The Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation concentrates its giving in Southeast Michigan, prioritizing institutions that deliver community-level services and education. Large, multi-year gifts dominate the portfolio — especially to higher education and established service organizations — while recurring support targets literacy, food security, veterans, and direct family assistance programs. The foundation favors institutional partners capable of scaling local impact rather than many small grassroots projects.
A defining feature of the Joe & Pamela Kay Foundation is the scale of its support for Wayne State University: the university received $200,000 in 2023, $200,000 in 2024, and $200,000 in 2025 for general support. That repeat pattern reflects a foundation that favors sustained institutional relationships over one-time checks. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs education, family services, food rescue, veteran tribute work, and community support organizations in Southeast Michigan. Its portfolio includes major gifts to Beaumont Service Center for general support and recurring support for Detroit-area institutions such as Beyond Basics, Detroit Goodfellows, and Forgotten Harvest. The foundation also makes smaller grants to arts, media, and legal-advocacy groups, suggesting a mix of anchor grants and supplemental community support. One distinctive thread is support for memorial and tribute projects, including a grant to the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester for veteran tribute pavers. Taken together, the grants show a local funder that concentrates resources on established nonprofits and campus-based initiatives with clear service roles in the region.
Higher education is a core part of the foundation’s giving. Wayne State University received $200,000 in 2023, $200,000 in 2024, and $200,000 in 2025, all for general support. In education beyond the university level, Beyond Basics received $50,000 in 2023, $50,000 in 2024, and $50,000 in 2025 for general support, indicating sustained backing for literacy and tutoring work. Food rescue and hunger relief also appear in the portfolio: Forgotten Harvest was funded at $30,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in both 2024 and 2025. Community assistance is another theme, with Detroit Goodfellows receiving $20,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general support. The foundation also supported Justice for Lily with $25,000 in 2024 and $20,000 in 2025.
Grant sizes cluster around a middle range, with a typical grant of $4,750 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The portfolio includes both large anchor gifts and smaller supplemental grants. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Wayne State University, Beyond Basics, Detroit Goodfellows, Forgotten Harvest, Detroit Public Television, and Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, showing repeated support rather than isolated awards. The foundation gives locally and does not fund individuals. Its recent grants are described as general support in most cases, with one project-restricted gift for veteran tribute pavers.
$1.9M
$7.1M
$373K
$505K
Most grants fall between $5K and $50K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 83% of grants go to recipients in MI.
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Concentrated, relatively large grants focused on a small set of repeat institutional grantees in Southeast Michigan; mix of multi-grant relationships and single substantial gifts rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Wayne State University, Beaumont Service Center 5D, Beyond Basics, Forgotten Harvest, Detroit Goodfellows
Giving is concentrated in Michigan, which accounts for 83% of grants to recipients in the foundation’s home state. Detroit appears repeatedly through grants to Wayne State University, Detroit Goodfellows, Brilliant Detriot, and Detroit Public Television. Other Michigan recipient locations include Southfield, Oak Park, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Waterford, and Northville. Outside Michigan, the recent grants list includes one recipient in New York: the Innocence Project in New York, NY. The overall recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation supports higher education and campus-based initiatives, K–12 literacy and tutoring, food rescue and hunger relief, direct family and emergency assistance, veteran tribute work, and some civic or cultural organizations. Recent grants include Wayne State University, Beyond Basics, Forgotten Harvest, Detroit Goodfellows, and Veterans Tribute of Oakland County.
Yes. Wayne State University received $200,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Beyond Basics, Detroit Goodfellows, Forgotten Harvest, Detroit Public Television, and Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center also appear in multiple years, which shows recurring support rather than only one-time grants.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $4,750 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include both smaller grants and much larger anchor gifts, such as $200,000 and $510,000.
Michigan is the main recipient state, accounting for 83% of grants to recipients in the foundation’s home state. Detroit is a recurring city in the portfolio, alongside Southfield, Oak Park, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, and other Southeast Michigan locations.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent grantmaking is through organizational gifts, most often labeled general support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | DETROIT, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DETROIT GOODFELLOWS | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEYOND BASICS | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FORGOTTEN HARVEST | OAK PARK, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, MI | $22,800 | 2025 | FOR VETERAN TRIBUTE PAVERS |
| NEW WINE MINISTRIES | WATERFORD, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUSTICE FOR LILY | METAMORA, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRILLIANT DETRIOT | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INNOCENCE PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DETROIT PBS | WIXOM, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD ART CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LACE UP DETROIT | NORTHVILLE, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MISSION OAKLAND | PONTIAC, MI | $2,000 | 2025 | FOR DEPUTY RECKLING |
| HISTIOCYTOSIS ASSOCIATION | PITMAN, NJ | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WDET 1019 FM | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE GREENING OF DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MICHIGAN PUBLIC | ANN ARBOR, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| 5 GYRES INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSONS RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | IN MEMORY OF ALFRED BONNELL |
| THE FRIENDS OF ROCHESTER HILLS PUBLIC LIBRARY | ROCHESTER, MI | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCHESTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | ROCHESTER, MI | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE | PONTIAC, MI | $200 | 2025 | IN MEMORY OF MARJORIE CARELS |
| WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | DETROIT, MI | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEYOND BASICS | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DETROIT GOODFELLOWS | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FORGOTTEN HARVEST | OAK PARK, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUSTICE FOR LILY | METAMORA, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION | WIXOM, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRILLIANT DETRIOT | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD ART CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | BOONE, IA | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MITTENS FOR DETROIT | BERKLEY, MI | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEAUMONT SERVICE CENTER 5D | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $510,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | DETROIT, MI | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DUTTON FARM | ROCHESTER HILLS, MI | $126,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VETERANS TRIBUTE OF OAKLAND CFOGR | OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, MI | $55,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEYOND BASICS | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FORGOTTEN HARVEST | OAK PARK, MI | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DETROIT GOODFELLOWS | DETROIT, MI | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRILLIANT DETRIOT | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION | WIXOM, MI | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD ART CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, MI | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BSTRONG (BETHENNY FRANKEL) | NEW YORK, NY | $4,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLARK PARK COALITION | DETROIT, MI | $500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DETROIT GOODFELLOWS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEYOND BASICS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FORGOTTEN HARVEST
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER ROCHESTER
$22,800FOR VETERAN TRIBUTE PAVERS
NEW WINE MINISTRIES
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JUSTICE FOR LILY
GENERAL SUPPORT
BRILLIANT DETRIOT
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INNOCENCE PROJECT
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DETROIT PBS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD ART CENTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LACE UP DETROIT
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MISSION OAKLAND
$2,000FOR DEPUTY RECKLING
HISTIOCYTOSIS ASSOCIATION
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WDET 1019 FM
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE GREENING OF DETROIT
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MICHIGAN PUBLIC
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
5 GYRES INSTITUTE
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSONS RESEARCH
$1,000IN MEMORY OF ALFRED BONNELL
THE FRIENDS OF ROCHESTER HILLS PUBLIC LIBRARY
$250GENERAL SUPPORT
ROCHESTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$250GENERAL SUPPORT
MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE
$200IN MEMORY OF MARJORIE CARELS
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEYOND BASICS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DETROIT GOODFELLOWS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FORGOTTEN HARVEST
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JUSTICE FOR LILY
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BRILLIANT DETRIOT
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD ART CENTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MITTENS FOR DETROIT
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEAUMONT SERVICE CENTER 5D
$510,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DUTTON FARM
$126,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VETERANS TRIBUTE OF OAKLAND CFOGR
$55,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEYOND BASICS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FORGOTTEN HARVEST
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DETROIT GOODFELLOWS
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BRILLIANT DETRIOT
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD ART CENTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC
$4,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BSTRONG (BETHENNY FRANKEL)
$4,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CLARK PARK COALITION
$500GENERAL SUPPORT