
The mission of the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation is to enrich humanity by strengthening and empowering children and families in need.
Max M & Marjorie S Fisher Foundation Inc channels most of its grantmaking into children, families, Jewish life, early childhood, and arts and culture, with a visible pattern of using large gifts to support community institutions and intermediary funds. In the recent grant list, one of the largest awards was $1,290,000 to Jewish Federation of Detroit for the 2024 and 2025 annual campaign, alongside $737,110 to Everybody Ready for the Brightmoor Quality Childcare Initiative. Those grants sit next to other major commitments to Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, Birthright Israel Foundation, and the Jewish Agency for Israel, showing a mix of local Jewish community support and Israel-related funding. The foundation also backs Brightmoor-focused work through childcare quality, facility improvements, scholarships, and educational support, suggesting a sustained neighborhood emphasis rather than isolated awards. Arts funding appears as well, including support through Detroit Symphony Orchestra and regranting vehicles. Across the grant list, the foundation uses direct grants, intermediary foundations, and initiative-based funding to reach institutions serving children, families, and Jewish communities.
Early childhood is a clear grantmaking lane. The foundation gave $452,911 to Development Centers Inc Dba MI Early Years for the Brightmoor Childcare Quality Initiative, and $316,700 to Everybody Ready for Brightmoor Child Care Quality Initiative Scholarships. It also funded Everybody Ready with $737,110 for the Brightmoor Quality Childcare Initiative, linking quality improvement and scholarship support in the same neighborhood. Jewish life is another major area. Grants include $494,000 to Birthright Israel Foundation for Birthright Israel, plus $440,000 to Jewish Agency for Israel for Heartbeats and $400,000 to Jewish Agency for Israel-north American Council for Spark.IL. Arts and culture also appear through a $500,000 grant to Detroit Symphony Orchestra for Blueprint 2.0 and regranting support through Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties.
Typical grants cluster around a $40,000 median, with a p25 of $11,456 and a p75 of $100,000, but the recent list also includes seven-figure awards to major federations and campaign funds. The pattern shows repeat support to the same institutions across multiple years, including Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, Birthright Israel Foundation, and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. The foundation is a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. It gives through both direct grants and intermediary vehicles, with several awards routed to family funds, community foundations, and support foundations rather than only to operating nonprofits. One active entry point, the Prospective Grant Partners letter of inquiry process, accepts unsolicited requests.
$14.6M
$280M
$8.1M
$21.5M
Most grants fall between $11K and $100K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$100K
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Max M & Marjorie S Fisher Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 752 | $67.4M | 97.5% |
| 2 | Israel |
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Grant recipients are concentrated in Michigan, with especially frequent awards in Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, and West Bloomfield-area institutions. The recipient-country mix is overwhelmingly U.S.-based at 97.1%, with smaller counts in Israel and Oceania. Outside Michigan, New York recipients appear in Jewish and Israel-related grantmaking, while West Palm Beach shows up through community foundation and regranting relationships. The top state by grant count is DC, though the headquarters is in Southfield, Michigan.
Its active programs point to Jewish life, early childhood, arts and culture, impact investing, capacity building, health/HIV, and support for Brightmoor. Recent grants show these themes in practice through Jewish federations, childcare quality initiatives, arts regranting, and neighborhood-focused support in Brightmoor.
Yes. The Prospective Grant Partners letter of inquiry is listed as an open entry point for nonprofit organizations, and it accepts unsolicited submissions. Other active initiatives shown in the data do not accept unsolicited requests.
The typical grant size is a p25 of $11,456, a median of $40,000, and a p75 of $100,000. The recent grant list also includes much larger awards, including gifts above $1 million.
The top state by grant count is DC, while 68% of grants go to recipients in Michigan. Recent recipient cities also include Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, Allen Park, Southgate, New York, and West Palm Beach.
