The J Ferrantino Charitable Foundation makes a small number of relatively large, humanitarian-focused grants concentrated in the Detroit/Ann Arbor region. Their giving repeatedly supports animal welfare, maternal/infant services in Detroit, and organizations serving veterans/first responders, indicating a preference for direct-service charities with local impact. They frequently provide multi-grant support to the same organizations rather than many one-off gifts.
Concentrated giving: few large grants (several six-figure awards), repeat funding to select local grantees, and a clear regional focus on Detroit/Ann Arbor rather than broadly distributed small grants.
A $500,000 gift to Friends of the Animals of Metro Detroit is the clearest signal in the recent record: J Ferrantino Charitable Foundation favors large, local, direct-service grants rather than a wide scatter of smaller awards. That pattern shows up again in support for Birth Detroit Inc, Fallen and Wounded Soldier Fund, and Zero Day, organizations tied to maternal health, military and first-responder support, and crisis response. The foundation’s giving is humanitarian in tone and strongly tied to Michigan communities, especially the Detroit and Ann Arbor area. The portfolio also points to a repeat-recipient strategy. Friends of the Animals of Metro Detroit appears multiple times across the recent grants list, as do Zero Day, Girls Group, Habitat for Humanity - Detroit, and the Fallen and Wounded Soldier Fund. Several awards go to organizations delivering practical services: shelter, health care, recovery support, and community aid. The foundation also supports institutions and nonprofits with clear local footprints, including University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Arbor Hospice Foundation, and Legacy Land Conservancy. Across the record, the emphasis is on organizations that serve people and animals directly, often through programmatic support in Michigan.
Animal welfare is one of the foundation’s most visible threads. In 2025, it gave $500,000 to Friends of the Animals of Metro Detroit, and the group also received $250,000 in 2023. Maternal and infant services appear in another line of giving. Birth Detroit Inc received $300,000 in 2023, placing childbirth and early-life care among the foundation’s supported causes. Veterans, wounded soldiers, and first responders are another recurring focus. Fallen and Wounded Soldier Fund received $200,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025, while Zero Day received $125,000 in both 2024 and 2025 after a $100,000 gift in 2023. The foundation also backs youth and family-serving organizations. Girls Group received $60,000 in 2023, $70,000 in 2024, and $75,000 in 2025, showing sustained support over multiple years.
Typical grants fall in a relatively narrow large-gift band: the 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $30,000, and the 75th percentile is $50,000. The recent record includes larger strategic awards above that range, but most gifts still cluster around operating-scale support rather than many very small grants. The foundation shows clear repeat support for the same organizations across years. Girls Group appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Zero Day appears in all three years as well; and several other recipients return more than once. The foundation is not an individual-giving vehicle and does not make program-related investments, which is consistent with a traditional charitable foundation structure. The grant history also suggests a preference for direct grantmaking over broad, one-off spot giving.
$1.7M
$11.3M
$2.8M
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $25K and $50K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Notable grantees: Friends of the Animals of Metro Detroit, Birth Detroit Inc, Zero Day, Fallen and Wounded Soldier Fund
Giving is concentrated in Michigan, with 87% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and MI ranking first by grant count. The strongest cluster is in the Detroit and Ann Arbor corridor, including recipients in Dearborn, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Bloomfield Hills. Howell also appears among Michigan recipients, showing reach beyond the immediate metro core. Outside Michigan, the foundation gives only a small number of grants, with recipients in Chicago and Merrifield appearing in the recent record.
The recent record centers on humanitarian and direct-service organizations: animal welfare groups, maternal and infant services, veterans and first-responder support, trauma recovery, and community-serving nonprofits. Examples in the grant list include Friends of the Animals of Metro Detroit, Birth Detroit Inc, Fallen and Wounded Soldier Fund, and Zero Day.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years. Girls Group received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Zero Day appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Friends of the Animals of Metro Detroit appears more than once; and Habitat for Humanity - Detroit also received multiple awards.
Typical grants are relatively large. The 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $30,000, and the 75th percentile is $50,000. The recent list also includes awards well above that range, including $500,000 and $300,000 grants.
Michigan is the main geography of giving: 87% of grants go to recipients in MI, and MI is the top state by grant count. The recipient list is heavily centered on the Detroit and Ann Arbor area, with additional Michigan grantees in Dearborn, Ypsilanti, Bloomfield Hills, and Howell.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF THE ANIMALS OF METRO DETROIT | DEARBORN, MI | $500,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ZERO DAY | LANSING, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $100,001 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| FALLEN AND WOUNDED SOLDIER FUND | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| MAKE-A-WISH | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| LACASA | HOWELL, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION | MERRIFIELD, VA | $75,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| GIRLS GROUP | ANN ARBOR, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| AVALON | ANN ARBOR, MI | $60,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $52,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| LESLIE SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| TRINITY HEALTH-MICHIGAN | LIVONIA, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ARBOR HOSPICE FOUNDATION | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| MICHIGAN AUDUBON SOCIETY | OKEMOS, MI | $45,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION/OPERATION |
| SHADES OF PINK FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| NEUTRAL ZONE | ANN ARBOR, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF WASHTENAW COUNTY | ANN ARBOR, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| SOS COMMUNITY SERVICES | YPSILANTI, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| CHILDREN'S HEALING CENTER | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| SAFEHOUSE CENTER | ANN ARBOR, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| PACKARD HEALTH | ANN ARBOR, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| CHRIST CHILD HOUSE | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| AIM AT MELANOMA | PLANO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| MICHIGAN CROSSROADS COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | LANSING, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION/HUMANITARIAN |
| FALLEN AND WOUNDED SOLDIER FUND | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $200,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ZERO DAY | LANSING, MI | $125,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - DETROIT | ANN ARBOR, MI | $100,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $77,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION | MERRIFIELD, VA | $75,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| GIRLS GROUP | ANN ARBOR, MI | $70,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | DETROIT, MI | $60,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SHADES OF PINK FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, MI | $55,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| LESLIE SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ST JOSEPH MERCY HOSPITAL | YPSILANTI, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| PROJECT MOTHERPATH FOR KINDRED SPACE LA | NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| LACASA | HOWELL, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ARBOR HOSPICE FOUNDATION | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| SOS COMMUNITY SERVICES | YPSILANTI, MI | $40,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| NEUTRAL ZONE | ANN ARBOR, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| PACKARD HEALTH | ANN ARBOR, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| MAKE-A-WISH | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| CHILDREN'S HEALING CENTER | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| SAFEHOUSE CENTER | ANN ARBOR, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF WASHTENAW COUNTY | ANN ARBOR, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES | ANN ARBOR, MI | $15,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| AIM AT MELANOMA | PLANO, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| THE DETROIT GOODFELLOWS | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
ZERO DAY
$125,000HUMANITARIAN
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$100,001HUMANITARIAN
FALLEN AND WOUNDED SOLDIER FUND
$100,000HUMANITARIAN
MAKE-A-WISH
$75,000HUMANITARIAN
HUMANITARIAN
AVALON
$60,000HUMANITARIAN
LESLIE SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER
$50,000HUMANITARIAN
ARBOR HOSPICE FOUNDATION
$50,000HUMANITARIAN
MICHIGAN AUDUBON SOCIETY
$45,000EDUCATION/OPERATION
SHADES OF PINK FOUNDATION
$30,000HUMANITARIAN
BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF WASHTENAW COUNTY
$25,000HUMANITARIAN
SAFEHOUSE CENTER
$25,000HUMANITARIAN
CHRIST CHILD HOUSE
$25,000HUMANITARIAN
AIM AT MELANOMA
$10,000HUMANITARIAN
MICHIGAN CROSSROADS COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$10,000EDUCATION/HUMANITARIAN
FALLEN AND WOUNDED SOLDIER FUND
$200,000HUMANITARIAN
ZERO DAY
$125,000HUMANITARIAN
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - DETROIT
$100,000HUMANITARIAN
SHADES OF PINK FOUNDATION
$55,000HUMANITARIAN
LESLIE SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER
$50,000HUMANITARIAN
ST JOSEPH MERCY HOSPITAL
$50,000HUMANITARIAN
PROJECT MOTHERPATH FOR KINDRED SPACE LA
$50,000HUMANITARIAN
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$30,000HUMANITARIAN
MAKE-A-WISH
$25,000HUMANITARIAN
BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF WASHTENAW COUNTY
$25,000HUMANITARIAN
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES
$15,000RELIGIOUS
AIM AT MELANOMA
$10,000HUMANITARIAN
THE DETROIT GOODFELLOWS
$10,000HUMANITARIAN