The William & Martha Ford Fund concentrates philanthropic support in the Detroit metro area with a strong emphasis on health care institutions and local cultural and community organizations. The foundation makes large, multi-thousand-dollar gifts—often repeated—to major local institutions (notably the Henry Ford system), while also funding children’s services and a local church. Grants are primarily directed to program and annual support rather than very small, one-off awards.
A $2.15 million grant to Henry Ford Health System in 2025 stands out in the William & Martha Ford Fund’s recent giving and captures the scale of its support for Detroit-area institutions. The fund consistently backs health care, children’s services, and civic organizations tied to Metro Detroit, with repeated awards to major local recipients over multiple years. Its 2025 support for The Children’s Foundation, along with continued funding for Christ Church Grosse Pointe and The Henry Ford, shows a pattern of sustaining established institutions rather than making isolated gifts. The fund also reaches into cultural and community life through grants to the Detroit Institute of Arts, Fair Lane, Racquet Up Detroit, and the Detroit Zoological Society. These awards point to a portfolio that combines medical care, child welfare, heritage, education-related support, and neighborhood-based programs. Grant sizes range from small five-figure awards to seven-figure support, but the recurring theme is concentrated backing for organizations serving Detroit and nearby communities. The fund’s giving is largely program-oriented, with several awards labeled for annual fund or program services.
Health care is a central theme in the William & Martha Ford Fund’s recent grants. In 2025, it gave $2.15 million to Henry Ford Health System for program services, and it also awarded $150,000 to Henry Ford Health System in 2024 and $150,000 to Henry Ford Health System Foundation in 2023. Children’s services are another clear focus. The fund granted $500,000 to The Children’s Foundation in 2025 for program services, reinforcing its support for organizations serving children and families in Detroit. Cultural and educational institutions also appear repeatedly. The Henry Ford received $100,000 in 2025 for program services, while the Detroit Institute of Arts received multiple gifts, including $50,000 in 2025 and $25,000 awards in 2024 and 2023. In education, Our Lady of the Elms School received $50,000 in 2025 for program services and $25,000 in 2023 for the Elms Fund for Excellence.
The fund’s typical award size is modest relative to its largest gifts: p25 is $1,000, median is $1,000, and p75 is $5,000. At the same time, the recent grant list includes repeated five- and six-figure awards, showing a split between small grants and much larger institutional support. Recipients recur across years, especially Henry Ford Health System, Christ Church Grosse Pointe, The Henry Ford, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Our Lady of the Elms School, Princeton University, and Fair Lane. The pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments. The recent grants are mostly for program services, annual fund support, or annual appeals.
$3.2M
$672K
$3.6M
$3.2M
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving focused on a small set of repeat, local institutional grantees; funding is a mix of program-specific and annual operating support rather than many small or geographically diverse grants.
Notable grantees: Henry Ford Health System, The Henry Ford, The Children's Foundation, Christ Church Grosse Pointe, Henry Ford Health System Foundation
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Michigan, which accounts for 71% of grants and is the fund’s top giving state. Detroit appears frequently, with recipients including Henry Ford Health System, The Children’s Foundation, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and Racquet Up Detroit. Other Michigan recipients include Grosse Pointe Farms, Dearborn, Southfield, and Royal Oak. Outside Michigan, the recent list includes Princeton, New Jersey; Akron, Ohio; and Jupiter, Florida, but the overall footprint remains regional and heavily centered on Metro Detroit. All recorded grants in the provided country distribution went to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants support health care systems, children’s services, cultural institutions, religious/community organizations, and education-related programs. Examples in the data include Henry Ford Health System, The Children’s Foundation, The Henry Ford, Christ Church Grosse Pointe, and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
The reported grant-size distribution is p25 $1,000, median $1,000, and p75 $5,000. Recent awards also include much larger institutional grants, such as $2.15 million and $500,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Henry Ford Health System, Christ Church Grosse Pointe, The Henry Ford, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Our Lady of the Elms School, Princeton University, and Fair Lane.
Michigan is the top giving state, with 71% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent Michigan recipients are concentrated in Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms, Dearborn, Southfield, and Royal Oak.
Yes. Recent grants in the list went to recipients in Akron, Ohio; Princeton, New Jersey; and Jupiter, Florida, alongside a larger concentration in Michigan.
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 | $2,150,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $500,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| CHRIST CHURCH GROSSE POINTE | GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI | $101,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE HENRY FORD | DEARBORN, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| OUR LADY OF THE ELMS SCHOOL | AKRON, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| FAIR LANE | DEARBORN, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC | JUPITER, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| RACQUET UP DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| HOBE SOUND COMMUNITY CHEST | HOBE SOUND, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| CATCH | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | ROYAL OAK, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| FREEDOM INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| MACKINAC CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY | MIDLAND, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| CHRIST MEMORIAL CHAPEL | HOBE SOUND, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| SOUTHAMPTON HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC | SOUTHAMPTON, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| FOCUSHOPE | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE GREENING OF DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| JUPITER ISLAND MEDICAL CLINIC INC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE EAST HAMPTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| EISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDATION | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| FESTIVAL OF TREES | LIVONIA, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE WAR MEMORIAL | GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI | $1,500 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| MARINERS INN | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| MI UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| NEIGHBORHOOD CLUB | GROSSE POINTE, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| DETROIT PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| FORGOTTEN HARVEST | OAK PARK, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| VILLAGE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF EAST HAMPTON | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS MICHIGAN | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| PEWABIC POTTERY | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| HOLLYFEST THE FAMILY CENTER | GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| GROSSE POINTE LIBRARY FOUNDATION | GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| RACING FOR KIDS | GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| SHRINERS CHILDREN'S | TAMPA, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| GOODWILL OF GREATER DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| GROSSE POINTE FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION | GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SERVICES |
THE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$500,000PROGRAM SERVICES
CHRIST CHURCH GROSSE POINTE
$101,000PROGRAM SERVICES
THE HENRY FORD
$100,000PROGRAM SERVICES
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
$50,000PROGRAM SERVICES
OUR LADY OF THE ELMS SCHOOL
$50,000PROGRAM SERVICES
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$20,000PROGRAM SERVICES
FAIR LANE
$15,000PROGRAM SERVICES
CATCH
$10,000PROGRAM SERVICES
FREEDOM INSTITUTE
$10,000PROGRAM SERVICES
MACKINAC CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY
$7,500PROGRAM SERVICES
CHRIST MEMORIAL CHAPEL
$5,000PROGRAM SERVICES
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
$5,000PROGRAM SERVICES
FESTIVAL OF TREES
$3,000PROGRAM SERVICES
THE WAR MEMORIAL
$1,500PROGRAM SERVICES
THE SALVATION ARMY
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
MI UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
NEIGHBORHOOD CLUB
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
VILLAGE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF EAST HAMPTON
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
PEWABIC POTTERY
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
HOLLYFEST THE FAMILY CENTER
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
GROSSE POINTE LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
RACING FOR KIDS
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
SHRINERS CHILDREN'S
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES
GOODWILL OF GREATER DETROIT
$1,000PROGRAM SERVICES