power, Winning Futures, Michigan State University - Hillel, Midnight Golf Program, and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. The foundation appears to use both direct grants and a donor-advised style vehicle through the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan fund. Its support mixes program, operations, and capital commitments, with some in-kind or service-linked funding reflected in the recent record.
$750K
$16.9M
$956K
$966K
Most grants fall between $29K and $60K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$29K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$60K
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Concentrated, relatively large gifts to a small set of local Detroit nonprofits; several repeat grants to core grantees and a mix of programmatic and capital support rather than many small one-off awards.
Notable grantees: Alternatives for Girls, Brilliant Detroit, Racquet Up Detroit, Midnight Golf Program, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Grantmaking is entirely U.S.-based in the recent sample, and every listed recipient is in Michigan. Detroit is the main landing point, with additional awards in Southfield, Pontiac, Warren, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Farmington Hills, Bingham Farms, and Wixom. The recipient distribution also shows concentration in the foundation’s local market: 100% of grants went to recipients in Michigan, the top state by grant count. Detroit-area neighborhood organizations and metro institutions account for most of the visible activity.
The recent grants emphasize Detroit-area youth development and education, especially college and career readiness, mentoring, summer literacy, and neighborhood youth hubs. Awards also reach leadership development, graduation support, urban equestrian programming, veterans services in the Detroit metro area, and assistive technology for people with autism or special needs.
Typical awards sit around $50,000. The recent distribution shows a p25 of $28,750, a median of $50,000, and a p75 of $60,250, with several grants also reaching $100,000.
No. Several grantees appear in multiple years, including Alternatives for Girls, Brilliant Detroit, Humble Design Inc, Beyond Basics, Detroit Horse Power, Winning Futures, Michigan State University - Hillel, Midnight Golf Program, and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. That pattern suggests recurring support for a core set of partners.
Its recent grantmaking is entirely Michigan-based. Detroit appears most often, and the list also includes Southfield, Pontiac, Warren, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Farmington Hills, Bingham Farms, and Wixom.
Yes. The recent record includes general support under the Elaine Stern Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, with grants of $95,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA | WIXOM, MI | $75,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND PBS KIDS PROGRAMMING SUPPORT FOR THE MILWAUKEE JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD HUB. |
| BRILLIANT DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT AT DEXTER-LINWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HUB. |
| HUMBLE DESIGN INC | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $65,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE DETROIT METRO AREA OPERATIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING MILITARY VETERANS. |
| DETROIT HORSE POWER | DETROIT, MI | $60,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL COMMITMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN EQUESTRIAN CENTER. |
| BEYOND BASICS | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | SUMMER LITERACY PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| COLLEGE CAREER AND BEYOND | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - STUDENT LIFE DEVELOPMENT | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | BLAVINS SCHOLARS PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - HILLEL | EAST LANSING, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| WINNING FUTURES | TROY, MI | $45,000 | 2026 | WORKFORCE PREP MENTORING PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| GESHER HUMAN SERVICES | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $40,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR THE CLUBHOUSE FOR THE COMMON GOOD OPERATIONS. |
| RACQUET UP DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $30,000 | 2026 | PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT UNDER THE ELAINE STERN FOUNDATION FUND AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. |
| MOTOWN MUSEUM | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | HITSVILLE NEXT PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE STUDIO RECORDING AND ENGINEERING PODS. |
| BEDS 4 KIDS | OAK PARK, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | MATERIALS COST SUPPORT. |
| ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM FOR SIXTH GRADERS THROUGH COLLEGE. |
| BRILLIANT DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $75,550 | 2025 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT AT DEXTER-LINWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HUB. |
| HUMBLE DESIGN INC | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $65,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE DETROIT METRO AREA OPERATIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING MILITARY VETERANS. |
| COLLEGE CAREER AND BEYOND (FKA MIDNIGHT GOLF PROGRAM) | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | MAKING GRADUATION POSSIBLE PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT UNDER THE ELAINE STERN FOUNDATION FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - HILLEL | EAST LANSING, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| DETROIT HORSE POWER | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL COMMITMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN EQUESTRIAN CENTER. |
| BEYOND BASICS | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | SUMMER LITERACY PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - STUDENT LIFE DEVELOPMENT | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | BLAVINS SCHOLARS PROGRAM. |
| WINNING FUTURES | WARREN, MI | $45,000 | 2025 | 10TH GRADE LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| GESHER HUMAN SERVICES | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $40,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR THE CLUBHOUSE FOR THE COMMON GOOD OPERATIONS. |
| RACQUET UP DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | 2025 SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA | WIXOM, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMMING SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. |
| MOTOWN MUSEUM | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE STUDIO RECORDING AND ENGINEERING PODS. |
