The Harold and Penny B Blumenstein Foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life and major cultural institutions, with a strong local emphasis in the Detroit area but willingness to fund national and international Jewish causes. Grants are typically large, unrestricted gifts used for general support and are directed to a small set of recurring beneficiaries (federations, a synagogue, and a major symphony).
Concentrated, high-dollar unrestricted grants to a handful of repeat grantees; primarily local (Detroit) beneficiaries with selective national/international Jewish-focused gifts.
A recurring pattern defines the Harold and Penny B Blumenstein Foundation Corporation: large unrestricted gifts to a small circle of Jewish communal, religious, and cultural institutions, with Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra appearing repeatedly near the top of the grant list. The foundation’s giving also extends beyond Michigan, including support for the American Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach, and AIEF in Washington, DC. That mix points to a funder that combines local Jewish infrastructure with national and international Jewish priorities. Unrestricted charitable support is the dominant format, and the grantees named in the recent list are mostly established organizations rather than individuals or program-specific projects. In Michigan, the foundation supports both communal and congregational life, including Congregation Shaarey Zedek and Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, while also backing institutional needs at Henry Ford Health System. Outside the state, it funds Jewish federations and policy or humanitarian organizations, suggesting a broad but still focused philanthropic profile centered on Jewish continuity, community services, and cultural institutions.
Jewish communal life is one of the clearest themes in the foundation’s recent grants. It gave $391,020 to Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit in 2024 and $286,030 in 2025, both described as unrestricted charitable gifts. The same pattern appears with Jewish Federation of Palm Beach, which received $192,500 in 2025. Religious and care-related institutions also receive support. Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield received $207,826 in 2023 and $106,730 in 2025, while Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network in West Bloomfield received $100,800 in 2025. The foundation also backs civic and cultural institutions. Detroit Symphony Orchestra received $275,100 in 2024 and $250,000 in 2025, and Henry Ford Health System received $100,000 in 2023.
The foundation’s typical grant size is modest relative to its larger gifts: p25 is $1,000, median is $3,250, and p75 is $15,000. At the upper end, the recent list shows repeated six-figure awards, which indicates a distribution shaped by many smaller grants alongside a concentrated group of much larger unrestricted gifts. The pattern also looks recurring rather than one-off: several recipients appear across multiple years, including Metro Detroit institutions and Washington, DC-based organizations. The foundation is a private family foundation with no program-related investments and does not fund individuals.
$1.8M
$7.2M
$214K
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $1K and $15K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$15K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Harold and Penny B Blumenstein Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 326 | $7.9M | 99.7% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Notable grantees: Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach
Grantmaking is national in scope, with 99.6% of grants to US recipients and 1 grant to Canada. Michigan receives the largest share of giving, accounting for 57% of grants, though the top state by grant count is New York. Recent recipient cities include Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Southfield, West Bloomfield, West Palm Beach, and Washington, DC. The country distribution is overwhelmingly domestic, with only one Canadian recipient in the dataset.
Its recent grants center on Jewish communal institutions, synagogues, humanitarian organizations, and cultural or civic institutions. Examples in the data include Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, Congregation Shaarey Zedek, the American Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Henry Ford Health System.
No. The recent grants are described as unrestricted charitable gifts, and the foundation’s philosophy tags emphasize unrestricted support, general operating support, and flexible non-program-specific funding.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, AIEF, and Washington Institute for Near East Policy. That points to an ongoing relationship with a small set of grantees.
The distribution is wide. The 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $3,250, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. Recent grants also include many awards well above $100,000, so the foundation combines smaller grants with a limited number of much larger gifts.
Michigan receives 57% of the grants in the dataset, and the recent list shows repeated gifts to recipients in Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Southfield, and West Bloomfield. The foundation also gives outside Michigan, including to organizations in New York, Washington, DC, and West Palm Beach.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $1K |
0.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF METRO DETROIT | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $418,389 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $198,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | DETROIT, MI | $175,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| AMERICAN JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEEJDC | NEW YORK, NY | $160,860 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| BRILLIANT DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $150,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| AIEF | WASHINGTON, DC | $105,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| JEWISH HOSPICE & CHAPLAINCY NETWORK | WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI | $100,350 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY | WASHINGTON, DC | $78,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MORSE LIFE FOUNDATION | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $50,750 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| PROMISE FUND OF FLORIDA | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| YESHIVA BETH YEHUDAH | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $25,280 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| FRIENDS OF THE IDF PALM BEACH | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| HILLEL CAMPUS ALLIANCE OF MICHIGAN | EAST LANSING, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| FRIENDS OF THE IDFISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES | WALLED LAKE, MI | $11,900 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTER | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $10,750 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| TAMARACK CAMPS | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $10,200 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| HILLEL DAY SCHOOL | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $10,100 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| FARBER HEBREW DAY SCHOOL | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $10,100 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| PALM BEACH UNITED WAY | PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ORT AMERICA INC | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS | PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MICHIGAN ISRAEL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN SYNAGOGUE | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD CHAI CENTER | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS | DETROIT, MI | $9,655 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $6,848 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| YESHIVA DARCHEI TORAH | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $5,100 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| HILLEL OF METRO DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| JEWISH SENIOR LIFE OF METRO DETROIT | WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| INSIGHT THROUGH EDUCATION | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| JEWISH FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| GLAZER HALL | PALM BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $3,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| PALM BEACH COUNTRY CLUB FOUNDATION | PALM BEACH, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| SCHECHTER INSTITUTE OF JEWISH STUDIES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $3,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES | WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI | $2,860 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| JARC | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $2,550 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| STARFISH FAMILY SERVICES | INKSTER, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| KIDS KICKING CANCER | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| UNITED JEWISH FOUNDATION | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $2,364 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| UNITED WAY FOR SE MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $2,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| HILLEL OF BROWARD AND PALM BEACH | BOCA RATON, FL | $2,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MICHIGAN HILLEL | ANN ARBOR, MI | $2,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| YAD EZRA | BERKLEY, MI | $1,400 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| LIVINGSTON'S WAY - WAVENAKER PROGRAM | PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
JEWISH FEDERATION OF METRO DETROIT
$418,389UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$175,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
AIEF
UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY
$78,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
YESHIVA BETH YEHUDAH
$25,280UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
FRIENDS OF THE IDF PALM BEACH
$25,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
HILLEL CAMPUS ALLIANCE OF MICHIGAN
$15,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
FRIENDS OF THE IDFISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES
$11,900UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
TAMARACK CAMPS
$10,200UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
FARBER HEBREW DAY SCHOOL
$10,100UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
PALM BEACH UNITED WAY
$10,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ORT AMERICA INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
MICHIGAN ISRAEL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR
$10,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN SYNAGOGUE
$10,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD CHAI CENTER
$10,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
$9,655UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK
$6,848UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
YESHIVA DARCHEI TORAH
$5,100UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
JEWISH SENIOR LIFE OF METRO DETROIT
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
INSIGHT THROUGH EDUCATION
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
JEWISH FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
GLAZER HALL
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MICHIGAN
$3,500UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
PALM BEACH COUNTRY CLUB FOUNDATION
$3,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
SCHECHTER INSTITUTE OF JEWISH STUDIES
$3,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES
$2,860UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
UNITED WAY FOR SE MICHIGAN
$2,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
HILLEL OF BROWARD AND PALM BEACH
$2,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
MICHIGAN HILLEL
$2,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
LIVINGSTON'S WAY - WAVENAKER PROGRAM
$1,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$1,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT