The MLG Foundation focuses its giving on civic engagement and community-based organizations, with major support for civic education initiatives in Michigan and for youth programming through a single large summer camp grantee. It also makes smaller, targeted gifts to local democracy and cooperative economic development efforts, suggesting an interest in both strengthening democratic participation and building community institutions. Grants are few but meaningful in size, often concentrated on repeat recipients.
A 35,000 grant to Circle Pines Center for summer camp, endowment, and operating funds signals the MLG Foundation C/o Deborah Groban Olson’s pattern of backing organizations that combine youth programming with institutional support. The foundation’s giving is not broad-based in count, but it is pointed: one large camp grant sits alongside repeated support for civic education in Michigan and for democracy-related work in New Hampshire. That mix suggests a funder interested in community institutions, civic participation, and practical program support rather than one-time novelty gifts. Across the recent grants list, Michigan appears as a recurring thread. Michigan Civic Education received funding in both 2023 and 2025 for civic education in Michigan, while Circle Pines Center also reappeared in 2025 after a larger prior award. The foundation also made smaller gifts to organizations working on cooperative development, immigrant legal services, abortion access, and humanitarian relief, showing that its portfolio includes both place-based and issue-based grants. The result is a grantmaking profile centered on civic life, youth development, and community infrastructure, with repeat recipients playing a visible role.
Civic education is one of the foundation’s clearest themes. Michigan Civic Education received $15,000 in 2023 and $12,500 in 2025 for civic education in Michigan, indicating sustained support for public civics work. The foundation also funds democracy and voting-rights organizing. New Hampshire Democracy Fund received $3,000 in 2025 to build a movement of people and organizations in New Hampshire to protect democracy and voting rights. Community economic development is another recurring line of giving. Center for Economic Democracy Inc received $5,000 in 2024, $1,000 in 2025, and $500 in 2023 as sponsor for the Center for Cooperative Development and Solidarity. Co-op Rhody also received $8,000 in 2025 for a startup contribution and spring fundraiser. Youth programming appears through Circle Pines Center, which received support for summer camp, endowment, and operating funds.
Typical grants are small: the p25 is $100, the median is $200, and the p75 is $475. That distribution fits a pattern of many modest awards alongside a few larger anchors, including the $35,000 grant to Circle Pines Center. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Michigan Civic Education, Center for Economic Democracy Inc, and Raices, which points to repeat support rather than purely one-off giving. The foundation is not a private operating foundation making program-related investments, and it does not fund individuals. The recent-grants record also shows awards clustered across multiple years rather than a single burst of activity.
$28K
$469K
$108K
$36K
Most grants fall between $100 and $475, with a median of $200.
25th Percentile
$100
Median
$200
75th Percentile
$475
About 8% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Mlg Foundation C/O Deborah Groban Olson.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 97 | $122K | 99.0% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Concentrated, small-number portfolio: a handful of mid-to-large grants with repeat funding to a couple of core recipients (notably Michigan civic education and Circle Pines Center), plus occasional smaller, targeted gifts to local democracy and cooperative projects.
Notable grantees: Circle Pines Center, Michigan Civic Education, Center for Economic Democracy, New Hampshire Democracy Fund
Grantmaking is national in scope, but the strongest concentration is in DC-related giving and in a small set of U.S. cities. Washington, DC appears through World Food Program, while New York, NY, Boston, MA, and Lansing and Delton, Michigan recur in the recipient list. New Hampshire recipients also appear, including Portsmouth and Hanover-area giving through local democracy work. All recorded grants in the recent list went to U.S. recipients, with no non-U.S. countries represented.
The recent grants point to civic education in Michigan, democracy and voting-rights work in New Hampshire, youth summer camp support, and cooperative economic development. Smaller awards also went to immigrant legal services, abortion access, and humanitarian relief organizations.
Yes. Michigan Civic Education received grants in 2023 and 2025, Center for Economic Democracy Inc received support in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Raices received grants in 2023 and 2024. Circle Pines Center also appears more than once.
The typical award is small: p25 is $100, median is $200, and p75 is $475. Recent grants include many gifts at or below $1,000, with a few larger exceptions such as the $35,000 award to Circle Pines Center.
The top state by grant count is DC, even though the headquarters are in Hanover, New Hampshire. Other recurring recipient locations include New York, Boston, Lansing, Delton, Portsmouth, Providence, Detroit, San Antonio, and Santa Barbara.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $79 |
1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIRCLE PINES CENTER | DELTON, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR SUMMER CAMP, ENDOWMENT AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| MICHIGAN CIVIC EDUCATION | LANSING, MI | $12,500 | 2025 | CIVIC EDUCATION IN MICHIGAN |
| CO-OP RHODY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $8,000 | 2025 | START UP CONTRIBUTION AND SPRING FUNDRAISER |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRACY FUND | PORTSMOUTH, NH | $3,000 | 2025 | BUILD A MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND VOTING RIGHTS |
| UNICEF | NEW YORK, NY | $1,300 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE WORLD'S CHILDREN THROUGH FUNDRAISING, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION |
| CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY INC | BOSTON, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | SPONSOR FOR CENTER FOR COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND SOLIDARITY |
| CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY INC | BOSTON, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | SPONSOR FOR CENTER FOR COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND SOLIDARITY |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $750 | 2025 | RESPOND TO TO THE WORLD'S WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISES, HELPING PEOPLE TO SURVIVE, RECOVER AND RECLAIM CONTROL OF THEIR FUTURE |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA | NEW YORK, NY | $750 | 2025 | MEDICAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA | NEW YORK, NY | $750 | 2025 | MEDICAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $750 | 2025 | RESPOND TO TO THE WORLD'S WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISES, HELPING PEOPLE TO SURVIVE, RECOVER AND RECLAIM CONTROL OF THEIR FUTURE |
| NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS | BEAVERTON, OR | $400 | 2025 | REMOVE FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL BARRIERS TO ABORTION ACCESS |
| NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS | BEAVERTON, OR | $400 | 2025 | REMOVE FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL BARRIERS TO ABORTION ACCESS |
| UNICEF | NEW YORK, NY | $300 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE WORLD'S CHILDREN THROUGH FUNDRAISING, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION |
| OXFAM AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $250 | 2025 | FIGHT POVERTY, HUNGER, AND INJUSTICE |
| OXFAM AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $250 | 2025 | FIGHT POVERTY, HUNGER, AND INJUSTICE |
| NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $250 | 2025 | FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE |
| NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $250 | 2025 | FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $216 | 2025 | PROTECT CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS |
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND | DENVER, CO | $200 | 2025 | SUPPORT NATIVE STUDENT ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION |
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $200 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN RELIEF |
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $200 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN RELIEF |
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND | DENVER, CO | $200 | 2025 | SUPPORT NATIVE STUDENT ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION |
| WORLD FOOD PROGRAM | WASHINGTON, DC | $200 | 2025 | DELIVERS FOOD AND AID TO VICTIMS OF CONFLICT, EXTREME WEATHER, ECONOMIC INSTABILITY |
| BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT NYU SCHOOL OF LAW | NEW YORK, NY | $150 | 2025 | LAW AND POLICY INSTITUTE |
| BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT NYU SCHOOL OF LAW | NEW YORK, NY | $150 | 2025 | LAW AND POLICY INSTITUTE |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $125 | 2025 | CREATE A VITAL EARTH |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $125 | 2025 | CREATE A VITAL EARTH |
| HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | NEW YORK, NY | $100 | 2025 | HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY |
| J STREET EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $100 | 2025 | ISRAEL ADVOCACY |
| UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $100 | 2025 | HELP STUDENTS ATTEND COLLEGE, SUPPORT HBCUS |
| AMERICANS FOR PEACE NOW | WASHINGTON, DC | $100 | 2025 | EDUCATE AND PERSUADE THE AMERICIAN PUBLIC AND ITS LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT AND ADOPT POLICIES THAT WILL LEAD TO ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE |
| UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $100 | 2025 | HELP STUDENTS ATTEND COLLEGE, SUPPORT HBCUS |
| HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | NEW YORK, NY | $100 | 2025 | HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $72 | 2025 | PROTECT CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS |
| NH PUBLIC RADIO | CONCORD, NH | $60 | 2025 | SPOTLIGHTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NH |
| VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO | COLCHESTER, VT | $60 | 2025 | PUBLIC RADIO |
| VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO | COLCHESTER, VT | $60 | 2025 | PUBLIC RADIO |
| NH PUBLIC RADIO | CONCORD, NH | $60 | 2025 | SPOTLIGHTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NH |
| ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS | DETROIT, MI | $50 | 2025 | HELP HOMELESS AND HIGH-RISK GIRLS |
| LISTEN COMMUNITY SERVICES | LEBANON, NH | $50 | 2025 | HELP FAMILIES WITH CRITICAL NEEDS SUCH AS ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEATING. |
| ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS | DETROIT, MI | $50 | 2025 | HELP HOMELESS AND HIGH-RISK GIRLS |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $50 | 2025 | PROVIDE FOOD TO THOSE AFFECTED BY CRISES |
| WE THE PEOPLE OF DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $50 | 2025 | WATER SHUTOFF RELIEF FUND |
| LISTEN COMMUNITY SERVICES | LEBANON, NH | $25 | 2025 | HELP FAMILIES WITH CRITICAL NEEDS SUCH AS ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEATING. |
| CHARITY NAVIGATOR | SADDLE BROOK, NJ | $15 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| CIRCLE PINES CENTER | DELTON, MI | $35,000 | 2024 | FOR SUMMER CAMP, ENDOWMENT AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY INC | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | SPONSOR FOR CENTER FOR COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND SOLIDARITY |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,250 | 2024 | MEDICAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION |
| OXFAM AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $1,000 | 2024 | FIGHT POVERTY, HUNGER, AND INJUSTICE |
CIRCLE PINES CENTER
$15,000FOR SUMMER CAMP, ENDOWMENT AND OPERATING FUNDS
CO-OP RHODY
$8,000START UP CONTRIBUTION AND SPRING FUNDRAISER
BUILD A MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND VOTING RIGHTS
SUPPORT THE WORLD'S CHILDREN THROUGH FUNDRAISING, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION
CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY INC
SPONSOR FOR CENTER FOR COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND SOLIDARITY
SPONSOR FOR CENTER FOR COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND SOLIDARITY
RESPOND TO TO THE WORLD'S WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISES, HELPING PEOPLE TO SURVIVE, RECOVER AND RECLAIM CONTROL OF THEIR FUTURE
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA
$750MEDICAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA
$750MEDICAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION
RESPOND TO TO THE WORLD'S WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISES, HELPING PEOPLE TO SURVIVE, RECOVER AND RECLAIM CONTROL OF THEIR FUTURE
NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS
$400REMOVE FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL BARRIERS TO ABORTION ACCESS
NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS
$400REMOVE FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL BARRIERS TO ABORTION ACCESS
UNICEF
$300SUPPORT THE WORLD'S CHILDREN THROUGH FUNDRAISING, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND
$250FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
DELIVERS FOOD AND AID TO VICTIMS OF CONFLICT, EXTREME WEATHER, ECONOMIC INSTABILITY
BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT NYU SCHOOL OF LAW
$150LAW AND POLICY INSTITUTE
BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT NYU SCHOOL OF LAW
$150LAW AND POLICY INSTITUTE
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
$100HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY
AMERICANS FOR PEACE NOW
$100EDUCATE AND PERSUADE THE AMERICIAN PUBLIC AND ITS LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT AND ADOPT POLICIES THAT WILL LEAD TO ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
$100HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY
NEW ISRAEL FUND
$72PROTECT CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
NH PUBLIC RADIO
$60SPOTLIGHTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NH
VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO
$60PUBLIC RADIO
VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO
$60PUBLIC RADIO
NH PUBLIC RADIO
$60SPOTLIGHTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NH
LISTEN COMMUNITY SERVICES
$50HELP FAMILIES WITH CRITICAL NEEDS SUCH AS ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEATING.
LISTEN COMMUNITY SERVICES
$25HELP FAMILIES WITH CRITICAL NEEDS SUCH AS ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEATING.
CIRCLE PINES CENTER
$35,000FOR SUMMER CAMP, ENDOWMENT AND OPERATING FUNDS
SPONSOR FOR CENTER FOR COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND SOLIDARITY