The Penske Foundation concentrates on a small number of large institutional gifts, primarily supporting major medical centers, veterans’ health, prominent cultural institutions in Detroit, and motorsports-related philanthropic initiatives tied to the Penske family business. They fund well-established national organizations (Mayo Clinic, Paralyzed Veterans of America) alongside local civic beneficiaries (Detroit Institute of Arts), often with multi-grant or repeat support to flagship institutions.
Penske Foundation Inc. gives large institutional grants, with several seven-figure awards in the recent record. A $1,000,000 grant to Paralyzed Veterans of America and another $1,000,000 grant to Henry Ford Health show the foundation’s scale, while $500,000 gifts to Mayo Clinic and the Detroit Institute of Arts point to a mix of health, veterans’ services, and civic culture. The foundation also supports motorsports-linked philanthropy, including a $250,000 grant to Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation Inc. The giving pattern is concentrated rather than broad. Medical institutions, veterans’ organizations, and Detroit-area cultural beneficiaries appear repeatedly, alongside selected grants to organizations tied to the Penske family’s business and community interests. The foundation’s recent record also includes support for public-serving nonprofits such as United Way of Southern Michigan and Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc., indicating that its portfolio extends beyond its largest anchors. Across the recent grants list, Penske Foundation Inc. funds established organizations with national reach as well as institutions rooted in Michigan and other specific communities. The result is a portfolio built around a small number of substantial gifts rather than many small awards.
In health care, Penske Foundation Inc. gave $1,000,000 to Henry Ford Health for general support and $500,000 to Mayo Clinic for general support. Those awards sit alongside a long-standing emphasis on major medical institutions and research-oriented providers. Veterans’ health is another clear thread. The foundation awarded $1,000,000 to Paralyzed Veterans of America for general support, a grant that aligns with its support for organizations serving veterans with spinal cord injuries and related rehabilitation needs. Detroit civic and cultural work also appears in the record. Penske Foundation Inc. gave $500,000 to Detroit Institute of Arts for general support and $10,000 to Detroit Symphony Orchestra for general support, showing a recurring connection to major arts institutions in the city. Motorsports-related philanthropy is present as well, including $250,000 to Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation Inc. for general support.
Typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $250,000 at the 75th percentile, which reflects a split between smaller awards and a smaller set of much larger institutional grants. The recent record includes repeated support to several recipients across multiple years, including Mayo Clinic, Detroit Institute of Arts, Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc., El Education, Tech Force Foundation, Ryan Blaney Family Foundation, Joey Logano Foundation Inc., and Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Penske Foundation Inc. is a regular funder, not a DAF or program-related-investment vehicle, and the grantmaking shown here is entirely to organizations rather than individuals.
$10.8M
$219.3M
$15.1M
$11M
Most grants fall between $10K and $250K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$250K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of institutional grantees; a mix of repeat funding for flagship recipients and one-off large gifts; national scope for health/veterans work combined with locally focused cultural and motorsports philanthropy.
Notable grantees: Henry Ford Health, Mayo Clinic, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Detroit Institute of Arts, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based in the recent list, with 26 grants to U.S. organizations. Michigan receives 31% of grants, and Detroit appears multiple times through Henry Ford Health, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and United Way of Southern Michigan. Other recurring places include Virginia, with grants to Washington, DC, Alexandria, and Virginia Beach, plus North Carolina through Concord and Huntersville. Minnesota, Indiana, New York, Massachusetts, Arizona, Missouri, and Illinois also appear.
The recent grants point to major medical centers, veterans’ health organizations, Detroit cultural institutions, and motorsports-related philanthropy. Examples include Henry Ford Health, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Detroit Institute of Arts, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation Inc.
Its typical grant size ranges from $10,000 at the 25th percentile to $25,000 at the median and $250,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes several $500,000 and $1,000,000 awards.
Yes. The recent list shows repeat support to Mayo Clinic, Detroit Institute of Arts, Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc., El Education, Tech Force Foundation, Ryan Blaney Family Foundation, Joey Logano Foundation Inc., and Detroit Symphony Orchestra across 2023 and 2024.
Michigan is the top state by grant count, with 31% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Detroit alone appears several times in the recent record through health, arts, and community organizations.
Yes. Every grant in the recent list went to a U.S. recipient, for a total of 26 U.S. grants.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HENRY FORD HEALTH | DETROIT, MI | $2,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| OAKLAND COUNTY | PONTIAC, MI | $2,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CULVER EDUCATION FOUNDATION | CULVER, IN | $1,015,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| STEADFAST LA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE HENRY FORD FOUNDATION | DEARBORN, MI | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CANCER VACCINE COALITION | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTHERN MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NXG YOUTH MOTORSPORTS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, TX | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FRIEDKIN DISASTER RELIEF FUND | HOUSTON, TX | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MICHIGAN SCIENCE CENTER | DETROIT, MI | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS INC | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $125,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| JOEY LOGANO FOUNDATION INC | HUNTERSVILLE, NC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| RYAN BLANEY FAMILY FOUNDATION | CONCORD, NC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SHATTUCK- ST MARY'S SCHOOL | FARIBUALT, MN | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| EASY DAY FOUNDATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CONQUER PARALYSIS NOW | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $83,333 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BRUNSICK SCHOOL | GREENWICH, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NANTUCKET CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | NANTUCKET, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HELEN'S PINK SKY FOUNDATION | MINNETRISTA, MN | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FAMILY FIRST | TAMPA, FL | $45,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| TECH FORCE FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SAY DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOUNDATION INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $2,250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| TUNNELS TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HENRY FORD HEALTH | DETROIT, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| RYAN BLANEY FAMILY FOUNDATION | CONCORD, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| EL EDUCATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS INC | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JOEY LOGANO FOUNDATION INC | HUNTERSVILLE, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY | ORANGE, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NANTUCKET DREAMLAND FOUNDATION | NANTUCKET, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERALGENERAL |
| TECH FORCE FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NANTUCKET CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | NANTUCKET, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HENRY FORD HEALTH | DETROIT, MI | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS | DETROIT, MI | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
HENRY FORD HEALTH
$2,000,000GENERAL
OAKLAND COUNTY
$2,000,000GENERAL
STEADFAST LA FOUNDATION
$1,000,000GENERAL
MAYO CLINIC
$1,000,000GENERAL
THE HENRY FORD FOUNDATION
$1,000,000GENERAL
CANCER VACCINE COALITION
$250,000GENERAL
UNITED WAY OF SOUTHERN MICHIGAN
$250,000GENERAL
NXG YOUTH MOTORSPORTS
$250,000GENERAL
THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
$250,000GENERAL
GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FRIEDKIN DISASTER RELIEF FUND
$250,000GENERAL
HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS INC
$150,000GENERAL
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$125,000GENERAL
JOEY LOGANO FOUNDATION INC
$100,000GENERAL
RYAN BLANEY FAMILY FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL
EASY DAY FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL
CONQUER PARALYSIS NOW
$83,333GENERAL
BRUNSICK SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL
HELEN'S PINK SKY FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
TECH FORCE FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$10,000GENERAL
SAY DETROIT
$5,000GENERAL
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOUNDATION INC
$2,250,000GENERAL
MAYO CLINIC
$2,000,000GENERAL
HENRY FORD HEALTH
$1,000,000GENERAL
CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$1,000,000GENERAL
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
$500,000GENERAL
RYAN BLANEY FAMILY FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL
HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS INC
$100,000GENERAL
JOEY LOGANO FOUNDATION INC
$100,000GENERAL
NANTUCKET DREAMLAND FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERALGENERAL
TECH FORCE FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$10,000GENERAL
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
$500,000GENERAL
MAYO CLINIC
$500,000GENERAL