About Hurst Foundation
A $250,000 general-operations grant to The Shop Rat Foundation Inc in Jackson is the clearest sign of how The Hurst Foundation gives: sizable, flexible support to local organizations rather than narrowly targeted project funding. Across its recent grants, the foundation backs education, workforce preparation, youth development, arts, and community infrastructure, with many awards concentrated in Jackson and nearby Michigan communities.
The foundation’s grant list includes repeated support for Jackson-based groups such as Jackson County Parks, Lean Rocket Lab, and Junior Achievement of Michigan Edge, along with school-focused giving to Hillsdale College K-12. It also funds community-facing institutions and intermediaries, including Jackson YMCA, Jackson Y Center, Renaissance Charitable Foundation, and Trinity Lutheran School. Several awards are labeled general operations, which points to capacity support as a recurring feature of the foundation’s approach.
Its portfolio also reaches beyond Jackson when the work aligns with its priorities. Examples include grants to West Michigan Aviation Academy in Grand Rapids and American College of Nurse-Midwives in Washington, DC. The overall pattern is place-based but not limited to a single program area, combining civic improvement, education, and self-sufficiency-oriented initiatives.
What Hurst Foundation Funds
Education is one of the foundation’s clearest themes. It gave $100,000 to Hillsdale College K-12 for general operations in 2023, then followed with $50,000 in 2024 and $30,000 in 2025. That repeated support suggests ongoing backing for a school-centered institution rather than one-time project funding.
Workforce and entrepreneurship appear through Jackson-based intermediaries and training organizations. Lean Rocket Lab received $100,000 in 2023, $50,000 in 2024, and $50,000 in 2025, all for general operations. The Shop Rat Foundation Inc also received major support, including $26,100 in 2024.
Community infrastructure is another area of focus. Jackson County Parks received $75,000 in 2025 for falls renovation and $55,000 in 2023 for athletic courts and the Falling Waters bike trail. Arts and community life show up in awards such as $20,000 to Hot Air Jubilee in 2024 and $15,000 to My Place in 2025.
How Hurst Foundation Gives
The Hurst Foundation’s typical grant size is moderate for a place-based regional funder: the 25th percentile is $4,000, the median is $5,575, and the 75th percentile is $11,208. Recent giving also shows repeated support to the same organizations over multiple years, including Lean Rocket Lab, Hillsdale College K-12, Jackson County Parks, and Junior Achievement of Michigan Edge. That pattern points to sustained relationships rather than mostly one-off awards.
The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Many grants are labeled general operations, and the active grant programs describe flexible support for 501(c)(3) organizations with open intake and applications accepted at any time.
