The Marshall Mathers Foundation concentrates its giving on health-related charitable support for disadvantaged children and selective higher-education philanthropy. Most dollars flow to a single medical system (Henry Ford Health System) for aid to impoverished children, with a smaller, unrestricted gift to a major public university. The pattern suggests a preference for impactful, institution-level grants rather than many small community grants.
The Marshall Mathers Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by repeated support for Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, where the foundation gave $95,000 in 2025 after prior grants of $37,500 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2023, all to provide aid to impoverished children. That sustained pattern points to a funder that favors recurring institutional support over broad, dispersed community giving. Another clear thread is its use of unrestricted grants, including $25,000 to Michigan State University in 2024 and $25,000 to Target Foundation in 2025, both described as unrestricted support to further exempt purposes. The foundation also makes smaller gifts to organizations serving visually impaired people, homeless individuals, vulnerable youth, and students, suggesting a broad but selective portfolio built around direct service and institutional support. Within that mix, some grants are repeated across multiple years, while others appear as one-time awards. The overall picture is of a national grantmaker that uses a limited set of relatively consistent grant sizes to support larger institutions and targeted service providers, with a notable concentration of giving around children, education, and human services.
Child-focused health support is a core theme. The foundation gave $95,000 to Henry Ford Health System in 2025 and also awarded $15,000 in 2025 and $10,000 in 2024 to Elton John Aids Foundation, both described as aid to impoverished children. Youth services appear in grants to Vista Maria, including $8,000 in 2025 and $5,000 in 2024 for care, support, treatment, and education for vulnerable youth. Education and student enrichment show up through $10,000 to Save the Music Foundation in 2025 for helping students, schools, and communities reach their potential through music, and $7,500 to Sphinx Organization in 2025 for transforming lives through diversity in art. Housing and homelessness also appear in a $5,000 grant to Common Ground in 2025 for affordable housing and multiple gifts to Why Not Care More for essential resources for homeless people.
Typical grants are modest and tightly clustered: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are $2,500, $2,500, and $5,000. That distribution suggests many small awards with occasional larger institutional gifts. The recent record also shows repeat recipients across years, including Henry Ford Health System, Lighthouse, Why Not Care More, Wolverine Human Services, Vista Maria, and Elton John Aids Foundation, indicating recurring support rather than a purely one-time strategy. The foundation gives directly to operating and unrestricted purposes in several cases, including unrestricted support and general operations. It funds individuals as well, according to the foundation profile. No application process is stated in the available data.
$308K
$49K
$545K
$308K
Most grants fall between $3K and $5K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MI.
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Highly concentrated: a small number of fairly large grants, with repeat funding to one primary grantee (Henry Ford Health System). Limited diversification across sectors or geographies; emphasis on institutional rather than program-level grants.
Notable grantees: Henry Ford Health System, Michigan State University, Michigan-based medical and human services institutions (representative)
Grantmaking is national, with all recorded recipient-country activity in the United States. The most frequent recipient state is Illinois, driven in part by gifts to Chicago-based Common Ground and New York City organizations that also appear in the recent grants list, while Detroit remains a recurring city among named recipients such as Henry Ford Health System, Sphinx Organization, and The Yunion. Other Michigan locations include East Lansing, Dearborn Heights, Fraser, and Grossee Pointe Park. Outside Michigan, the list includes Minneapolis, Alexandria, Mobile, and Pennsauken, showing a multi-state pattern rather than a single local footprint.
The foundation supports health-related aid for impoverished children, higher education, visual impairment services, homelessness services, youth support, music education, and housing-related work. Recent grants include funding for Henry Ford Health System, Michigan State University, Lighthouse, Why Not Care More, Save the Music Foundation, and Common Ground.
The grant-size distribution is concentrated at small amounts: the 25th percentile is $2,500, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. Recent grants also include larger institutional awards such as $95,000 to Henry Ford Health System and $25,000 unrestricted gifts.
Yes. Henry Ford Health System appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Lighthouse appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Why Not Care More appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Wolverine Human Services appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Vista Maria appears in 2024 and 2025.
