The Robert & Jeanine Dagenais Foundation concentrates its modest giving locally in Upper Michigan, supporting youth and community services and higher-education access. Recent grants include operational support for a regional YMCA, funding directed through a community foundation for a children’s program (Kids Cove), and employee/student scholarships at Northern Michigan University, indicating a focus on direct community impact and educational opportunity.
Among the Robert & Jeanine Dagenais Foundation’s recent grants, employee scholarships stand out as a repeated priority, with awards to regional universities and colleges across several years. That pattern sits alongside support for local youth and family services in Upper Michigan, including a children’s program delivered through the Community Foundation of Marquette and a regional YMCA in Escanaba. The foundation’s giving is modest in size but active across a range of community needs, from education access to direct-service organizations. Recent grants show a clear mix of education, youth programming, and community support. The foundation gave $18,000 to Northern Michigan University for employee scholarships in 2025, following $12,000 in 2024 and $6,000 in 2023 for the same purpose. It also granted $20,000 to the Community Foundation of Marquette in 2025 to support Kids Cove, after earlier awards of $10,000 in both 2024 and 2023 for that program. In Escanaba, the Northern Lights YMCA received $21,500 in 2024 for support, reflecting the foundation’s local focus and its use of both direct gifts and community intermediaries.
Education-related support appears in several forms. The foundation gave $12,000 to Michigan Techological University in 2025 and $6,000 to Saginaw Valley State University in 2025, both for employee scholarships. It also awarded $6,000 to the University of Michigan in 2025 and $3,000 to Bellin College in 2025 for employee scholarships, showing that tuition assistance is not limited to one campus. Youth and family services are another visible theme. In 2025, the Community Foundation of Marquette received $20,000 to support Kids Cove, after prior grants of $10,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023 for the same program. The foundation also gave $3,500 to Northern Lights Child Advocacy Cent in 2025 for support. Direct-service organizations appear as well: Pregnancy Services of Delta Co received $5,000 in 2024 and another $5,000 in 2023.
Grant sizes are small to mid-sized: p25 is $1,000, median is $1,500, and p75 is $3,000. The recent grant list shows repeated support to the same recipients over multiple years, especially Northern Michigan University, the Community Foundation of Marquette for Kids Cove, and Superior Health Foundation. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a private family foundation with modest assets of $2,062,129 and annual grants of $325,375. It also funds individuals, including employee and student scholarships.
$119K
$2M
$50K
$139K
Most grants fall between $1K and $3K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$3K
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A small number of mid-sized, one-off grants concentrated in the foundation’s local region; funding is split between direct program support and scholarship commitments, suggesting pragmatic, place-based philanthropy rather than wide geographic diversification or many repeat multi-year awards.
Notable grantees: Northern Lights YMCA, Community Foundation of Marquette (Kids Cove), Northern Michigan University
Giving is heavily concentrated in Michigan, with 89% of grants to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Escanaba, Marquette, and Houghton appear repeatedly among recipient cities, along with smaller amounts in Kingsford, Manistique, and Iron Mountain. Outside Michigan, the foundation’s recent grants also reached Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Marinette, Wisconsin. The overall recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants show three main patterns: employee scholarships for colleges and universities, local children’s and youth services, and direct support for community organizations. Examples include scholarship support at multiple Michigan universities, Kids Cove through the Community Foundation of Marquette, and support for a regional YMCA in Escanaba.
The distribution is small to mid-sized. The 25th percentile grant is $1,000, the median is $1,500, and the 75th percentile is $3,000. Recent awards range above that for a few larger grants, including $21,500 and $20,000 awards.
Yes. The grant list shows multi-year support for several recipients. Northern Michigan University received employee-scholarship grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; the Community Foundation of Marquette received Kids Cove support in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Superior Health Foundation received support in both 2024 and 2025.
Michigan dominates the grant geography: 89% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recipient cities that appear often include Escanaba, Marquette, and Houghton, with additional grants in Kingsford, Manistique, and Iron Mountain.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, and the recent grant list shows this through employee scholarships and tuition assistance at institutions such as Northern Michigan University, Michigan Technological University, the University of Michigan, and Bellin College.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHOOLCRAFT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | MANISTIQUE, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY | MARQUETTE, MI | $12,000 | 2026 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MARQUETTE | MARQUETTE, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT KIDS COVE |
| MICHIGAN TECHOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY | HOUGHTON, MI | $6,000 | 2026 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TRILLIUM HOUSE | MARQUETTE, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| TRILLIUM HOUSE | MARQUETTE, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| LAKE ANTOINE PARK PARTNERS | IRON MOUNTAIN, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| M&M CHILDRENS MUSEUM INC | MENOMINEE, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| PREGNACY SERVICES OF DELTA COUNTY | ESCANABA, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| LAKE ANTOINE PARK PARTNERS | IRON MOUNTAIN, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $3,000 | 2026 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BAY DE NOC COMMUNITY COLLEGE | ESCANABA, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GREAT LAKES SPORTS & RECREATION CLB | ESCANABA, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BREITUNG TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS | KINGSFORD, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| UP FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM | ESCANABA, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| UPPER PENINSULA STATE FAIR | ESCANABA, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| CARE CLINIC | MARQUETTE, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BRAMPTON TOWNSHIP | GLADSTONE, MI | $2,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| WILLIAM BONIFAS FINE ARTS CENTER | ESCANABA, MI | $1,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN LIGHTS YMCA | ESCANABA, MI | $1,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| UP WHITETAILS ASSOCIATION | GLADSTONE, MI | $1,050 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| IXL HISTORICAL MUSEUM | HERMANSVILLE, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| LITTLE BROTHERS-FRIENDS OF ELDERLY | HANCOCK, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| DELTA REGIONAL CHILD ADVOCACY CENTE | ESCANABA, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| SUPERIOR HEALTH FOUNDATION | MARQUETTE, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| RAVEN WOOD GARDENS | MENOMINEE, MI | $575 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| RAVEN WOOD GARDENS | MENOMINEE, MI | $500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| PATHWAYS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH | ESCANABA, MI | $500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| PATHWAYS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH | ESCANABA, MI | $500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| DICKINSON TRAIL NETWORK | IRON MOUNTAIN, MI | $500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| MARINETTE LIONS CLUB | MARINETTE, WI | $300 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| DAR BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | MENOMINEE, MI | $300 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MARQUETTE | MARQUETTE, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT KIDS COVE |
| NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY | MARQUETTE, MI | $18,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MICHIGAN TECHOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY | HOUGHTON, MI | $12,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI | $6,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $6,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UPPER PENINSULA STATE FAIR | ESCANABA, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| SUPERIOR HEALTH FOUNDATION | MARQUETTE, MI | $3,750 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN LIGHTS CHILD ADVOCACY CENT | MARQUETTE, MI | $3,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $3,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIP |
| BELLIN COLLEGE | GREEN BAY, WI | $3,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BAY DE NOC COMMUNITY COLLEGE | ESCANABA, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIP |
| NORTHERN LIGHTS YMCA | ESCANABA, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| SUPERIOR CONNECTION REC COMM ORG | MARQUETTE, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| GREAT LAKES SPORTS & RECREATION CLB | ESCANABA, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| CARE CLINIC | MARQUETTE, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| IXL HISTORICAL MUSEUM | HERMANSVILLE, MI | $2,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL | MARINETTE, WI | $2,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
$12,000EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MARQUETTE
$10,000SUPPORT KIDS COVE
TRILLIUM HOUSE
$5,000SUPPORT
TRILLIUM HOUSE
$5,000SUPPORT
LAKE ANTOINE PARK PARTNERS
$5,000SUPPORT
M&M CHILDRENS MUSEUM INC
$5,000SUPPORT
PREGNACY SERVICES OF DELTA COUNTY
$5,000SUPPORT
LAKE ANTOINE PARK PARTNERS
$5,000SUPPORT
BAY DE NOC COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$3,000EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS
GREAT LAKES SPORTS & RECREATION CLB
$3,000SUPPORT
SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$3,000EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS
BREITUNG TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
$3,000SUPPORT
UP FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM
$3,000SUPPORT
UPPER PENINSULA STATE FAIR
$2,500SUPPORT
CARE CLINIC
$2,500SUPPORT
BRAMPTON TOWNSHIP
$2,000SUPPORT
WILLIAM BONIFAS FINE ARTS CENTER
$1,500SUPPORT
UP WHITETAILS ASSOCIATION
$1,050SUPPORT
IXL HISTORICAL MUSEUM
$1,000SUPPORT
DELTA REGIONAL CHILD ADVOCACY CENTE
$1,000SUPPORT
SUPERIOR HEALTH FOUNDATION
$1,000SUPPORT
RAVEN WOOD GARDENS
$575SUPPORT
RAVEN WOOD GARDENS
$500SUPPORT
PATHWAYS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH
$500SUPPORT
PATHWAYS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH
$500SUPPORT
DICKINSON TRAIL NETWORK
$500SUPPORT
MARINETTE LIONS CLUB
$300SUPPORT
DAR BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
$300SUPPORT
NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
$18,000EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS
MICHIGAN TECHOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
$12,000EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS
SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$6,000EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$6,000EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS
UPPER PENINSULA STATE FAIR
$4,000SUPPORT
SUPERIOR HEALTH FOUNDATION
$3,750SUPPORT
NORTHERN LIGHTS CHILD ADVOCACY CENT
$3,500SUPPORT
BAY DE NOC COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$3,000EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIP
SUPERIOR CONNECTION REC COMM ORG
$2,500SUPPORT
GREAT LAKES SPORTS & RECREATION CLB
$2,500SUPPORT
CARE CLINIC
$2,500SUPPORT
IXL HISTORICAL MUSEUM
$2,000SUPPORT
ST VINCENT DE PAUL
$2,000SUPPORT