The Suzanne Upjohn Delano Parish Foundation focuses on large, local capital investments in Kalamazoo-area community services, particularly supporting facilities and infrastructure for vulnerable populations. Recent grants funded a new arena for therapeutic equine services and capital/housing campaigns for older adults, indicating a preference for tangible, place-based projects that expand service capacity.
A defining thread in Suzanne Upjohn Delano Parish Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its support for place-based capital projects in Kalamazoo, especially facilities that expand services for older adults, people using therapeutic riding, and community institutions. The foundation’s largest recent award was $750,000 to Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center for The Sue Parish Arena, a capital grant tied to therapeutic equine services. Another major pattern appears in senior-services funding: Milestone Senior Services received $300,000 for the New Hope/New Home capital campaign, and Ecumenical Senior Center received $150,000 for a capital building expansion project. The foundation also backs organizations with long-running community roles through substantial operating or campaign support. Kalamazoo Civic Theatre received $190,000 for its 96th season, including theatrical, educational, and outreach programming, while Heritage Community of Kalamazoo received $110,000 for a memory care learning center and $100,000 for dementia caregiver education and wellness. Across the record, the foundation supports local infrastructure, access-oriented programs, and capital investments that strengthen service capacity in the Kalamazoo area.
In senior services, the foundation supported both housing and care infrastructure: Milestone Senior Services received $300,000 for the New Hope/New Home capital campaign, and Ecumenical Senior Center received $150,000 for a capital building expansion project. Memory care and caregiver support also appear as a distinct theme, with Heritage Community of Kalamazoo receiving $110,000 for a memory care learning center and $100,000 for dementia caregiver education and wellness. Arts access is another clear area of support. Kalamazoo Civic Theatre received $190,000 for its 96th season, including theatrical, educational and outreach programming, and the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo received $100,000 for the Anchoring the Arts campaign. The foundation also funded community health and violence-prevention work through $125,000 to YWCA Kalamazoo for sexual assault violence prevention and $100,000 to Community Healing Centers for general operating support.
Typical grant size sits at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $75,000 at the 75th percentile, but recent awards also show much larger capital and campaign grants. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF vehicle, and its records show repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, including Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, YWCA Kalamazoo, YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, and Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center. Grant types include operating support, capital campaigns, and one-time project grants.
$3.4M
$26.9M
$2.4M
$3.7M
Most grants fall between $15K and $75K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$75K
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Very concentrated giving: few, large grants primarily for capital/campaign needs; tendency to make repeat commitments to grantees (e.g., multiple grants to Milestone Senior Services); funding is highly local and project-specific rather than broad program support.
Notable grantees: CHEFF Therapeutic Riding Center, Milestone Senior Services
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 96% of grants go to recipients in Michigan, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Kalamazoo is the main city in the record, with additional awards in nearby Portage, Augusta, and Gobles. Outside Michigan, only a small number of grants appear elsewhere in the recent list, including San Rafael, California.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on capital projects and capacity-building for local institutions. Examples include a $750,000 arena grant for Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center, a $300,000 capital campaign grant for Milestone Senior Services, and a $150,000 building expansion grant for Ecumenical Senior Center.
Yes. Kalamazoo Civic Theatre received $190,000 for its 96th season, including theatrical, educational and outreach programming, and the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo received $100,000 for the Anchoring the Arts campaign.
Yes. Ninety-six percent of grants go to recipients in Michigan, and Kalamazoo appears repeatedly in the recent grants list. Other Michigan recipient cities include Portage, Augusta, and Gobles.
Yes. The recent grants list shows multiple awards to Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, YWCA Kalamazoo, YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, and Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center across different years.
The grant-size distribution centers at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $75,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants also include larger awards such as $100,000, $150,000, $190,000, $300,000, and $750,000.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MILESTONE SENIOR SERVICES | KALAMAZOO, MI | $300,000 | 2025 | NEW HOPE/NEW HOME CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| KALAMAZOO CIVIC THEATRE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $190,000 | 2025 | KALAMAZOO CIVIC THEATRES 96TH SEASON, INCLUDING THEATRICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING |
| ROOTEAD ENRICHMENT CENTER | GOBLES, MI | $175,000 | 2025 | LIBERATION FOR ALL (GENERAL OPERATIONS) |
| PINE REST CHRISTIAN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL REQUEST FOR CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT |
| YWCA KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $122,581 | 2025 | COMMUNITY IMPACT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. STOCK PAYMENT |
| LOCAL JOURNALISM FOUNDATION OF KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $117,418 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT 2025: KEEP BUILDING MOMENTUM 2024 GRANT |
| HERITAGE COMMUNITY OF KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $110,000 | 2025 | MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER |
| COMMUNITY HEALING CENTERS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY HEALING CENTERS |
| CHEFF THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER | AUGUSTA, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | THEREAPY ARENA - RAISE THE ROOF CAPITAL CAMPAIGN 2024 |
| HISPANIC AMERICAN COUNCIL INC | KALAMAZOO, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | INVIRTIENDO EN UNA LATINX COMUNIDAD PROSPERA (INVESTING IN A LATIX THRIVING COMMUNITY) |
| KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $98,103 | 2025 | RX KIDS KALAMAZOO. STOCK PAYMENT |
| MRC INDUSTRIES INC | KALAMAZOO, MI | $98,103 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. STOCK PAYMENT |
| YMCA OF GREATER KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $98,103 | 2025 | THE Y FOR ALL. STOCK PAYMENT |
| PARKS FOUNDATION OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY | KALAMAZOO, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | ARTHUR E. AND MILDRED H. WOOLLAM NATURE PRESERVE |
| SHERMAN LAKE YMCA OUTDOOR CENTER | AUGUSTA, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | SHERMAN LAKE YMCA INTEGRATED EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF MICHIGAN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $66,000 | 2025 | KALAMAZOO COUNTY GIRL SCOUTING |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $65,000 | 2025 | INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $53,903 | 2025 | ANNUAL KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN. STOCK PAYMENT |
| BRONSON HEALTH FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | BRONSON NEW KALAMAZOO URGENT CARE CENTER |
| FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | TOWARDS CHILDRENS NATURE PLAYSCAPE AT THE DISCRETION OF FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF KALAMAZOO |
| WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | WMUS KALAMAZOO AUTISM CENTER OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| ECUMENICAL SENIOR CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | BUILDING EXPANSION PROJECT PAYMENT 2 OF 3 |
| KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | KZCF BUSINESS MODEL RESET & OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES INC | KALAMAZOO, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THERAPEUTIC RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE |
| KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $49,020 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT UPGRADES. STOCK PAYMENT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ECOFLIGHT | ASPEN, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | OVERFLIGHTS TO PROTECT IMPERILED WILDLANDS, WATERSHEDS, AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE LANDSCAPES |
| PORTAGE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER | PORTAGE, MI | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ECOFLIGHT | ASPEN, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | OVERFLIGHTS TO PROTECT IMPERILED WILDLANDS, WATERSHEDS, AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE LANDSCAPES |
| KALAMAZOO NATURE CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $40,000 | 2025 | SUSTAINING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION AT THE KNC |
| HOSPITAL HOSPITALITY HOUSE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GIRLS BUILD KALAMAZOO INC | KALAMAZOO, MI | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $35,000 | 2025 | MILLER AUDITORIUM OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| FLOW | TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | ENSURING THE WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES BASIN ARE HEALTHY, PUBLIC, AND PROTECTED FOR ALL |
| KALAMAZOO HOUSING ADVOCATES | KALAMAZOO, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YWCA KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | WOMEN & INFANT SUPPORTIVE HEALTH (WISH) HOME VISITATION PROGRAM |
| KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | KALAMAZOO, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | KSO AFTER SCHOOL INITIATIVES: KALAMAZOO KIDS IN TUNE AND ORCHESTRA |
| SOUTH MICHIGAN FOOD BANK | BATTLE CREEK, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | FRESH FOOD AND PANTRY STAPLES DISTRIBUTION |
| THE BARN THEATRE SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED THEATRE TRAINING | AUGUSTA, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | BARN THEATRE SCHOOL 2025 SEASON PROGRAMMING |
| KALAMAZOO COLLEGE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | DOROTHY U. DALTON THEATRE LIGHTING PROJECT |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING |
| CAN-DO KITCHEN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | CAN-DO KALAMAZOO CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| PUBLIC MEDIA NETWORK | KALAMAZOO, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN JOURNALISM COLLABORATIVE |
| KALAMAZOO AVIATION HISTORY MUSEUM | PORTAGE, MI | $24,415 | 2025 | SCIENCE INSPIRATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| KALAMAZOO LOAVES & FISHES | KALAMAZOO, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | KALAMAZOO LOAVES & FISHES HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAMS |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN - GREATER KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | PARISH FOUNDATION GRANT, 2024 SPRING PROGRAM |
| SLD READ | KALAMAZOO, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IN KALAMAZOO COUNTY |
| KALAMAZOO COLLEGE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | THERMAL INFRASTRUCTURE: LIGHT FINE ARTS |
| FARMERS ALLEY THEATRE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | FLOOR REPLACEMENT |
| IRVING S GILMORE INTL KEYBOARD FESTIVAL | KALAMAZOO, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | THE GILMORE SEASON OF PROGRAMS FY2025 |
MILESTONE SENIOR SERVICES
$300,000NEW HOPE/NEW HOME CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
KALAMAZOO CIVIC THEATRE
$190,000KALAMAZOO CIVIC THEATRES 96TH SEASON, INCLUDING THEATRICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING
ROOTEAD ENRICHMENT CENTER
$175,000LIBERATION FOR ALL (GENERAL OPERATIONS)
CAPITAL REQUEST FOR CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT
LOCAL JOURNALISM FOUNDATION OF KALAMAZOO
OPERATING SUPPORT 2025: KEEP BUILDING MOMENTUM 2024 GRANT
HERITAGE COMMUNITY OF KALAMAZOO
$110,000MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY HEALING CENTERS
CHEFF THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
$100,000THEREAPY ARENA - RAISE THE ROOF CAPITAL CAMPAIGN 2024
INVIRTIENDO EN UNA LATINX COMUNIDAD PROSPERA (INVESTING IN A LATIX THRIVING COMMUNITY)
MRC INDUSTRIES INC
$98,103OPERATING SUPPORT FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. STOCK PAYMENT
PARKS FOUNDATION OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY
$75,000ARTHUR E. AND MILDRED H. WOOLLAM NATURE PRESERVE
SHERMAN LAKE YMCA INTEGRATED EDUCATION PROGRAM
UNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN
$53,903ANNUAL KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN. STOCK PAYMENT
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF KALAMAZOO
$50,000TOWARDS CHILDRENS NATURE PLAYSCAPE AT THE DISCRETION OF FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF KALAMAZOO
WMUS KALAMAZOO AUTISM CENTER OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
KZCF BUSINESS MODEL RESET & OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
PROGRAM OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THERAPEUTIC RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT UPGRADES. STOCK PAYMENT
OVERFLIGHTS TO PROTECT IMPERILED WILDLANDS, WATERSHEDS, AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE LANDSCAPES
PORTAGE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER
$40,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OVERFLIGHTS TO PROTECT IMPERILED WILDLANDS, WATERSHEDS, AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE LANDSCAPES
SUSTAINING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION AT THE KNC
HOSPITAL HOSPITALITY HOUSE
$35,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GIRLS BUILD KALAMAZOO INC
$35,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FLOW
$30,000ENSURING THE WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES BASIN ARE HEALTHY, PUBLIC, AND PROTECTED FOR ALL
KALAMAZOO HOUSING ADVOCATES
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WOMEN & INFANT SUPPORTIVE HEALTH (WISH) HOME VISITATION PROGRAM
KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$25,000KSO AFTER SCHOOL INITIATIVES: KALAMAZOO KIDS IN TUNE AND ORCHESTRA
THE BARN THEATRE SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED THEATRE TRAINING
$25,000BARN THEATRE SCHOOL 2025 SEASON PROGRAMMING
CAN-DO KITCHEN
$25,000CAN-DO KALAMAZOO CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
KALAMAZOO AVIATION HISTORY MUSEUM
$24,415SCIENCE INSPIRATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
GIRLS ON THE RUN - GREATER KALAMAZOO
$20,000PARISH FOUNDATION GRANT, 2024 SPRING PROGRAM
SLD READ
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IN KALAMAZOO COUNTY
THE GILMORE SEASON OF PROGRAMS FY2025