| BEDS 4 KIDS | OAK PARK, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | MATERIALS COST SUPPORT. |
| JASMYNN'S VOICE INC | ADRIAN, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR THE PURCHASE OF IPADS, OTTERBOX CASES AND AAC APPS TO THOSE LIVING WITH AUTISM. |
| ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM FOR SIXTH GRADERS THROUGH COLLEGE. |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $95,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT UNDER THE ELAINE STERN FOUNDATION FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. |
| BRILLIANT DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT AT DEXTER-LINWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HUB. |
| HUMBLE DESIGN INC | PONTIAC, MI | $60,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE DETROIT METRO AREA OPERATIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING MILITARY VETERANS. |
| DETROIT HORSE POWER | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL COMMITMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN EQUESTRIAN CENTER. |
| MIDNIGHT GOLF PROGRAM | BINGHAM FARMS, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | MAKING GRADUATION POSSIBLE PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - HILLEL | EAST LANSING, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| GESHER HUMAN SERVICES | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $40,000 | 2024 | ZAC CLUBHOUSE OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING SUPPORT. |
| WINNING FUTURES | WARREN, MI | $40,000 | 2024 | SCHOOL BASED MENTORING PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| BEYOND BASICS | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $40,000 | 2024 | SUMMER LITERACY PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| RACQUET UP DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | 2024 SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| MOTOWN MUSEUM | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE STUDIO RECORDING AND ENGINEERING PODS. |
| DETROIT EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION FOUNDATION (DBA DETROIT PBS KIDS) | WIXOM, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION LITERACY PROGRAMMING SUPPORT. |
| JASMYNN'S VOICE INC | ADRIAN, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR THE PURCHASE OF IPADS, OTTERBOX CASES AND AAC APPS TO THOSE LIVING WITH AUTISM. |
| RACQUET UP DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT CAPITAL RAISING EFFORTS FOR DETROIT, MICHIGAN FACILITY |
| ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2023 | ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOY AN ACADEMIC COUNSELOR AND SUPPORT STAFF TO ASSIST GIRLS WITH COLLEGE PLACEMENT |
| BRILLIANT DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AT DEXTER-LINWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HUB AND BACKYARD/PORCH CONSTRUCTION |
| MIDNIGHT GOLF PROGRAM | BINGHAM FARMS, MI | $75,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE MAKING GRADUATION POSSIBLE PROGRAM |
| HUMBLE DESIGN INC | PONTIAC, MI | $61,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE PROGRAMMING IN THE DETROIT METRO AREA, WITH A FOCUS TOWARD SUPPORTING MILITARY VETERANS |
DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA
$75,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND PBS KIDS PROGRAMMING SUPPORT FOR THE MILWAUKEE JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD HUB.
PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE DETROIT METRO AREA OPERATIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING MILITARY VETERANS.
CAPITAL COMMITMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN EQUESTRIAN CENTER.
COLLEGE CAREER AND BEYOND
$50,000COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS PROGRAM SUPPORT.
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - STUDENT LIFE DEVELOPMENT
$50,000BLAVINS SCHOLARS PROGRAM SUPPORT.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - HILLEL
$50,000LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT.
SUPPORT FOR THE CLUBHOUSE FOR THE COMMON GOOD OPERATIONS.
GENERAL SUPPORT UNDER THE ELAINE STERN FOUNDATION FUND AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN.
HITSVILLE NEXT PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE STUDIO RECORDING AND ENGINEERING PODS.
BEDS 4 KIDS
$10,000MATERIALS COST SUPPORT.
SUPPORT FOR THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM FOR SIXTH GRADERS THROUGH COLLEGE.
PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE DETROIT METRO AREA OPERATIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING MILITARY VETERANS.
COLLEGE CAREER AND BEYOND (FKA MIDNIGHT GOLF PROGRAM)
$50,000MAKING GRADUATION POSSIBLE PROGRAM SUPPORT.
GENERAL SUPPORT UNDER THE ELAINE STERN FOUNDATION FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - HILLEL
$50,000LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT.
CAPITAL COMMITMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN EQUESTRIAN CENTER.
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - STUDENT LIFE DEVELOPMENT
$50,000BLAVINS SCHOLARS PROGRAM.
SUPPORT FOR THE CLUBHOUSE FOR THE COMMON GOOD OPERATIONS.
DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA
$25,000PROGRAMMING SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
MOTOWN MUSEUM
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE STUDIO RECORDING AND ENGINEERING PODS.
BEDS 4 KIDS
$15,000MATERIALS COST SUPPORT.
JASMYNN'S VOICE INC
$10,000SUPPORT FOR THE PURCHASE OF IPADS, OTTERBOX CASES AND AAC APPS TO THOSE LIVING WITH AUTISM.
SUPPORT FOR THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM FOR SIXTH GRADERS THROUGH COLLEGE.
GENERAL SUPPORT UNDER THE ELAINE STERN FOUNDATION FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN.
PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE DETROIT METRO AREA OPERATIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING MILITARY VETERANS.
CAPITAL COMMITMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN EQUESTRIAN CENTER.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - HILLEL
$50,000LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT.
DETROIT EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION FOUNDATION (DBA DETROIT PBS KIDS)
$25,000DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION LITERACY PROGRAMMING SUPPORT.
JASMYNN'S VOICE INC
$10,000SUPPORT FOR THE PURCHASE OF IPADS, OTTERBOX CASES AND AAC APPS TO THOSE LIVING WITH AUTISM.
TO SUPPORT CAPITAL RAISING EFFORTS FOR DETROIT, MICHIGAN FACILITY
ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOY AN ACADEMIC COUNSELOR AND SUPPORT STAFF TO ASSIST GIRLS WITH COLLEGE PLACEMENT
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AT DEXTER-LINWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HUB AND BACKYARD/PORCH CONSTRUCTION
TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE PROGRAMMING IN THE DETROIT METRO AREA, WITH A FOCUS TOWARD SUPPORTING MILITARY VETERANS