It shows recurring support. Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, Birthright Israel Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and several other recipients appear in multiple years, including 2023 and 2025, often in repeated campaign or general-support grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 15 |
| $3.5M |
1.9% |
| 3 | Other Countries | 4 | $4K | 0.5% |
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 DETROIT | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $1,290,000 | 2025 | 2024 AND 2025 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN |
| EVERYBODY READY | ALLEN PARK, MI | $737,110 | 2025 | BRIGHTMOOR QUALITY CHILDCARE INITIATIVE |
| DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INC DBA MI EARLY YEARS | DETROIT, MI | $452,911 | 2025 | BRIGHTMOOR CHILDCARE QUALITY INITIATIVE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $450,000 | 2025 | MARJORIE M. FISHER FUND |
| UNITED JEWISH FOUNDATION | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $400,000 | 2025 | PHILLIP WM FISHER SUPPORT FOUNDATION |
| JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL-NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $400,000 | 2025 | SPARK.IL |
| UNITED JEWISH FOUNDATION | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $400,000 | 2025 | JANE F. & LARRY D. SHERMAN FAMILY SUPPORT FOUNDATION |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $300,000 | 2025 | FISHER-CUMMINGS FAMILY FUND |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL: STRENGTHENING JEWISH IDENTITY AND CONNETION TO THE JEWISH HOMELAND |
| DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INC DBA MI EARLY YEARS | DETROIT, MI | $274,400 | 2025 | SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING INTERN SUPPORT |
| JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL-NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | MASA ISRAEL TEACHING FELLOWS |
| DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | DETROIT, MI | $250,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL OPERATIONS 2024/25-2027/28 |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION MAX M FISHER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | COLUMBUS, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | DEANS INNOVATION FUND: INVESTING IN LEADERSHIP |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $225,750 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE REGRANT FUND |
| JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL-NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $220,000 | 2025 | KIRYAT YEARIM YOUTH VILLAGE - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL-NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $220,000 | 2025 | HEARTBEATS: EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION FOR ISRAELI FAMILIES |
| BRIGHTMOOR ALLIANCE INC | DETROIT, MI | $208,514 | 2025 | BRIGHTMOOR UP! |
| CONNECT DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | BRIGHTMOOR YOUTH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT AND PLANNING |
| DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INC DBA MI EARLY YEARS | DETROIT, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START CONTINUATION GRANT |
| GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK | DETROIT, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | BRIGHTMOOR CONNECTION CLIENT CHOICE FOOD PANTRY |
| ORT AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $191,905 | 2025 | YOUNIVERSITY ROBOTICS: TECHNOLOGICAL THINKING BEGINS IN KINDERGARTEN |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ORR SHALOM INC | BEIT SHEMESH | $160,000 | 2025 | CAMP SAFE HAVEN |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $152,250 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE REGRANT FUND |
| HILLEL OF METRO DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | HILLELS OF MICHIGAN - ISRAEL FELLOW/STAFF PROGRAM (RENEWAL) |
| DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA | WIXOM, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | EARLY EDUCATION SUPPORT IN BRIGHTMOOR |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF DETROIT | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | JLIVE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ORR SHALOM INC | BEIT SHEMESH | $150,000 | 2025 | BEATING THE ODDS |
| THE HEAT AND WARMTH FUND | DETROIT, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | BRIGHTMOOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND EFFICIENCY PROGRAM |
| ONO ACADEMIC COLLEGE | KIRYAT ONO | $150,000 | 2025 | FULL SPECTRUM ACADEMIC AND ECONOMIC SERVICES FOR POST-ARMY ETHIOPIAN YOUTH |
| BRILLIANT DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | CONTINUING KID SUCCESS IN BRIGHTMOOR |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ORR SHALOM INC | BEIT SHEMESH | $149,800 | 2025 | EMERGENCY & OTHER NEEDS |
| SPHINX ORGANIZATION | DETROIT, MI | $130,000 | 2025 | SPHINX OVERTURE-BRIGHTMOOR |
| CITY YEAR DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $130,000 | 2025 | WHOLE SCHOOL WHOLE CHILD: K-8 LITERACY PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SHAKESPEARE IN DETROIT | DEARBORN, MI | $130,000 | 2025 | SCALING STEAMNEW STRATEGIES, MORE STUDENTS AND, AS ALWAYS, SHAKESPEARE |
| JEWISH FUNDERS NETWORK | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | HONEYCOMB - JEWISH YOUTH PHILANTHROPY |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | WEST BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | PJ LIBRARY IN DETROIT |
| JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA | JERUSALEM | $125,000 | 2025 | ENP SPACE (SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT) |
| FOUNDATION FOR DETROIT'S FUTURE | DETROIT, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | DIA SETTLEMENT |
| WELLSPRING | DETROIT, MI | $120,000 | 2025 | LITERACY & INCREASED CAPACITY |
| COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES | DETROIT, MI | $110,000 | 2025 | BRIGHTMOOR NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS |
| DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INC DBA MI EARLY YEARS | DETROIT, MI | $106,492 | 2025 | MOM CIRCLES - CHILDREN OF THE RISING SUN |
| FRESH AIR SOCITEY | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | JEWISH ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM (REFERED TO AS "J-AIR") |
| ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN SYNAGOGUE | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | BUILDING RENOVATION AND SHARED WORKSPACE COLLABORATION |
| CITY YEAR DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | GOMPERS ELEMENTARY-MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM SPONSORSHIP |
| IMAGINATION PRODUCTIONS INC | SUNRISE, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | OPENDOR MEDIAS UNPACKED FOR EDUCATORS DIGITAL RESOURCE |
| DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | THE WHOLE CHILD |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | PJ LIBRARY IN PALM BEACH |
| MICHIGAN LEAGUE FOR PUBLIC POLICY | LANSING, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | KIDS COUNT IN MICHIGAN |
| DETROIT PARENT NETWORK | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | DETROIT PARENT NETWORK BRIGHTMOOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EARLY CHILDHOOD ENRICHMENT AND ENGAGEMENT BQI FIELD TRIPS PROGRAM |
| SPHINX ORGANIZATION | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | SPHINX FUTURES FUND |
JEWISH FEDERATION OF DETROIT
$1,290,0002024 AND 2025 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
EVERYBODY READY
$737,110BRIGHTMOOR QUALITY CHILDCARE INITIATIVE
DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INC DBA MI EARLY YEARS
$452,911BRIGHTMOOR CHILDCARE QUALITY INITIATIVE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
$450,000MARJORIE M. FISHER FUND
UNITED JEWISH FOUNDATION
$400,000PHILLIP WM FISHER SUPPORT FOUNDATION
JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL-NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL
$400,000SPARK.IL
UNITED JEWISH FOUNDATION
$400,000JANE F. & LARRY D. SHERMAN FAMILY SUPPORT FOUNDATION
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES
$300,000FISHER-CUMMINGS FAMILY FUND
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION
$300,000BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL: STRENGTHENING JEWISH IDENTITY AND CONNETION TO THE JEWISH HOMELAND
DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INC DBA MI EARLY YEARS
$274,400SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING INTERN SUPPORT
JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL-NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL
$250,000MASA ISRAEL TEACHING FELLOWS
DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$250,000ANNUAL OPERATIONS 2024/25-2027/28
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION MAX M FISHER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
$250,000DEANS INNOVATION FUND: INVESTING IN LEADERSHIP
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES
$225,750ARTS & CULTURE REGRANT FUND
JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL-NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL
$220,000KIRYAT YEARIM YOUTH VILLAGE - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL-NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL
$220,000HEARTBEATS: EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION FOR ISRAELI FAMILIES
BRIGHTMOOR ALLIANCE INC
$208,514BRIGHTMOOR UP!
CONNECT DETROIT
$200,000BRIGHTMOOR YOUTH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT AND PLANNING
DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INC DBA MI EARLY YEARS
$200,000HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START CONTINUATION GRANT
GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
$200,000BRIGHTMOOR CONNECTION CLIENT CHOICE FOOD PANTRY
ORT AMERICA INC
$191,905YOUNIVERSITY ROBOTICS: TECHNOLOGICAL THINKING BEGINS IN KINDERGARTEN
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ORR SHALOM INC
$160,000CAMP SAFE HAVEN
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES
$152,250ARTS & CULTURE REGRANT FUND
HILLEL OF METRO DETROIT
$150,000HILLELS OF MICHIGAN - ISRAEL FELLOW/STAFF PROGRAM (RENEWAL)
DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA
$150,000EARLY EDUCATION SUPPORT IN BRIGHTMOOR
JEWISH FEDERATION OF DETROIT
$150,000JLIVE
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ORR SHALOM INC
$150,000BEATING THE ODDS
THE HEAT AND WARMTH FUND
$150,000BRIGHTMOOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND EFFICIENCY PROGRAM
ONO ACADEMIC COLLEGE
$150,000FULL SPECTRUM ACADEMIC AND ECONOMIC SERVICES FOR POST-ARMY ETHIOPIAN YOUTH
BRILLIANT DETROIT
$150,000CONTINUING KID SUCCESS IN BRIGHTMOOR
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ORR SHALOM INC
$149,800EMERGENCY & OTHER NEEDS
SPHINX ORGANIZATION
$130,000SPHINX OVERTURE-BRIGHTMOOR
CITY YEAR DETROIT
$130,000WHOLE SCHOOL WHOLE CHILD: K-8 LITERACY PROGRAM SUPPORT
SHAKESPEARE IN DETROIT
$130,000SCALING STEAMNEW STRATEGIES, MORE STUDENTS AND, AS ALWAYS, SHAKESPEARE
JEWISH FUNDERS NETWORK
$125,000HONEYCOMB - JEWISH YOUTH PHILANTHROPY
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
$125,000PJ LIBRARY IN DETROIT
JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA
$125,000ENP SPACE (SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT)
FOUNDATION FOR DETROIT'S FUTURE
$125,000DIA SETTLEMENT
WELLSPRING
$120,000LITERACY & INCREASED CAPACITY
COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES
$110,000BRIGHTMOOR NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS
DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INC DBA MI EARLY YEARS
$106,492MOM CIRCLES - CHILDREN OF THE RISING SUN
FRESH AIR SOCITEY
$100,000JEWISH ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM (REFERED TO AS "J-AIR")
ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN SYNAGOGUE
$100,000BUILDING RENOVATION AND SHARED WORKSPACE COLLABORATION
CITY YEAR DETROIT
$100,000GOMPERS ELEMENTARY-MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM SPONSORSHIP
IMAGINATION PRODUCTIONS INC
$100,000OPENDOR MEDIAS UNPACKED FOR EDUCATORS DIGITAL RESOURCE
DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$100,000THE WHOLE CHILD
JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY
$100,000PJ LIBRARY IN PALM BEACH
MICHIGAN LEAGUE FOR PUBLIC POLICY
$100,000KIDS COUNT IN MICHIGAN
DETROIT PARENT NETWORK
$100,000DETROIT PARENT NETWORK BRIGHTMOOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EARLY CHILDHOOD ENRICHMENT AND ENGAGEMENT BQI FIELD TRIPS PROGRAM
SPHINX ORGANIZATION
$100,000SPHINX FUTURES FUND