Michigan Fitness Foundation improves the health of Michigan residents by providing support services and educational resources to partner organizations that work to improve the health of their local communities throughout the state.
Michigan Physical Fitness Health and Sports Foundation’s recent grants are built around Michigan schools, health systems, food access organizations, and community groups that work on education and health together. The largest recent awards in the record go to the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, and Henry Ford Health System, each at more than $678,000 in a single year. That pattern points to a funder supporting sustained, statewide delivery rather than isolated one-off projects. The foundation backs organizations that connect physical activity, nutrition education, school-based programming, and active transportation. Recent funding also reaches intermediate school districts in Flint, Saginaw, Tuscola, Calhoun, Washtenaw, and Van Buren, along with community-based partners such as Crim Fitness Foundation and Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan. Michigan State University appears in the grant record as well, showing that the portfolio includes both local service providers and institutional partners. Across the recent grants list, the same core theme holds: support for programs that improve health outcomes through education and community infrastructure. The scale of individual awards is often substantial, and the recipients recur across multiple years, suggesting ongoing program support in Michigan.
School-linked health work is a clear thread in the portfolio. The foundation gave $615,182 to Genesee Intermediate School District in 2025, $425,460 to Saginaw Intermediate School District in 2025, and $400,621 to Tuscola Intermediate School District in 2025, all under Education & Health. Food and nutrition access also appears directly in the record. Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan received $491,442 in 2025 for Education & Health, following earlier Education & Health grants to Gleaners Community Food Bank in Detroit. Community-based fitness programming is another area of support. Crim Fitness Foundation in Flint received $554,381 in 2025 after prior grants in 2024 and 2023, including one coded Community. The foundation also funds active transportation and school access work through its Safe Routes to School programs, which support planning, infrastructure, and non-infrastructure projects in Michigan.
$8.6M
$5.7M
$21.4M
$21.3M
Most grants fall between $63K and $389K, with a median of $184K.
25th Percentile
$63K
Median
$184K
75th Percentile
$389K
Amy Ghannam
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Typical awards are sizable: the grant-size distribution sits at $62,889 at the 25th percentile, $184,140 at the median, and $389,201 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, indicating ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts. The foundation gives only in Michigan, and its active programs include both unsolicited opportunities and competitive grants. Safe Routes to School Mini Grants and Major Grants accept unsolicited applications, while SNAP-Ed Competitive Grants are offered through the foundation’s role as a state implementing agency.
The grant record is entirely Michigan-based: 93 grants, or 100%, go to recipients in the state. Among the cities appearing most often are Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Caro, Marshall, Dearborn, East Lansing, and Lawrence. The portfolio is therefore concentrated in Michigan communities and school districts rather than spread across multiple states or countries.
The foundation funds education and health work that links physical activity, nutrition education, school-based programs, active transportation, program evaluation, and training for educators. Its active grant programs include Safe Routes to School, SNAP-Ed Competitive Grants, and Safe Routes to School Mini Grants.
Typical awards are relatively large. The distribution provided shows a 25th percentile of $62,889, a median of $184,140, and a 75th percentile of $389,201. Recent grants also include awards above $600,000 to several Michigan organizations.
The grant record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years. For example, several recipients appear in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which indicates ongoing funding relationships rather than one-off gifts.
Safe Routes to School grants in Michigan are offered in two forms: Mini Grants and Major Grants. Both accept unsolicited applications, and the Major Grant program supports planning and improvements that address obstacles to walking or biking to school.
Its giving is entirely in Michigan. All 93 grants in the recipient country distribution go to U.S. organizations, and 100% of grants are to recipients in Michigan.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | $898,300 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| National Kidney Foundation of MI | Ann Arbor, MI | $685,213 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Henry Ford Health System | Detroit, MI | $678,339 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Genesee Intermediate School District | Flint, MI | $615,182 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Crim Fitness Foundation | Flint, MI | $554,381 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast MI | Detroit, MI | $491,442 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Saginaw Intermediate School District | Saginaw, MI | $425,460 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Tuscola Intermediate School District | Caro, MI | $400,621 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities | Dearborn, MI | $399,342 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Calhoun Intermediate School District | Marshall, MI | $349,550 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $346,004 | 2025 | Community |
| Washtenaw Intermediate School District | Ann Arbor, MI | $337,232 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Detroit Public Schools Community District | Detroit, MI | $297,552 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD | Sault Ste Marie, MI | $241,465 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Gratiot-Isabella RESD | Ithaca, MI | $237,172 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Marquette-Alger RESA | Marquette, MI | $182,272 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Project Healthy Community | West Bloomfield, MI | $178,281 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | $163,121 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Bronson Health Foundation | Kalamazoo, MI | $158,454 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Northwest Education Services | Traverse City, MI | $149,800 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Greater Flint Health Coalition | Flint, MI | $149,550 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Health Department of Northwest Michigan | Charlevoix, MI | $142,898 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| District Health Department #10 | Cadillac, MI | $90,472 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Traverse City Area Public Schools | Traverse City, MI | $82,553 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Michigan Association of Planning | Ann Arbor, MI | $69,757 | 2025 | Community |
| Portland Public Schools | Portland, MI | $47,212 | 2025 | Community |
| The Regents of the University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,376 | 2025 | Community |
| Reeths-Puffer Schools | Muskegon, MI | $40,519 | 2025 | Community |
| Oakland County Health Division | Pontiac, MI | $26,689 | 2025 | Education & Health |
| Iron Belle Trail Fund | East Lansing, MI | $23,250 | 2025 | Trails |
| Bath Community Schools | Bath, MI | $15,753 | 2025 | Community |
| Crawford AuSable School District | Grayling, MI | $13,853 | 2025 | Community |
| Ann Arbor Public Schools | Ann Arbor, MI | $11,104 | 2025 | Community |
| East Lansing Public School District | East Lansing, MI | $8,992 | 2025 | Community |
| Dewitt Public Schools | Dewitt, MI | $8,532 | 2025 | Community |
| Ludington Area School District | Ludington, MI | $6,229 | 2025 | Community |
| YMCA OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $747,780 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF MI | ANN ARBOR, MI | $716,778 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM | DETROIT, MI | $619,244 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| GENESEE ISD | FLINT, MI | $592,342 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| CRIM FITNESS FOUNDATION | FLINT, MI | $557,284 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK | DETROIT, MI | $456,845 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| SAGINAW ISD | SAGINAW, MI | $409,611 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| TUSCOLA ISD | CARO, MI | $389,201 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| CALHOUN ISD | MARSHALL, MI | $339,550 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| LEADERS ADVANCING AND HELPING COMMUNITIES | DEARBORN, MI | $309,462 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $296,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY |
| GRATIOT-ISABELLA RESD | ITHACA, MI | $249,848 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA ISD | SAULT STE MARIE, MI | $244,196 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
| WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | DETROIT, MI | $204,246 | 2024 | EDUCATION & HEALTH |
National Kidney Foundation of MI
$685,213Education & Health
Genesee Intermediate School District
$615,182Education & Health
Current and upcoming funding from Michigan Physical Fitness Health and Sports Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Public, charter, or non-public schools or school districts that serve at least one grade in the K–12 range; also 501(c)(3) nonprofits with an approved working partnership with qualified school(s).
Deadline: Requests for proposals are accepted from January to March each year.
Education & Health
Saginaw Intermediate School District
$425,460Education & Health
Tuscola Intermediate School District
$400,621Education & Health
Calhoun Intermediate School District
$349,550Education & Health
Michigan State University
$346,004Community
Washtenaw Intermediate School District
$337,232Education & Health
Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD
$241,465Education & Health
Gratiot-Isabella RESD
$237,172Education & Health
Marquette-Alger RESA
$182,272Education & Health
Project Healthy Community
$178,281Education & Health
Wayne State University
$163,121Education & Health
Northwest Education Services
$149,800Education & Health
Health Department of Northwest Michigan
$142,898Education & Health
District Health Department #10
$90,472Education & Health
Traverse City Area Public Schools
$82,553Education & Health
Michigan Association of Planning
$69,757Community
Portland Public Schools
$47,212Community
The Regents of the University of Michigan
$42,376Community
Reeths-Puffer Schools
$40,519Community
Oakland County Health Division
$26,689Education & Health
Iron Belle Trail Fund
$23,250Trails
Bath Community Schools
$15,753Community
Crawford AuSable School District
$13,853Community
Ann Arbor Public Schools
$11,104Community
East Lansing Public School District
$8,992Community
Dewitt Public Schools
$8,532Community
Ludington Area School District
$6,229Community
NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF MI
$716,778EDUCATION & HEALTH
GENESEE ISD
$592,342EDUCATION & HEALTH
SAGINAW ISD
$409,611EDUCATION & HEALTH
TUSCOLA ISD
$389,201EDUCATION & HEALTH
CALHOUN ISD
$339,550EDUCATION & HEALTH
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$296,000COMMUNITY
GRATIOT-ISABELLA RESD
$249,848EDUCATION & HEALTH
EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA ISD
$244,196EDUCATION & HEALTH
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
$204,246EDUCATION & HEALTH
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