Frey Foundation
Accepts applications
Frey Foundation is a private foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In tax year 2024 it gave $5.3 million in 195 grants; the typical grant was $5,000 and the largest $500,000. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$5.3 million
- Number of grants195
- Typical grant$5,000
- Largest grant$500,000
- Assets$162 million
- New grantees55%
Giving in 2024 was down from $6.5 million the year before.
55% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $6.5 million | 205 | $148 million |
| 2024 | $5.3 million | 195 | $162 million |
How to apply
| Contact | Holly A Johnson 40 PEARL STREET NW Ste 1100, Grand Rapids, MI 45903 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (616) 451-0303, contact@freyfdn.org |
| What to submit | Standard application form available upon request from address above or at the foundation's website: www.freyfdn.org |
| Deadlines | Due twelve weeks prior to scheduled date of board funding meetings, held in feb, may, aug, and nov. |
| Restrictions | For community-based or regional projects, the foundation focuses on proposals from organizations and agencies serving kent, emmet or charlevoix counties. The foundation also accepts proposals from charitable organizations with a state-level presence or state government agencies whose proposal may have a direct impact on the frey foundation's geographic target areas. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Frey Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 18 states, the most to Michigan.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 147 | $4.5 million |
| North Carolina | 7 | $120,500 |
| Connecticut | 2 | $54,700 |
| Illinois | 3 | $32,250 |
| Colorado | 9 | $18,750 |
| New York | 3 | $16,500 |
| California | 4 | $16,000 |
| Florida | 7 | $14,000 |
| Virginia | 3 | $7,000 |
| Georgia | 1 | $5,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Action Foundation 20 | Acrisure Amphitheater in Downtown Grand Rapids | $500,000 |
| Grand Valley State University | Fully endow the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy | $500,000 |
| Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Grand Rapids | The development of a childcare center in Rapid Central Station in downtown Grand Rapids and its first year of programming | $390,000 |
| Mary Free Bed Hospital and Rehabilitation Center | A Shared Vision for Brighter Futures - Building a Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital | $300,000 |
| Pine Rest Foundation | Pine Rest Pediatric Center for Behavioral Health | $300,000 |
| Grand Rapids Public Museum Foundation | The riverfront and community archives portions of the Expanding Curiosity Capital Campaign | $200,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Kent County Inc | Imagine capital campaign to create 100 units of affordable housing | $200,000 |
| West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition | Building Connections, Building Communities | $150,000 |
| Children's Healing Center | A Million Minutes More | $100,000 |
| Housing North | Support for a regional housing fund and expansion of existing programs | $100,000 |
| Mosaic Counseling | YOU Matter Campaign | $100,000 |
| The Michigan Women's Foundation | West Michigan Loan Officer ($100k) and Microlending Investment Fund ($50k) | $100,000 |
| West Michigan Sports Commission | Meijer Sports Complex expansion campaign | $100,000 |
| Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation | The Edward J. Frey Jr. Charitable Fund | $90,500 |
| North Central Michigan College Foundation | Child Care Initiative Phase 2 | $90,000 |
| Northern Homes Community Development Corporation | Pinebridge Place Apartments | $90,000 |
| Downtown Grand Rapids Inc | Building organizational capacity and infrastructure (2024 renewal) | $75,000 |
| Harbor Springs Area Historical Society | Bringing History to Life Comprehensive Campaign | $75,000 |
| The STEM Greenhouse | Programming for high school students in GRPS | $60,000 |
| Munson Healthcare Foundations | General operating support | $52,200 |
| University of Hartford | General operating support | $52,200 |
| Northwest Michigan Rural Housing Partnership | Emmet and Charlevoix County Housing Ready Program Expansion | $50,000 |
| Grand Valley State University | Storytime in the Park - Garfield | $40,000 |
| Harbor Springs Festival of the Book | Harbor Springs Festival of the Book - Books for Schools | $36,750 |
| Diatribe Inc | Planning for the new event space at The Emory Arts & Culture Hub and efforts to increase the capacity of its program delivery | $30,000 |
| Grand Rapids Community Foundation | 2024 Non Profit Technical Assistance Fund (NPTA) | $30,000 |
| Grand Rapids Urban League Inc | The Launch and Initial Cohorts of the Equitable Development Initiative | $30,000 |
| Ottawa County Parks Foundation | Fullfilling the Rosy Mound Vision | $30,000 |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Frey Gomes Giving | $25,000 |
| Harbor Springs Area Historical Society | Bringing History to Life campaign | $25,000 |
| PlayMakers Repertory Company | Community and Student Access Fund | $25,000 |
| UNC Law Foundation | Dean's Discretionary Fund | $25,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | The Carolina Performing Arts Student Ticket Angel Fund for the David G. Frey '64 '67 challenge grant | $25,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | The Carolina Performing Arts Student Ticket Angel Fund for the David G. Frey '64 '67 challenge grant | $25,000 |
| Amplify GR | Boston Square Community Ownership Pilot | $21,500 |
| Michigan League for Public Policy | Champions for Kids Strong Kids sponsorship | $20,000 |
| New City Kids Inc | Teen Life Internship Program Enhancement and Expansion | $20,000 |
| The Grand Rapids Economic Club Charitable Foundation | Collaborative pilot project to increase community access and inclusion through the sponsorship of a table at every lunch event for the 2024-2025 season | $20,000 |
| Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan | Empowering Bright Futures | $19,000 |
| Marvelous Lifestyles Outreach Corporation | Marvelous Kidz Learning Center | $15,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Mary Frey Bennett
- Eleonora H Frey Zagel
- David G Frey Jr
- Sarah R Frey Rose
- Campbell W Frey
- Laura D Frey
- Holly A Johnson
Questions people ask
Does Frey Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: Due twelve weeks prior to scheduled date of board funding meetings, held in feb, may, aug, and nov..
How much does Frey Foundation give?
$5.3 million in tax year 2024, across 195 grants, with a typical grant of $5,000.
Who runs Frey Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Mary Frey Bennett (Secretary), Eleonora H Frey Zagel (Vice Chair), David G Frey Jr (Chair) and Sarah R Frey Rose (Trustee) among 7 officers and trustees.
What does Frey Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly community development, education and health.