Herrick Foundation

About Herrick Foundation

Herrick Foundation’s recent giving is defined by large, repeated capital gifts to Michigan institutions, especially projects tied to new facilities, sustainability campaigns, and conservation. The foundation has made multiple seven-figure grants to the University of Michigan for support for a new medical facility, alongside repeated support for Interlochen Center for the Arts’ Envision Interlochen at 100 campaign. That pattern points to a funder willing to stay with a project across several years rather than making one-off awards. Arts, health care, housing, and land conservation all appear in the portfolio, but the common thread is capacity-building at the asset level: buildings, campaigns, endowments, and long-term infrastructure. In the Great Lakes region, The Nature Conservancy received support for conservation of the Keweenaw Peninsula, showing that the foundation’s place-based interests extend beyond institutions to landscape protection. Smaller but still substantial grants also reach community-serving organizations such as Gleaners Community Food Bank Inc. and Great Lakes Center for the Arts, reinforcing a grantmaking style centered on major organizational needs rather than small project support. The overall picture is a local funder with concentrated, high-dollar commitments in Michigan.

What Herrick Foundation Funds

In health care, Herrick Foundation backed Henry Ford Health System with support for precision med. research, and it also funded Hope Medical Clinic for the Hope for Tomorrow prog., showing interest in both advanced medical infrastructure and direct community health services. Housing is another clear priority. The foundation gave $250,000 to Washtenaw Housing Alliance for general charitable purposes and another $250,000 for the Sister Gellise Endowment FD., while also supporting Lacasa for the Lead the Way Impprovement Campaign. These grants align with affordable housing, retention, and organizational capacity. Food access appears in support for Gleaners Community Food Bank Inc. for the Hunger Free campaign. In education and enrichment, Wayne State University received a grant for the Wayne Law endowed chair grant, and Riverside Arts Center Foundation received support for building purchase, linking learning and cultural access to long-term institutional strength.

How Herrick Foundation Gives