Its giving is national, and the recipient-country distribution in the data is entirely U.S.-based. The top state by grant count is Illinois. Recent named recipients also show activity in Michigan, New York, Minnesota, Virginia, New Jersey, Alabama, and California is not represented in the grants list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM | DETROIT, MI | $95,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN. |
| TARGET FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| LIGHTHOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, EXPANDING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND BUILDING TOWARD A WORLD IN WHICH NO PERSON IS LIMITED BY THEIR VISION/VISUAL CAPACITY. |
| ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN. |
| WHY NOT CARE MORE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | PROVIDING HOMELESS WITH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES |
| SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION MISSION IS TO HELP STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES REACH THEIR POTENTIAL THROUGH THE POWER OF MAKING MUSIC. |
| WOLVERINE HUMAN SERVICES | GROSSEE POINTE PARK, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN. |
| VISTA MARIA | DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MI | $8,000 | 2025 | TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE CARE, SUPPORT, TREATMENT AND EDUCATION TO VULNERABLE YOUTH |
| SPHINX ORGANIZATION | DETROIT, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | HELPING TO TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH DIVERSITY IN ART |
| GIFFORDS | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SAVE LIVES FROM GUN VIOLENCE. |
| ILITCH CHARITIES FOR CHILDREN | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN. |
| GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN. |
| COMMON GROUND | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING |
| FORGOTTEN HARVEST | OAK PARK, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | TO RELIEVE HUNGER IN METRO DETROIT |
| FAMILIES AGAINST NARCOTICS | FRASER, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF NARCOTICS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| DOWNTOWN BOXING GYM | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | HELPING KIDS WITH FREE ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC SKILLS |
| CARE OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN | FRASER, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| REMEMBER THE CHILD | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST CLAIR BUTTERFLY FOUNDATION | AUBURN HILLS, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | EMPOWERS STUDENTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THROUGH MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS BASED IN THE CREATIVE ARTS, TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL TO SOAR. |
| MISIDE COMMUNITY IMPACT CENTER AKA SOUTHWEST COUNSELING SOLUTIONS | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE YUNION | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | TO COUNTER NEGATIVE CULTURE INFLUENCES THROUGH COUNCILING AND MENTORING |
| LIVING ARTS | MIAMI, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | HELPING PEOPLE FIND JOY AND EXPRESS WHO THEY TRULY ARE |
| FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE FERNDALE | FERNDALE, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN. |
| NOTES FOR NOTES | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,500 | 2025 | PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR MUSIC APPRECIATION |
| HEALTH UNIT ON DAVISON AVENUE | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE IN NEED THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES. |
| DETROIT PUBLIC TV | WIXOM, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MATRIX HUMAN SERVICES | DETRIOT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | PROVIDE INFORMATION, RISK REDUCTION TRAINING, COUNSELING AND TESTING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR HIV FOR AT-RISK POPULATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN. |
| INSIDE OUT LITERARY ARTS PROJECT | DETRIOT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | INSPIRE YOUTH TO THINK BROADLY, CREATE BRAVELY AND SHARE THEIR VOICES WITH THE WIDER WORLD. |
| WIGS 4 KIDS | ST CLAIR SHORES, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN. |
| LIFE LEADERS INC | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | EMPOWERING YOUTH TO EMPOWER THEIR FUTURE |
| DETROIT CHILDRENS FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH SOLUTIONS AND DISCOVERIES TAHT IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| THE YOUTH CONNECTION | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN. |
| MOSIAC YOUTH THEATER | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | DEVLOPS AND INSPIRES THE BEHAVIORS AND CRITICAL LIFE AND LEARNING SKILLS YOUTH NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL |
| MITTENS FOR DETROIT INC | BERKLEY, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| SHAR HOUSE | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN. |
| HIGHLAND PARK YOUTH ADVOCACY ALLIANCE INC | HIGHLAND PARK, MI | $2,000 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BUILDING BEDS FOR KIDS | OAK PARK, MI | $2,000 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL - DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $2,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS. |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE BEAR HUG FOUNDATION INC | BIRMINGHAM, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| 826 MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | 826MICHIGAN IS HELPING STUDENTS IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN WRITE BETTER FUTURES, ONE STORY AT A TIME. |
| STUDENT ADVOCACY CENTER OF MICHIGAN | YPSILANTI, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | THE STUDENT ADVOCACY CENTER OF MICHIGAN WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH UNDER SERVED STUDENTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES TO STAY IN SCHOOL, REALIZE THEIR RIGHTS TO A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION, GROW AND EXPERIENCE SUCCESS. |
| THE EMPOWERMENT PLAN | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| DETROIT WRITER'S GUILD | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | TO CREATE AND ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE, PREPARE A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY TO THRIVE, AND POSITIVELY IMPACT LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES. |
| LIFE TIES | CAMDEN, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | HELPING FAMILIES GROW BY PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO FAMILY THROUGH THERAPY AND COUNSELING |
| THE DETROIT CREATIVITY PROJECT | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PASSENGER INC | HAMTRACK, MI | $500 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HOSPITALITY HOUSE | COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, MI | $500 | 2025 | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| VIOLENCE POLICY CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH ACTIVITY ON FIREARMS VIOLENCE. |
TARGET FOUNDATION
$25,000AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
LIGHTHOUSE
$20,000TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, EXPANDING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND BUILDING TOWARD A WORLD IN WHICH NO PERSON IS LIMITED BY THEIR VISION/VISUAL CAPACITY.
