The Burdick-Thorne Foundation is a Kalamazoo-focused funder that prioritizes arts and music education, local higher-education scholarships, and core operating support for community human-service organizations. They consistently support cultural institutions (especially youth music programs), educational access via scholarships and college support, and neighborhood social services including senior care, food security, and youth recreation. Grants include both programmatic and capital campaign support, indicating interest in sustaining organizations as well as enabling growth projects.
The Burdick-thorne Foundation repeatedly backs Kalamazoo’s music and arts ecosystem at meaningful levels, with $50,000 grants to the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for youth concerts in both 2023 and 2024. That pattern sits alongside support for local colleges, youth-serving nonprofits, and community institutions that need capital, operating, or program support. The foundation’s recent giving shows a strong preference for organizations that serve children, students, older adults, and neighborhood audiences in Kalamazoo and nearby communities. Education appears in several forms. Western Michigan University Foundation received support for a music outreach program, a medallion scholarship, and accessibility work at Miller Auditorium. Kalamazoo College was funded for a capital campaign and for scholarships tied to private lessons and ensembles, showing that the foundation supports both facilities and individual student enrichment. On the community side, grants reached Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo Inc, Milestone Senior Services, Family & Children Services Inc, and the American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan. Across those recipients, the foundation combines cultural investment with practical support for organizations that provide services, access, and continuity in the Kalamazoo area.
Arts education is a central theme. The foundation gave $50,000 to Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for youth concerts and $10,500 to Fontana Chamber Arts for education and community engagement programming. It also supported Kalamazoo Cultural Center with $10,000 for the Anchoring the Arts Campaign for the Epic Center. Higher education and student enrichment are another clear area of support. Western Michigan University Foundation received $25,000 for a music outreach program and $16,000 for the Burdick-Thorne Medallion Scholarship, while Kalamazoo College was awarded $10,000 for scholarships for private lessons and ensembles. Community youth and family support also appears in the grant list. Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo Inc received $30,000 for its capital campaign, and Family & Children Services Inc received operating support in both 2023 and 2024.
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $3,000, a median of $4,000, and a p75 of $8,250. The recent list also shows larger project grants, including $50,000, $40,000, and $30,000 awards. The Burdick-thorne Foundation appears to fund the same organizations in multiple years, including Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Western Michigan University Foundation, Kalamazoo College, Milestone Senior Services, Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, Family & Children Services Inc, Fontana Chamber Arts, and American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan. The pattern includes operating support, scholarship support, capital campaigns, and program grants. The foundation funds individuals as well, and its grants are local in scope.
$499K
$9.2M
$771K
$636K
Most grants fall between $3K and $8K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$8K
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Concentrated, local giving with many repeat grants to the same Kalamazoo-area institutions; mid-sized to modest awards that mix ongoing operating support with targeted capital/campaign gifts and program-specific grants.
Notable grantees: Western Michigan University Foundation, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo College, Milestone Senior Services, Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo
The foundation gives overwhelmingly in Michigan: 98% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The recipient list is concentrated in Kalamazoo, with additional grants in Portage and Augusta. Kalamazoo names dominate the recent list, including recipients such as Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo College, and Kalamazoo Cultural Center. Outside Kalamazoo, recent grants also reached YMCA of Kalamazoo in Portage and Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center in Augusta. All recorded grants in the country distribution are in the United States.
Recent grants show a strong mix of arts, education, and community services. Recipients include the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for youth concerts, Western Michigan University Foundation for music outreach and scholarships, and community-serving groups such as Milestone Senior Services, Family & Children Services Inc, and the American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan.
Yes. The recent grants include program support such as music outreach and education programs, operating support for community nonprofits, and capital-campaign funding such as the Brighter Light Capital Campaign, Their Future Is in Your Hands Capital Campaign, and the Anchoring the Arts Campaign for the Epic Center.
The distribution centers on smaller grants: p25 is $3,000, median grant size is $4,000, and p75 is $8,250. The recent grants list also includes larger awards up to $50,000 for specific projects and programs.
Its giving is highly local. 98% of grants go to recipients in Michigan, and the recent grants list is concentrated in Kalamazoo, with additional awards in Portage and Augusta.
Yes. Western Michigan University Foundation received a Burdick-Thorne Medallion Scholarship grant, and Kalamazoo College received support for scholarships for private lessons and ensembles. Those awards show that the foundation backs student enrichment as well as organizational programs.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | KALAMAZOO, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | YOUTH CONCERTS |
| KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | KALAMAZOO, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DEIA PROGRAMS |
| MILESTONE SENIOR SERVICES | KALAMAZOO, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | NEW HOME, NEW HOPE CAMPAIGN |
| WMU FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | MUSIC OUTREACH PROGRAM |
| KALAMAZOO NONPROFIT ADVOCACY COALITION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | INSPIRE ACCESS TO ARTS & INNOVATION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| KALAMAZOO CULTURAL CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | ANCHORING THE ARTS CAMPAIGN FOR THE EPIC CENTER |
| WMU FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $16,000 | 2025 | BURDICK-THORNE MEDALLION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| BRONSON HEALTH FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | URGENT CARE CENTER |
| WMU FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | MILLER AUDITORIUM ADA RESTROOM FOR PERFORMERS |
| ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $11,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES | KALAMAZOO, MI | $11,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FONTANA CHAMBER ARTS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $10,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM |
| KALAMAZOO COLLEGE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | LIGHT FINE ARTS HVAC |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO COLLEGE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PRIVATE LESSONS AND ENSEMBLES |
| KALAMAZOO COLLEGE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $8,500 | 2025 | VISITING ARTIST FUND |
| KALAMAZOO NATURE CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO LOAVES AND FISHES | KALAMAZOO, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE |
| KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | KALAMAZOO, MI | $7,000 | 2025 | BARRY ROSS GUEST VIOLINIST FUND |
| MILESTONE SENIOR SERVICES | KALAMAZOO, MI | $6,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AGENCY FDN | PORTAGE, MI | $6,500 | 2025 | ARTS IN HEAD START |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $6,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YWCA OF KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $6,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF GREATER KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $6,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL CAMPAIGN |
| JULIUS & ESTHER STULBERG COMPETITION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GRYPHON PLACE | PORTAGE, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | BUILDING CONNECTION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| IRVING S GILMORE INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | AWADAGIN PRATT AND SPHINX VIRTUOSI CONCERT |
| SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN LAND CONSERVANCY | GALESBURG, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | TORNADO RELIEF |
| KALAMAZOO REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AGENCY FDN | PORTAGE, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE |
| HERITAGE COMMUNITY OF KALAMAZOO FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER FUND |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WMU FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | ELLSWORTH SMITH INTERNATIONAL TRUMPET COMPETITION |
| HOUSING RESOURCES | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WMU FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | MILLER AUDITORIUM ADA RESTROOM FOR PATRONS |
| CENTRICA CARE NAVIGATORS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO CHORAL ARTS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINISTRY WITH COMMUNITY | KALAMAZOO, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY HOMEWORKS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY HEALING CENTERS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FIRST DAY SHOE FUND | PORTAGE, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT FOR KALAMAZOO AREA |
| SALVATION ARMY | KALAMAZOO, MI | $3,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OPEN DOORS KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $3,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PRETTY LAKE VACATION CAMP | MATTAWAN, MI | $3,500 | 2025 | ADOPT-A-CAMPER |
| SLD READ | KALAMAZOO, MI | $3,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PREVENTION WORKS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMPTON JUNIOR EQUESTRIANS | COMPTON, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO CIVIC THEATRE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$50,000YOUTH CONCERTS
KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$25,000COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DEIA PROGRAMS
MILESTONE SENIOR SERVICES
$25,000NEW HOME, NEW HOPE CAMPAIGN
INSPIRE ACCESS TO ARTS & INNOVATION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
ANCHORING THE ARTS CAMPAIGN FOR THE EPIC CENTER
FONTANA CHAMBER ARTS
$10,500EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$7,000BARRY ROSS GUEST VIOLINIST FUND
JULIUS & ESTHER STULBERG COMPETITION
$5,000OPERATING SUPPORT
AWADAGIN PRATT AND SPHINX VIRTUOSI CONCERT
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
$5,000TORNADO RELIEF
HERITAGE COMMUNITY OF KALAMAZOO FOUNDATION
$5,000MEMORY CARE LEARNING CENTER FUND
KALAMAZOO CHORAL ARTS
$4,000OPERATING SUPPORT
UNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN
$4,000OPERATING SUPPORT FOR KALAMAZOO AREA
SALVATION ARMY
$3,500OPERATING SUPPORT
SLD READ
$3,500OPERATING SUPPORT
COMPTON JUNIOR EQUESTRIANS
$3,000OPERATING SUPPORT
KALAMAZOO CIVIC THEATRE
$3,000OPERATING SUPPORT