The Fettig Family Foundation concentrates its giving on place-based community development in Southwest Michigan, backing local collective-impact efforts and community foundations while also making targeted gifts to medical research. Grants are few but large, directed toward intermediaries and pooled funds that support local civic and social needs, with an occasional out-of-region gift to health research.
A defining feature of the Fettig Family Foundation’s recent giving is its repeated support for Southwest Michigan collective-impact work, especially through the Whirlpool Collective Impact Fund in Benton Harbor. That pattern sits alongside direct support for local intermediaries such as the Berrien Community Foundation and United Way of Southwest Michigan, showing a preference for pooled or community-led vehicles rather than a long list of individual operating awards. The foundation also makes targeted grants outside Michigan, including a medical research award to Mayo Clinic and scholarship support tied to named family funds. The foundation’s recent grants show a mix of community development, education, youth programming, and health research. In Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, it has backed civic and social infrastructure, school-related support, and youth-serving organizations. Elsewhere, it has used named scholarship funds at Beechwood Educational Foundation and Vanderbilt University to support students. The grant list also includes smaller, specific gifts for local amenities and community events, which fits a place-based strategy centered on civic life in Berrien County and nearby communities.
Community development in Southwest Michigan is a central theme. The foundation gave $57,000 in 2024 and $56,200 in 2025 to the Whirlpool Collective Impact Fund in Benton Harbor, followed by $53,000 in 2023, all for general support or general fund purposes. It also supports local grantmaking infrastructure. Berrien Community Foundation in St. Joseph received $122,000 in 2024 for general support, $12,000 in 2025 for general fund support, and $10,000 in 2024 for the Unified Civic Monuments Fund. United Way of Southwest Michigan in St. Joseph received $25,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for programs. Education and youth appear in several named awards. St Joseph Public Schools Foundation received $23,000 in 2025 for the Bucks for Brown program and $12,000 in 2024 and 2023 for general support, while Brookview Montessori School in Benton Harbor received $10,000 in 2023 for general support.
Typical grant size sits at $4,038 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $18,750 at the 75th percentile, while the recent grant list also includes larger awards at the top end. The pattern is more concentrated than broad: the foundation often returns to the same recipients across multiple years, including the Whirlpool Collective Impact Fund, Berrien Community Foundation, United Way of Southwest Michigan, St Joseph Public Schools Foundation, and Vanderbilt University. That repeat pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation gives from a family foundation structure and is also willing to fund individuals, with scholarship awards appearing in the grant record.
$1.3M
$5.9M
$1M
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $4K and $19K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$19K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of organizations — including repeat funding to a collective-impact vehicle — favoring intermediaries and pooled funds that can influence local systems rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: Hoosiers for Good, Whirlpool Collective Impact Fund, Berrien Community Foundation, Mayo Clinic
Grantmaking is heavily centered in Michigan, which accounts for 67% of grants given to recipients in the HQ state. Benton Harbor and St. Joseph appear repeatedly, alongside several other Michigan recipients. Outside the state, the foundation has also funded Bloomington, Indiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; Rochester, Minnesota; Nashville, Tennessee; Mill Valley, California; and Atlanta, Georgia. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 70 grants in the United States.
The foundation most often supports community foundations, collective-impact funds, schools, youth-serving groups, and scholarship funds. Recent examples include the Whirlpool Collective Impact Fund, Berrien Community Foundation, United Way of Southwest Michigan, St Joseph Public Schools Foundation, and Beechwood Educational Foundation.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Whirlpool Collective Impact Fund in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Berrien Community Foundation in 2024 and 2025; United Way of Southwest Michigan in 2023 and 2024; St Joseph Public Schools Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Vanderbilt University in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The typical grant size is $4,038 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $18,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes larger awards, such as a $200,000 grant and several six-figure and mid-five-figure gifts.
Its giving is strongly concentrated in Michigan, with 67% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Most Michigan grants go to Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, but the recent record also includes recipients in Indiana, Minnesota, Tennessee, California, and Georgia.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, and its recent grants include scholarship support through Beechwood Educational Foundation, Tipton County Foundation, and Vanderbilt University. These awards are structured as named scholarship funds rather than general operating support.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORNERSTONE ALLIANCE | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $1,135,000 | 2026 | WEE COURSE COMMUNITY AMENITY AT HARBOR SHORES / HARBOR SHORES LEGENDS HOLIDAY FUND |
| WHIRLPOOL COLLECTIVE IMPACT FUND | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $42,040 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| ST JOSEPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | ST JOSEPH, MI | $21,000 | 2026 | BUCKS FOR BROWN SCHOOL PROGRAM / UPTON PTO PROGRAM / GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $20,000 | 2026 | FETTIG-LANSDOWN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN | ST JOSEPH, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND / LEVEL UP FRAMEWORK |
| KIDDO | MILL VALLEY, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER SW | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | ST JOSEPH, MI | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2026 | IU FOOD INSECURITY FUND |
| TIPTON COUNTY FOUNDATION | TIPTON, IN | $10,000 | 2026 | HILTON HOBBS SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| FIRST TEE BENTON HARBOR | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $6,400 | 2026 | YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS / CAPITAL FUND |
| FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $4,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL FUND |
| THE ALEX MANDARINO FOUNDATION | ST JOSEPH, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| MARIN COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOC | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $2,700 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN SW MICHIGAN | ST JOSEPH, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| YOUNG LIFE | ST JOSEPH, MI | $2,250 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHILDRENS MUSIC WORKSHOP | STEVENSVILLE, MI | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| PBS MICHIANA - WNIT | SOUTH BEND, IN | $1,000 | 2026 | LEGENDS OF MICHIANA DOCUMENTARY |
| SISTERS FROM ANOTHER MOTHER | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | LAKE BREEZE MUSIC FESTIVAL |
| LAKESHORE EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION | STEVENSVILLE, MI | $400 | 2026 | CAPITAL FUND |
| MICHIGAN SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | LANSING, MI | $100 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOOSIERS FOR GOOD | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| WHIRLPOOL COLLECTIVE IMPACT FUND | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $56,200 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CORNERSTONE ALLIANCE | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $26,000 | 2025 | CORNERSTONE ALLIANCE INVESTMENT CONTRIBUTION / WEE COURSE COMMUNITY AMENITY AT HARBOR SHORES |
| TIPTON COUNTY FOUNDATION | TIPTON, IN | $23,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND / MAURICE EDWIN FETTIG AND MARILYN JANE DARROW FETTIG SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| ST JOSEPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | ST JOSEPH, MI | $23,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND / BUCKS FOR BROWN PROGRAM |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN | ST JOSEPH, MI | $22,500 | 2025 | NORTH PIER ROCK THE BOAT / COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND / EARLY EDUCATION AND LITERACY / TRIPLE PLAY PROGRAM |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | FETTIG-LANSDOWN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| KIDDO | MILL VALLEY, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | ST JOSEPH, MI | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BEECHWOOD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $11,621 | 2025 | MARK LAESCH SCHOLARSHIP FUND / BROCK 'CROCKER' GORDON SCHOLARSHIP FUND / FETTIG FAMILY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| FRIENDS OF BERRIEN COUNTY TRAILS | NEW BUFFALO, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | LAKESHORE TRAIL PROJECT |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS SHAREHOLDERS FUND |