WHY NOT CARE MORE
$10,000PROVIDING HOMELESS WITH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES
SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION MISSION IS TO HELP STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES REACH THEIR POTENTIAL THROUGH THE POWER OF MAKING MUSIC.
WOLVERINE HUMAN SERVICES
$10,000TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN.
VISTA MARIA
$8,000TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE CARE, SUPPORT, TREATMENT AND EDUCATION TO VULNERABLE YOUTH
ILITCH CHARITIES FOR CHILDREN
$5,000TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN.
COMMON GROUND
$5,000STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FAMILIES AGAINST NARCOTICS
$5,000TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF NARCOTICS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
DOWNTOWN BOXING GYM
$5,000HELPING KIDS WITH FREE ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC SKILLS
CARE OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
$5,000AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
REMEMBER THE CHILD
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST CLAIR BUTTERFLY FOUNDATION
$3,000EMPOWERS STUDENTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THROUGH MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS BASED IN THE CREATIVE ARTS, TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL TO SOAR.
MISIDE COMMUNITY IMPACT CENTER AKA SOUTHWEST COUNSELING SOLUTIONS
$2,500AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
TO COUNTER NEGATIVE CULTURE INFLUENCES THROUGH COUNCILING AND MENTORING
LIVING ARTS
$2,500HELPING PEOPLE FIND JOY AND EXPRESS WHO THEY TRULY ARE
FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE FERNDALE
$2,500TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN.
HEALTH UNIT ON DAVISON AVENUE
$2,500TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE IN NEED THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES.
DETROIT PUBLIC TV
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
PROVIDE INFORMATION, RISK REDUCTION TRAINING, COUNSELING AND TESTING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR HIV FOR AT-RISK POPULATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN.
INSPIRE YOUTH TO THINK BROADLY, CREATE BRAVELY AND SHARE THEIR VOICES WITH THE WIDER WORLD.
WIGS 4 KIDS
$2,500TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN.
LIFE LEADERS INC
$2,500EMPOWERING YOUTH TO EMPOWER THEIR FUTURE
DETROIT CHILDRENS FOUNDATION
$2,500PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH SOLUTIONS AND DISCOVERIES TAHT IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
THE YOUTH CONNECTION
$2,500TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN.
MOSIAC YOUTH THEATER
$2,500DEVLOPS AND INSPIRES THE BEHAVIORS AND CRITICAL LIFE AND LEARNING SKILLS YOUTH NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL
MITTENS FOR DETROIT INC
$2,500AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
SHAR HOUSE
$2,500TO PROVIDE AID TO IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN.
HIGHLAND PARK YOUTH ADVOCACY ALLIANCE INC
$2,000AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
BUILDING BEDS FOR KIDS
$2,000AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS.
AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE BEAR HUG FOUNDATION INC
$1,000AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
826MICHIGAN IS HELPING STUDENTS IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN WRITE BETTER FUTURES, ONE STORY AT A TIME.
STUDENT ADVOCACY CENTER OF MICHIGAN
$1,000THE STUDENT ADVOCACY CENTER OF MICHIGAN WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH UNDER SERVED STUDENTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES TO STAY IN SCHOOL, REALIZE THEIR RIGHTS TO A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION, GROW AND EXPERIENCE SUCCESS.
AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
DETROIT WRITER'S GUILD
$1,000TO CREATE AND ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE, PREPARE A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY TO THRIVE, AND POSITIVELY IMPACT LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES.
LIFE TIES
$1,000HELPING FAMILIES GROW BY PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO FAMILY THROUGH THERAPY AND COUNSELING
THE DETROIT CREATIVITY PROJECT
$1,000AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
PASSENGER INC
$500AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE