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    1. Home
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    3. Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation
    Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation logo

    Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation

    ActivePhilanthropy & Voluntarism
    BIRMINGHAM, MIWebsite2484982503

    About Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation

    The Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation makes a small number of very large grants concentrated in the Detroit metro area, prioritizing major civic and cultural institutions that shape regional identity and public amenities. Their giving supports museum/historical preservation and education, large-scale public space/riverfront development, symphonic performing arts, and elite independent educational institutions. Gifts are transformational in size, aimed at capital projects or endowment-level impact rather than many small program grants.

    Focus Areas

    Regional civic and community foundation support (capacity/endowment gifts to Southeast Michigan community philanthropy)Automotive and industrial heritage museums and educational programming (The Henry Ford)Urban waterfront revitalization and public parks (Detroit Riverfront development)Orchestral and classical music institutions (Detroit Symphony Orchestra)Independent K-12 science and arts education (Cranbrook Educational Community)

    Giving Approach

    Concentrated philanthropy: very large, one-off or strategic capital/endowment-style grants to a handful of major regional institutions rather than many small or grassroots awards.

    About Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation

    The Fred a & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation’s giving is shaped by large, program-support grants to institutions that anchor Southeast Michigan’s civic, cultural, educational, and environmental life. In the recent grants list, the biggest award went to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for $3,000,000, followed by $2,600,000 to The Henry Ford. Those two grants point to a funder that uses major gifts to support regional infrastructure rather than a broad scatter of small awards. Other recent awards show the same pattern. The foundation backed Detroit Riverfront Conservancyinc with $2,000,000 and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with $1,420,000, both tied to major public-facing institutions in Detroit. It also supported Cranbrook Educational Community with $1,362,000 and Motown Historical Museum Inc with $1,000,000, reinforcing an interest in educational and heritage institutions with long-term civic presence. Across the portfolio, the foundation’s grantmaking emphasizes program support for organizations that shape public amenities, cultural identity, and regional capacity. The mix of grantees suggests a family foundation using sizable grants to reinforce established institutions and place-based projects in metro Detroit and the surrounding region.

    What Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation Funds

    Arts and culture is a clear theme. The foundation gave $879,575 to Christ Church Cranbrook for program support, and its active arts programs also emphasize Detroit-area organizational resilience and jazz education and mentorship traditions in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. Civic and community capacity is another recurring thread. It awarded $3,000,000 to Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for program support, aligning with its support for regional community philanthropy and local institutional capacity. Environmental work appears through Great Lakes and watershed-oriented grants. The foundation gave $379,250 to Huron River Watershed Council for program support, while another recent award of $460,000 went to Ecology Center Inc for program support. Those grants fit a focus on water quality, climate resilience, and environmental justice across Southeast Michigan and the Great Lakes basin. Education and heritage also remain important. A recent $1,362,000 grant to Cranbrook Educational Community reflects support for independent education and related institutional programming.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $14.1M

    Total Assets

    $377.4M

    Total Revenue

    $21.3M

    Total Expenses

    $21M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $13K and $128K, with a median of $25K.

    25th Percentile

    $13K

    Median

    $25K

    75th Percentile

    $128K

    Geographic Reach

    Local8 states funded
    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters
    Funding intensity
    Low
    High

    Where Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation Funds

    Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation.

    RankCountryGrantsTotalShare
    1United StatesDomestic509$63.8M
    96.0%
    2Canada

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    © 2026 Kindora. All rights reserved.

    Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceYour privacy choicesEnvironmental footprintSystem Status
    EIN (Tax ID): 20-5966333Latest Form 990: 2025Total assets: $377.4M4 filings on recordFind their full 990 filing →
    See If You're a Fit — FreeFree account · instant fit score · similar funders

    Funding Style

    program-specific fundingproject-based grantsrestricted program support

    Notable grantees: Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The Henry Ford, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Cranbrook Educational Community

    Topics

    unspecified programmatic supportnon-thematic fundingoperational program delivery

    How Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation Gives

    The recent grant list shows a wide spread in award size, with a typical grant range centered at $12,500 at the 25th percentile, a median of $25,000, and $128,000 at the 75th percentile. The top of the distribution is much larger, with multimillion-dollar program-support awards reserved for major regional institutions. This is a family foundation, and the grant record suggests a mix of recurring institutional relationships and long-running priorities. Several recipients appear more than once across the recent grants list, including Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Foundation for Detroit's Future, Huron River Watershed Council, and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorder Association Inc. The foundation funds through program support rather than PRIs, and it does not fund individuals. Many of the active grant programs accept unsolicited requests, especially in arts, democracy, and Great Lakes work; Alzheimer’s research is treated differently and is not open to unsolicited proposals.

    Where Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation Makes Grants

    Giving is heavily concentrated in Michigan, with 89% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent awards cluster in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn, and Wixom, showing a strong metro Detroit orientation. Detroit appears repeatedly through recipients such as Detroit Riverfront Conservancyinc, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Motown Historical Museum Inc, Foundation for Detroit's Future, and Inforum. Outside Michigan, the recent grants list includes Chicago, Illinois, through Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorder Association Inc, and the overall recipient-country mix is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with a small share in Canada.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation

    What kinds of organizations does this foundation support most often?

    The recent grants list points to major civic and cultural institutions, education, environmental work, and Alzheimer’s research. Examples include Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The Henry Ford, Detroit Riverfront Conservancyinc, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Cranbrook Educational Community, and Huron River Watershed Council.

    How large are typical grants?

    Typical awards are relatively modest compared with the biggest gifts: the 25th percentile is $12,500, the median is $25,000, and the 75th percentile is $128,000. The recent grants list also includes multimillion-dollar program-support grants at the top end.

    Does the foundation give in the same places year after year?

    Yes. Michigan accounts for 89% of grants, and the recent grants list repeatedly names Detroit and nearby cities such as Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn, and Wixom. The pattern is strongly local and metro Detroit-centered.

    Can organizations submit unsolicited requests?

    Some active programs accept unsolicited requests, including Democracy, Detroit Arts Support grants, Arts + Culture, and Great Lakes. Alzheimer’s research is handled differently and is not open to unsolicited proposals.

    Are there recurring grantees in the recent record?

    Yes. Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Foundation for Detroit's Future, Huron River Watershed Council, and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorder Association Inc each appear more than once in the recent grants list, which suggests ongoing relationships in several program areas.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

    21
    $1.3M
    4.0%

    Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.

    Open Grant Opportunities

    Current and upcoming funding from Fred A & Barbara M Erb Family Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.

    Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: $10K+

    General Grantmaking Program

    Great Lakes ecosystem healthEnvironmental justiceClimate resilience+4 more

    Who can apply: Applicants must be recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code and not be private foundations; have total revenue of at least $100,000 in the previous year; meet applicable financial reporting requirements; not discriminate based on age, race, creed, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity; and request at least $10,000.

    Deadline: Board reviews occur in January, May, and September; requests generally require four to six months from initial conversation to board consideration.

    View & apply

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    Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    THE HENRY FORDDEARBORN, MI$2,600,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATIONANN ARBOR, MI$1,300,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIAWIXOM, MI$1,125,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC SPACESDETROIT, MI$1,000,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANANN ARBOR, MI$893,2302026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INCCHICAGO, IL$655,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    FOUNDATION FOR DETROIT'S FUTUREDETROIT, MI$500,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    HURON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCILANN ARBOR, MI$455,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    ECOLOGY CENTER INCANN ARBOR, MI$385,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONSGRAND HAVEN, MI$379,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    FRIENDS OF THE ROUGEPLYMOUTH, MI$335,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    INFORUMDETROIT, MI$311,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    CLINTON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCILROCHESTER HILLS, MI$300,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCILLANSING, MI$265,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITYDETROIT, MI$262,5002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY INCDETROIT, MI$250,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    PROMOTE THE VOTE FUNDLANSING, MI$250,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    MICHIGAN VOICESDETROIT, MI$250,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    METROPOLITAN AFFAIRS COALITIONDETROIT, MI$250,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITYDETROIT, MI$248,6102026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATIONWASHINGTON, DC$200,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COALITIONDETROIT, MI$200,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    THE CRANBROOK PROJECTBLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI$200,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    FRIENDS OF THE DETROIT RIVERTAYLOR, MI$190,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION CONSERVATION DISTRICTS (MACD)EAST LANSING, MI$183,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYSOUTHFIELD, MI$172,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    COUNCIL OF THE GREAT LAKES REGIONTORONTO, ON$171,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRADETROIT, MI$170,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    LOCAL FIRST EDUCATION FOUNDATION DBA PEOPLE FIRST ECONOMYGRAND RAPIDS, MI$150,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUPWASHINGTON, DC$150,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    FRESHWATER FUTUREPETOSKEY, MI$150,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    DETROIT CHAMBER WINDS & STRINGSSOUTHFIELD, MI$146,7502026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    ALLIANCE OF ROUGE COMMUNITIESCANTON, MI$133,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    ROYAL OAK CIVIC FOUNDATIONROYAL OAK, MI$125,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    MOTHERING JUSTICEDETROIT, MI$125,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    CHRIST CHURCH CRANBROOKBLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI$120,4252026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    DETROIT SOUND CONSERVANCYDETROIT, MI$112,5002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETYROYAL OAK, MI$100,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    STRATFORD SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL OF AMERICASTRATFORD, ON$100,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    DETROIT CULTURAL CENTER ASSOCIATIONDETROIT, MI$100,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTSDETROIT, MI$100,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    CRANBROOK EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITYBLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI$100,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    CENTER FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION INCFULTON, MD$96,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL FOUNDATIONHARPER WOODS, MI$95,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    MUSIC HALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTSDETROIT, MI$95,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    ARTS LEAGUE OF MICHIGAN INC (CARR CENTER)DETROIT, MI$88,7502026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTERDETROIT, MI$85,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    CULTURE SOURCEDETROIT, MI$84,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    NORTHEAST-MIDWEST INSTITUTEWASHINGTON, DC$80,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT
    BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCYDETROIT, MI$75,0002026PROGRAM SUPPORT

