The Elizabeth Allan & Warren Shelden Fund concentrates philanthropic support in Southeast Michigan, favoring large, project-focused gifts to health care institutions, urban revitalization, and youth sports access. Grants are sizable and targeted—often capital or program support for regional hospitals and community amenities—and the foundation appears to fund both established health systems and grassroots youth recreation in Detroit.
Highly concentrated giving with a small number of large grants; repeat funding to selected local grantees and emphasis on capital/program support rather than many small awards.
A single $1.1 million unrestricted grant to Ascension St John Foundation stands out in the Elizabeth Allan & Warren Shelden Fund’s recent giving and points to a funder that uses major gifts to support Southeast Michigan institutions. The fund’s pattern is not broad national philanthropy; it is local, with 92% of grants going to recipients in Michigan and every tracked grant in the United States. Recent awards show a clear preference for large, flexible support across health care, youth development, and community amenities. Detroit-area hospitals appear alongside civic and recreation organizations, suggesting a portfolio built around regional capacity rather than one-off charitable events. The fund has repeatedly backed the same organizations over multiple years, including Henry Ford Health System, Racquet Up Detroit, and United Way for Southeastern MI. It also supports place-based institutions tied to Grosse Pointe and the wider Detroit area, such as University Liggett School and the Community Foundation for Se MI. Unrestricted funding is common in the recent grants list, and several awards are sized at $100,000 or more, indicating sustained engagement with a relatively small set of local recipients rather than many small gifts.
Health care is a major theme in the fund’s giving. It awarded $300,000 to Henry Ford Health System in 2024 and $275,000 in 2025, while Ascension St John Foundation received $100,000 in 2023 and $100,000 in 2024 before a larger $1.1 million grant in 2025. Youth access and development also appear in the portfolio. Racquet Up Detroit received $300,000 in both 2024 and 2025, and Math Corps received $75,000 in 2024 and again in 2025. Community and quality-of-life work shows up through grants to Detroit Riverfront Conservancy for $260,000 in 2023 and to Forgotten Harvest for $90,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025. The fund also backed civic and cultural institutions such as Detroit Institute of Arts and The Henry Ford with unrestricted support.
Typical grant size is concentrated at $25,000 at the 25th percentile and median, with a $50,000 75th percentile, even though the recent list includes much larger awards. The fund gives repeatedly to several recipients across years rather than favoring one-time gifts: Henry Ford Health System, Racquet Up Detroit, United Way for Southeastern MI, and Ascension St John Foundation all appear more than once. Its grants are unrestricted in the recent record, and the overall pattern is foundation-directed support rather than individual giving or program-related investments. The 2025 990 year is on file.
$4.1M
$23.5M
$3M
$4.2M
Most grants fall between $25K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Notable grantees: Ascension St. John Foundation, Racquet Up Detroit, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Giving is heavily centered in Michigan, with 92% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and the top state by grant count also Michigan. Detroit is the main recipient city, with grants to Ascension St John Foundation, Henry Ford Health System, United Way for Southeastern MI, Community Foundation for Se MI, Detroit Institute of Arts, and Alternative for Girls. Other Michigan cities include Grosse Pointe, Warren, Oak Park, Birmingham, Lansing, and Dearborn. Outside the state, the recent list includes Boys and Girls Club of Martin County in Hobe Sound, Florida.
Recent grants show steady support for health systems, youth sports and development, and community-focused institutions. Examples include Henry Ford Health System, Ascension St John Foundation, Racquet Up Detroit, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Forgotten Harvest, and Detroit Institute of Arts.
Yes. Henry Ford Health System, Racquet Up Detroit, United Way for Southeastern MI, Ascension St John Foundation, University Liggett School, Forgotten Harvest, and Math Corps each appear multiple times across 2023 to 2025, showing recurring support rather than one-time gifts.
The typical size is $25,000 at both the 25th percentile and the median, with a $50,000 75th percentile. The recent record also includes much larger grants, such as $1.1 million to Ascension St John Foundation and several $300,000 and $275,000 awards.
Michigan receives 92% of the grants, and Detroit is the most common recipient city in the recent list. Other Michigan recipient locations include Grosse Pointe, Warren, Oak Park, Birmingham, Lansing, and Dearborn.
The recent grants are listed as unrestricted, showing flexible, foundation-directed support. That pattern appears across gifts to health systems, schools, civic groups, and community organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASCENSION ST JOHN FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $1,100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| RACQUET UP DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $300,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM | DETROIT, MI | $275,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MI | DETROIT, MI | $230,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY (THE) | LANSING, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL | GROSSE POINTE, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SE MI | DETROIT, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FORGOTTEN HARVEST | OAK PARK, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF MARTIN COUNTY | HOBE SOUND, FL | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MATH CORPS | BIRMINGHAM, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $70,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHILDREN'S CENTER | DETROIT, MI | $65,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COALITION ON TEMPORARY SHELTER | DETROIT, MI | $60,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ALTERNATIVE FOR GIRLS | DETROIT, MI | $55,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK | DETROIT, MI | $55,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TURNING POINT INC | MT CLEMENS, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HURON PINES | GAYLORD, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ACCOUNTING AID SOCIETY | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OLD NEWSBOY'S GOODFELLOW FUND | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HISTORIC ELMWOOD FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MICHIGAN CROSSROADS COUNCIL | DETROIT, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHEASTERN MI | DETROIT, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | DETROIT, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DETROIT CRISTO REY | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MOTOR CITY MITTEN MISSION | ST CLAIR SHORES, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GROSSE POINTE FARMS FOUNDATION | GROSSE POINTE, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AVALON HEALING CENTER | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOLDI | COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GROSSE POINTE FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION | GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CAPUCHIN CHARITIES | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ANGLERS OF THE AU SABLE | GRAYLING, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FIRST STEP | PLYMOUTH, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| YMCA OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MACOMB COUNTY ROTATING EMERGENCY SHELTER | MT CLEMENS, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CROSSROADS OF MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HOBE SOUND COMMUNITY CHEST | HOBE SOUND, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PHEASANTS FOREVER | ST PAUL, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MICHIGAN TROUT UNLIMITED | BAY CITY, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MARINERS INN | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HOLY CROSS SERVICES | SAGINAW, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | ROYAL OAK, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NEIGHBORHOOD CLUB | GROSSE POINTE, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| KEEP DETROIT GROWING | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MERCY EDUCATION PROJECT | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
ASCENSION ST JOHN FOUNDATION
$1,100,000UNRESTRICTED
UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MI
$230,000UNRESTRICTED
NATURE CONSERVANCY (THE)
$200,000UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL
$125,000UNRESTRICTED
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SE MI
$125,000UNRESTRICTED
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
$75,000UNRESTRICTED
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$70,000UNRESTRICTED
CHILDREN'S CENTER
$65,000UNRESTRICTED
CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
OLD NEWSBOY'S GOODFELLOW FUND
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
HISTORIC ELMWOOD FOUNDATION
$35,000UNRESTRICTED
MICHIGAN CROSSROADS COUNCIL
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
DETROIT CRISTO REY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
GROSSE POINTE FARMS FOUNDATION
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
BOLDI
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
CAPUCHIN CHARITIES
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
ANGLERS OF THE AU SABLE
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
MACOMB COUNTY ROTATING EMERGENCY SHELTER
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
PHEASANTS FOREVER
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
MICHIGAN TROUT UNLIMITED
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
HOLY CROSS SERVICES
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
NEIGHBORHOOD CLUB
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
KEEP DETROIT GROWING
$25,000UNRESTRICTED