| CURIOUS KIDS' MUSEUM | ST JOSEPH, MI | $7,515 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $7,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL FUND |
| FIRST TEE BENTON HARBOR | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $5,400 | 2025 | CAPITAL FUND |
| POW EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| DIAMANTE FIRST TEE | SOUTHLAKE, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL FUND |
| ST JOSEPH MEN'S SOCCER BOOSTERS | ST JOSEPH, MI | $3,500 | 2025 | NEW JERSEYS PROJECT |
| THE ALEX MANDARINO FOUNDATION | ST JOSEPH, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YOUNG LIFE | ST JOSEPH, MI | $2,250 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FRIENDS OF BERRIEN COUNTY ANIMAL CO | RIVERSIDE, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | BIDS FOR BARKS FUNDRAISER |
| STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ST JOSEPH JUNIOR FOUNDATION INC | ST JOSEPH, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MICHIGAN SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | LANSING, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| LEF FOUNDATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | ST JOSEPH, MI | $122,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WHIRLPOOL COLLECTIVE IMPACT FUND | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $57,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOSEPH MEN'S SOCCER BOOSTERS | ST JOSEPH, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | LOCKER ROOM PROJECT |
WEE COURSE COMMUNITY AMENITY AT HARBOR SHORES / HARBOR SHORES LEGENDS HOLIDAY FUND
WHIRLPOOL COLLECTIVE IMPACT FUND
$42,040GENERAL FUND
BUCKS FOR BROWN SCHOOL PROGRAM / UPTON PTO PROGRAM / GENERAL SUPPORT
KIDDO
$15,000GENERAL FUND
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER SW
$15,000GENERAL FUND
TIPTON COUNTY FOUNDATION
$10,000HILTON HOBBS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
FIRST TEE BENTON HARBOR
$6,400YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS / CAPITAL FUND
THE ALEX MANDARINO FOUNDATION
$3,000GENERAL FUND
MARIN COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOC
$2,700GENERAL FUND
GIRLS ON THE RUN SW MICHIGAN
$2,500GENERAL FUND
YOUNG LIFE
$2,250GENERAL FUND
CHILDRENS MUSIC WORKSHOP
$2,000GENERAL FUND
SISTERS FROM ANOTHER MOTHER
$1,000LAKE BREEZE MUSIC FESTIVAL
LAKESHORE EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION
$400CAPITAL FUND
MICHIGAN SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
$100GENERAL FUND
WHIRLPOOL COLLECTIVE IMPACT FUND
$56,200GENERAL FUND
CORNERSTONE ALLIANCE INVESTMENT CONTRIBUTION / WEE COURSE COMMUNITY AMENITY AT HARBOR SHORES
TIPTON COUNTY FOUNDATION
$23,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND / MAURICE EDWIN FETTIG AND MARILYN JANE DARROW FETTIG SCHOLARSHIP FUND
NORTH PIER ROCK THE BOAT / COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND / EARLY EDUCATION AND LITERACY / TRIPLE PLAY PROGRAM
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA
$15,000GENERAL FUND
BEECHWOOD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$11,621MARK LAESCH SCHOLARSHIP FUND / BROCK 'CROCKER' GORDON SCHOLARSHIP FUND / FETTIG FAMILY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
FRIENDS OF BERRIEN COUNTY TRAILS
$10,000LAKESHORE TRAIL PROJECT
CURIOUS KIDS' MUSEUM
$7,515GENERAL FUND
FIRST TEE BENTON HARBOR
$5,400CAPITAL FUND
POW EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC
$5,000GENERAL FUND
DIAMANTE FIRST TEE
$5,000CAPITAL FUND
ST JOSEPH MEN'S SOCCER BOOSTERS
$3,500NEW JERSEYS PROJECT
THE ALEX MANDARINO FOUNDATION
$3,000GENERAL FUND
YOUNG LIFE
$2,250GENERAL FUND
FRIENDS OF BERRIEN COUNTY ANIMAL CO
$1,000BIDS FOR BARKS FUNDRAISER
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
$1,000GENERAL FUND
ST JOSEPH JUNIOR FOUNDATION INC
$1,000GENERAL FUND
MICHIGAN SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
$1,000GENERAL FUND
LEF FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL FUND
WHIRLPOOL COLLECTIVE IMPACT FUND
$57,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOSEPH MEN'S SOCCER BOOSTERS
$30,000LOCKER ROOM PROJECT