The Edward and Norma Jean Meer Charitable Foundation focuses its giving almost exclusively on Jewish religious and educational institutions in the Detroit/Oak Park area, providing significant, unrestricted support. The foundation makes a small number of large grants, often to the same organizations multiple times, suggesting long-term backing of local Orthodox Jewish community infrastructure and programming.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving: few (5) grants totaling ~$1.1M with repeat, multi-grant support to the same organizations; grants are predominantly general/unrestricted operating support for faith-based institutions.
The Edward and Norma Jean Meer Charitable Foundation’s recent giving is marked by very large general-use grants to Jewish institutions in Metro Detroit, especially repeat support for Woodward Avenue Shul in Royal Oak and Bais Refeol Foundation in Southfield. That pattern points to a foundation that backs established local religious infrastructure rather than one-off projects. Its recent grants also include major support for Cheder Lubavitch, Yeshiva Gedola Charity Fund, Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, and Lubavitch Cheder, showing a consistent focus on Orthodox Jewish education, synagogue life, and communal services. The foundation’s support is typically unrestricted or general operating in nature, which gives recipient organizations flexibility in how they use the funds. Grant recipients appear in the same places year after year, including Oak Park, Southfield, and Royal Oak, suggesting sustained relationships with a relatively small set of organizations. While the grant list includes a few recipients outside Michigan, the core of the foundation’s giving remains tied to Jewish religious and educational institutions in and around Detroit.
A central theme in the foundation’s grantmaking is Orthodox synagogue support. It gave $330,180 in 2024 to Woodward Avenue Shul for general use, following a $236,870 grant in 2023, which shows repeated backing for the same congregation. Jewish education is another major area. The foundation awarded $113,180 to Cheder Lubavitch in 2023 and $40,000 in 2024 to Lubavitch Cheder, along with support for Yeshiva Beth Yehudah and Yeshiva Darchei Torah. It also funds broader communal Jewish infrastructure. Examples include $22,780 to Matan B'seter in 2023 and $19,460 to Matan B'seter Detroit in 2024, both in Southfield, plus $10,180 to Jewish Family Services in West Bloomfield. These grants show support for both religious institutions and local services connected to the Jewish community.
The foundation’s grant sizes are uneven, with a p25 of $180, a median of $900, and a p75 of $3,600, while recent awards include several six-figure grants. It gives in a recurring pattern: multiple recipients appear in consecutive 2023 and 2024 grants, including Woodward Avenue Shul, Bais Refeol Foundation, Yeshiva Darchei Torah, and Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center. The most frequent recipients are in Michigan, which also accounts for 51% of grants by recipient location. The foundation is a private charitable foundation and does not fund individuals or program-related investments. The grants listed are general use or general operating support rather than restricted project awards.
$1.3M
$3.8M
$461K
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $180 and $4K, with a median of $900.
25th Percentile
$180
Median
$900
75th Percentile
$4K
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Edward and Norma Jean Meer Charitable Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 328 | $3.8M | 99.4% |
| 2 |
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Notable grantees: Woodward Avenue Shul, Bais Refeol Foundation, Cheder Lubavitch
Most grants go to Michigan recipients, with the largest concentration in Metro Detroit communities such as Royal Oak, Southfield, Oak Park, West Bloomfield, and Ferndale. Royal Oak appears with Woodward Avenue Shul, Southfield with Bais Refeol Foundation and Matan B'seter, and Oak Park with several education-focused institutions. Outside Michigan, the recent grants list also includes recipients in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. All listed grants go to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants focus on Jewish religious and educational institutions, especially Orthodox synagogues, yeshivas, cheders, and community organizations in Metro Detroit. Named recipients include Woodward Avenue Shul, Cheder Lubavitch, Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, and Jewish Family Services.
Yes. Several recipients appear in consecutive years, including Woodward Avenue Shul in 2023 and 2024, Bais Refeol Foundation in 2023 and 2024, Yeshiva Darchei Torah in 2023 and 2024, and Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center in 2023 and 2024.
Its grant-size distribution is small at the lower end but includes much larger awards: p25 is $180, median is $900, and p75 is $3,600. Recent grants also show larger general-use awards, including multiple gifts above $100,000.
Michigan is the main recipient state, with 51% of grants going to recipients there. Recent Michigan cities include Royal Oak, Southfield, Oak Park, West Bloomfield, and Ferndale.
The listed grants are overwhelmingly labeled general use or general use support. That includes awards to organizations such as Woodward Avenue Shul, Bais Refeol Foundation, and Yeshiva Gedola Charity Fund.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $500 |
0.3% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 1 | $180 | 0.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOODWARD AVENUE SHUL | ROYAL OAK, MI | $419,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| BAIS REFEOL FOUNDATION | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $234,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVA GEDOLAH LOAN FUND | OAK PARK, MI | $76,800 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVA DARCHEI TORAH | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $36,200 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| TZEDKAH ENHANCEMENT PROJECT | OAK PARK, MI | $36,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| KOLLEL INSTITUTE OF GREATER DETROIT | OAK PARK, MI | $30,800 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVA BETH YEHUDAH | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $26,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| CHEDER LUBAVITCH | OAK PARK, MI | $25,300 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| RABBINCAL COLLEGE OF AMERICA | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $24,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| THE SPOT FOR CHILDREN & S | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $20,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVAS LUBAVITCH OF BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVA GEDOLAH FREE LOAN ACCOUNT | ELKINS PARK, PA | $18,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| ON WAR LIVING | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $18,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| CONGREGATION NACHLAS SHIMON | BROOKLYN NEW YORK, NY | $17,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| MATAN B'SETER DETROIT | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $15,700 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF DERECH CHOCHMA INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $13,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| CONGREGATION AHAVAS OLAM | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $11,800 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| MIKVAH ISRAEL | OAK PARK, MI | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVA GEDOLAH BAIS YISROEL | OAK PARK, MI | $10,180 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| RCCS | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| AISH HATORAH OF DETROIT | OAK PARK, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES | WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| CONGREGATION BNAI ISRAEL | OAK PARK, MI | $9,001 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVA GEDOLA CHARITY FUND | OAK PARK, MI | $8,200 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| CONGREGATION EMUNAS YISROEL | BROOKLYN, NY | $6,800 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| BIKUR CHOLLIM OF DETROIT | MONSEY, NY | $6,800 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| CONGREGATION BAIS CHABAD OF N OAK PARK | OAK PARK, MI | $6,520 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| LUBAVITCH CHEDER | OAK PARK, MI | $6,400 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVA GEDOLA | OAK PARK, MI | $6,040 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| DETROIT CHESED PROJECT | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $5,500 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| CONG YAGDIL TORAH | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,100 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| KEREN L TORAH | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| F | BROOKLYN NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YIGDAL | OAK PARK, MI | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| PONEVEZ YESHIVA | NEW YORK, NY | $3,780 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| SHUVU | BROOKLYN NEW YORK, NY | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| KARLIN STOLIN | BROOKLYN, NY | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| HATZALAH OF MICHIGAN | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| FRIENDS OF MIR YERUSHALAY | BROOKLYN, NY | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| TORAH SCHOOLS FOR ISRAEL | BROOKLYN NEW YORK, NY | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YAD L'ACHIM | NEW YORK, NY | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| UNITED INSTITUTION OF KARLIN STOLIN | BROOKLYN, NY | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVA OHR ELIYAHU | CHICAGO, IL | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YESHIVA GEDOLA STUDENT AID FUND | OAK PARK, MI | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YAD MALKA | BROOKLYN, NY | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| CONGREGATION BETH YOSEF | BROOKLYN, NY | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| YAD SIMCHA | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $2,160 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| MESTIVA OF WEST BLOOMFIELD | WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSH, MI | $2,052 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| REGESH | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
| LUBAVITCH OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $1,800 | 2026 | GENERAL USE. |
WOODWARD AVENUE SHUL
$419,000GENERAL USE.
BAIS REFEOL FOUNDATION
$234,000GENERAL USE.
YESHIVA GEDOLAH LOAN FUND
$76,800GENERAL USE.
YESHIVA DARCHEI TORAH
$36,200GENERAL USE.
TZEDKAH ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
$36,000GENERAL USE.
KOLLEL INSTITUTE OF GREATER DETROIT
$30,800GENERAL USE.
YESHIVA BETH YEHUDAH
$26,600GENERAL USE.
CHEDER LUBAVITCH
$25,300GENERAL USE.
RABBINCAL COLLEGE OF AMERICA
$24,000GENERAL USE.
THE SPOT FOR CHILDREN & S
$20,600GENERAL USE.
YESHIVAS LUBAVITCH OF BALTIMORE
$20,000GENERAL USE.
YESHIVA GEDOLAH FREE LOAN ACCOUNT
$18,000GENERAL USE.
ON WAR LIVING
$18,000GENERAL USE.
CONGREGATION NACHLAS SHIMON
$17,000GENERAL USE.
MATAN B'SETER DETROIT
$15,700GENERAL USE.
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF DERECH CHOCHMA INC
$13,000GENERAL USE.
CONGREGATION AHAVAS OLAM
$11,800GENERAL USE.
MIKVAH ISRAEL
$11,000GENERAL USE.
YESHIVA GEDOLAH BAIS YISROEL
$10,180GENERAL USE.
AISH HATORAH OF DETROIT
$10,000GENERAL USE.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES
$10,000GENERAL USE.
CONGREGATION BNAI ISRAEL
$9,001GENERAL USE.
YESHIVA GEDOLA CHARITY FUND
$8,200GENERAL USE.
CONGREGATION EMUNAS YISROEL
$6,800GENERAL USE.
BIKUR CHOLLIM OF DETROIT
$6,800GENERAL USE.
CONGREGATION BAIS CHABAD OF N OAK PARK
$6,520GENERAL USE.
YESHIVA GEDOLA
$6,040GENERAL USE.
CONG YAGDIL TORAH
$5,100GENERAL USE.
KEREN L TORAH
$5,000GENERAL USE.
F
$5,000GENERAL USE.
YIGDAL
$4,000GENERAL USE.
PONEVEZ YESHIVA
$3,780GENERAL USE.
SHUVU
$3,600GENERAL USE.
KARLIN STOLIN
$3,600GENERAL USE.
FRIENDS OF MIR YERUSHALAY
$3,600GENERAL USE.
TORAH SCHOOLS FOR ISRAEL
$3,600GENERAL USE.
YAD L'ACHIM
$3,600GENERAL USE.
UNITED INSTITUTION OF KARLIN STOLIN
$3,600GENERAL USE.
YESHIVA OHR ELIYAHU
$3,600GENERAL USE.
YESHIVA GEDOLA STUDENT AID FUND
$3,600GENERAL USE.
YAD MALKA
$3,600GENERAL USE.
CONGREGATION BETH YOSEF
$3,600GENERAL USE.
YAD SIMCHA
$2,160GENERAL USE.
MESTIVA OF WEST BLOOMFIELD
$2,052GENERAL USE.
REGESH
$2,000GENERAL USE.
LUBAVITCH OF WISCONSIN
$1,800GENERAL USE.