The Matilda R Wilson Fund concentrates its giving on Michigan-based education and cultural heritage, directing large, multi-year gifts to a small set of local institutions. Most support goes to Michigan State University for capital improvements and scholarships and to Meadow Brook Hall for general operations, indicating a preference for sustaining higher education infrastructure and historic/cultural assets in the Detroit region.
Highly concentrated: few, large grants to repeat grantees (three grants each to two organizations), favoring institutional capital and general operating support rather than many small awards.
A $400,000 annual grant to Michigan State University appears three years in a row, and that repeat pattern captures the Matilda R Wilson Fund’s approach: sustained support for Michigan institutions rather than one-time awards. The fund’s recent giving centers on capital improvements, scholarships, operating support, and endowment building for education and cultural organizations, with the largest commitments going to universities and long-standing cultural sites in southeast Michigan. Meadow Brook Hall also receives repeated support at $200,000 a year for general operations, showing the fund’s interest in preserving institutional infrastructure as well as funding programs. Beyond those anchors, the fund backs a small set of Michigan nonprofits with grants that support day-to-day operations, capital projects, and scholarship resources. The recent record includes support for Detroit cultural organizations, a health system, a youth-serving nonprofit, and select colleges. Several grantees appear across multiple years, which suggests the fund maintains ongoing relationships with institutions it supports. The result is a grantmaking pattern focused on stability, facilities, and long-term capacity for organizations tied to education, heritage, and community life in Michigan.
Education is a central theme in the fund’s recent grants. Michigan State University received $400,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for capital improvements and scholarships, while College for Creative Studies received $50,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for general operations and scholarships. Cultural heritage and the arts are another clear focus. Meadow Brook Hall received $200,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 for general operations. The Detroit Institute of Arts was also supported with $100,000 for general operations in 2023 and $75,000 endowment grants in 2024 and 2025. The fund also supports institutional capacity. Henry Ford Health System received $100,000 for capital improvements and staff training, and The Purple Rose Theatre Co received $50,000 in 2024 and 2025 for general operations.
Typical grant size sits at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $27,500 at the median, and $68,750 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from smaller operating grants to repeated six-figure commitments, with several grantees appearing in multiple years. That repeat pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The fund is structured as a foundation that makes grants and also funds individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. No application process is stated in the data.
$1.3M
$12.4M
$2.6M
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $15K and $69K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$69K
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Notable grantees: Michigan State University, Meadow Brook Hall, Michigan higher education capital and scholarship programs
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Michigan-focused: 96% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. The strongest concentrations are in Detroit and its surrounding communities, including East Lansing, Rochester, Southfield, Farmington Hills, Chelsea, and Interlochen. Outside Michigan, only one recipient state appears in the recent grants list: Wisconsin, through Beloit College in Beloit. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 74 grants to U.S. organizations.
The recent record shows support for universities, museums, theaters, health institutions, youth-serving nonprofits, and other nonprofit or institutional grantees. Examples include grants for capital improvements and scholarships, general operations, endowment support, and staff training.
Yes. Several grantees appear across multiple years, including Michigan State University, Meadow Brook Hall, Detroit Institute of Arts, College for Creative Studies, The Salvation Army, Alma College, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and The Purple Rose Theatre Co.
The grant-size distribution centers on $15,000 at the 25th percentile, a median of $27,500, and $68,750 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger repeated grants such as $400,000 to Michigan State University and $200,000 to Meadow Brook Hall.
Yes. The fund’s scope is local, and 96% of grants go to recipients in Michigan, with the recent grants list showing organizations in Detroit, East Lansing, Rochester, Southfield, Farmington Hills, Chelsea, Interlochen, Alma, and Beloit.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $400,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MEADOW BROOK HALL | ROCHESTER, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT |
| THE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN |
| BELOIT COLLEGE | BELOIT, WI | $75,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALMA COLLEGE | ALMA, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE PURPLE ROSE THEATRE CO | CHELSEA, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| COVENANT CHRISTIAN CENTER | MT CLEMENS, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS | INTERLOCHEN, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT |
| LIFE DIRECTIONS | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| RACQUET UP DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UNIVERSITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | ROCHESTER, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION | WIXOM, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE PEWABIC SOCIETY INC | DETROIT, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| VISTA MARIA | DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | ROYAL OAK, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CATCH | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONS | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $4,050 | 2025 | MEMBERSHIP |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $400,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MEADOW BROOK HALL | ROCHESTER, MI | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2024 | ENDOWMENT |
| BELOIT COLLEGE | BELOIT, WI | $75,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| THE PURPLE ROSE THEATRE CO | CHELSEA, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALMA COLLEGE | ALMA, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS | INTERLOCHEN, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT |
| COVENANT CHRISTIAN CENTER | MT CLEMENS, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | LANSING, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MAX M FISHER MUSIC CENTER | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHILDRENS CENTER OF WAYNE COUNTY | DETROIT, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| RACQUET UP DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $15,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE PEWABIC SOCIETY INC | DETROIT, MI | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MATH CORPS | BIRMINGHAM, MI | $15,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RACING FOR KIDS | GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | ROYAL OAK, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL | GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | LEARNING COLLABORATIVE |
| DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONS | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $4,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $400,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MEADOW BROOK HALL | ROCHESTER, MI | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$400,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
MEADOW BROOK HALL
$200,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
$75,000ENDOWMENT
THE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$75,000ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
THE SALVATION ARMY
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
COVENANT CHRISTIAN CENTER
$30,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
LIFE DIRECTIONS
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
UNIVERSITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE PEWABIC SOCIETY INC
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
VISTA MARIA
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CATCH
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONS
$4,050MEMBERSHIP
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$400,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
MEADOW BROOK HALL
$200,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
$75,000ENDOWMENT
COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
THE SALVATION ARMY
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
COVENANT CHRISTIAN CENTER
$30,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MAX M FISHER MUSIC CENTER
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE PEWABIC SOCIETY INC
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
RACING FOR KIDS
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL
$10,000LEARNING COLLABORATIVE
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$400,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
MEADOW BROOK HALL
$200,000GENERAL OPERATIONS