    THE HENRY FORD

    $2,600,000
    DEARBORN, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION

    $1,300,000
    ANN ARBOR, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA

    $1,125,000
    WIXOM, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC SPACES

    $1,000,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

    $893,230
    ANN ARBOR, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC

    $655,000
    CHICAGO, IL2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    FOUNDATION FOR DETROIT'S FUTURE

    $500,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    HURON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL

    $455,000
    ANN ARBOR, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    ECOLOGY CENTER INC

    $385,000
    ANN ARBOR, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONS

    $379,000
    GRAND HAVEN, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    FRIENDS OF THE ROUGE

    $335,000
    PLYMOUTH, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    INFORUM

    $311,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    CLINTON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL

    $300,000
    ROCHESTER HILLS, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

    $265,000
    LANSING, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

    $262,500
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY INC

    $250,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    PROMOTE THE VOTE FUND

    $250,000
    LANSING, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    MICHIGAN VOICES

    $250,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    METROPOLITAN AFFAIRS COALITION

    $250,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

    $248,610
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION

    $200,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COALITION

    $200,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    THE CRANBROOK PROJECT

    $200,000
    BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    FRIENDS OF THE DETROIT RIVER

    $190,000
    TAYLOR, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION CONSERVATION DISTRICTS (MACD)

    $183,000
    EAST LANSING, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

    $172,000
    SOUTHFIELD, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    COUNCIL OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION

    $171,000
    TORONTO, ON2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

    $170,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    LOCAL FIRST EDUCATION FOUNDATION DBA PEOPLE FIRST ECONOMY

    $150,000
    GRAND RAPIDS, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP

    $150,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    FRESHWATER FUTURE

    $150,000
    PETOSKEY, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    DETROIT CHAMBER WINDS & STRINGS

    $146,750
    SOUTHFIELD, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    ALLIANCE OF ROUGE COMMUNITIES

    $133,000
    CANTON, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    ROYAL OAK CIVIC FOUNDATION

    $125,000
    ROYAL OAK, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    MOTHERING JUSTICE

    $125,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    CHRIST CHURCH CRANBROOK

    $120,425
    BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    DETROIT SOUND CONSERVANCY

    $112,500
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

    $100,000
    ROYAL OAK, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    STRATFORD SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL OF AMERICA

    $100,000
    STRATFORD, ON2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    DETROIT CULTURAL CENTER ASSOCIATION

    $100,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS

    $100,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    CRANBROOK EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY

    $100,000
    BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    CENTER FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION INC

    $96,000
    FULTON, MD2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL FOUNDATION

    $95,000
    HARPER WOODS, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    MUSIC HALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

    $95,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    ARTS LEAGUE OF MICHIGAN INC (CARR CENTER)

    $88,750
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER

    $85,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    CULTURE SOURCE

    $84,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    NORTHEAST-MIDWEST INSTITUTE

    $80,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY

    $75,000
    DETROIT, MI2026

    PROGRAM SUPPORT