Michigan First Foundation Inc
Preselected recipients only
Michigan First Foundation Inc is a private foundation in Lathrup Village, Michigan. In tax year 2025 it gave $173,500 in 83 grants; the typical grant was $1,500 and the largest $10,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$173,500
- Number of grants83
- Typical grant$1,500
- Largest grant$10,000
- Assets$39,973
- New grantees34%
Giving in 2025 was up from $170,500 the year before.
34% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $171,000 | 83 | $30,718 |
| 2024 | $170,500 | 86 | $39,830 |
| 2025 | $173,500 | 83 | $39,973 |
How to apply
Michigan First Foundation Inc says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Michigan First Foundation Inc funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 8 states, the most to Michigan.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 73 | $138,500 |
| Virginia | 2 | $9,500 |
| District of Columbia | 3 | $8,500 |
| Georgia | 1 | $5,000 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $4,500 |
| Tennessee | 1 | $4,000 |
| Utah | 1 | $2,000 |
| Ohio | 1 | $1,500 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Mi Univ Andre Lamon Buford | Educational scholarships | $10,000 |
| Central Mich University Gavin Zacha | Educational scholarships | $5,000 |
| Central State Univ Isis Johnson | Educational scholarships | $5,000 |
| Forgotten Harvest | Community support - non-profit, collects surplus food from a variety of sources and distributes it to food providers. | $5,000 |
| Gleaners Food Bank | Community support - collects, warehouses, repacks and distributes many millions of pounds of food for over 300 local member agencies. | $5,000 |
| Hampton University Landon Kendrick | Educational scholarships | $5,000 |
| Meals on Wheels Detroit | Community support - provides meals to homebound elderly. | $5,000 |
| Morehouse College & Devyn Myles Hardwick | Educational scholarships | $5,000 |
| Brown University Henry David Buss | Educational scholarships | $4,500 |
| Hampton Univ Madison McKai Williams | Educational scholarships | $4,500 |
| Howard University Lenah Alghali | Educational scholarships | $4,000 |
| Lipscomb University Ella Halma | Educational scholarships | $4,000 |
| Wayne State U Braylen D Tarrant | Educational scholarships | $4,000 |
| Wayne State Univ Nnenna Odoaru Onwu | Educational scholarships | $4,000 |
| Focus Hope | Community support - to sponsor annual walk. | $3,500 |
| Howard Univ Kyle Jason Clinkscale | Educational scholarships | $3,500 |
| U of Michigan Langston William Harr | Educational scholarships | $3,000 |
| Univeristy of Mi Samira Kimo | Educational scholarships | $3,000 |
| Detroit Branch - NAACP | Community support - provides minority focus on legal, civil rights, criminal justice, economic, educational, health, political, public policy and youth issues. | $2,500 |
| Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program | Community support - academic and athletic program to help students in inner-city detroit | $2,500 |
| Grand Valley State University | Community support - general scholarship fund | $2,500 |
| Lawrence Technological University | Community support - general scholarship fund | $2,500 |
| U of Mi Clant Renado Griffith Jr | Educational scholarships | $2,500 |
| United Negro College Fund | Community support - provides scholarships to students attending historically black colleges/universities. | $2,500 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Community support - general scholarship fund | $2,500 |
| Wayne County Community College | Community support - general scholarship fund | $2,500 |
| Wayne State Univ Brian Blackmon | Educational scholarships | $2,500 |
| Wayne State Univ Neala V Muniz | Educational scholarships | $2,500 |
| Wayne State University | Community support - general scholarship fund | $2,500 |
| Central Mi Univ Talia Elizabeth Kam | Educational scholarships | $2,000 |
| Children's Miracle Network | Community support - raises funds for alliance of 170 children's hospitals to provide care, research and community outreach for children's diseases. | $2,000 |
| Salvation Army | Community support - provides emergency services, shelter, rehabilitation, and recreation services. | $2,000 |
| Thaw (The Heat & Warmth Fund) | Community support - provides financial assistance to low-income, pre-qualified citizens of detroit who need help with utility costs. | $2,000 |
| U of M Dearborn Marissa Andrzejak | Educational scholarships | $2,000 |
| Alternative for Girls | Community support - helps girls and young women avoid sexual exploitation and victimization, substance abuse and prostitution. | $1,500 |
| Black United Fund | Community support - empowering youth for everyday success initiative. The initiative seeks to address the need to equip children and youth who are under-represented, underserved and at-risk with resources and tools that help them succeed academically, financially, socially, and in career planning. | $1,500 |
| Maggie's Wigs for Kids | Community support - supports children who have experienced hair loss due to cancer. | $1,500 |
| Orchard's Children Services | Community support - providing specialized care in addition to recreational & educational services for children in oakland, wayne & macomb counties. | $1,500 |
| Sickle Cell Disease Assoc of Michigan | Community support - cdaa-mi provides education, assistance, and advocacy for individuals living with and families affected by sickle cell disease. | $1,500 |
| Spaulding for Children | Community support - assist with finding foster parents, future parents seeking to adopt, and counseling for parents trying to bring their children back home | $1,500 |
Officers and trustees
- Jennifer Borowy
- Janet Barden
- Delonaka Edwards
- Deirdre Scott
- Linda Height
Questions people ask
Does Michigan First Foundation Inc accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Michigan First Foundation Inc give?
$173,500 in tax year 2025, across 83 grants, with a typical grant of $1,500.
Who runs Michigan First Foundation Inc?
Its 2025 filing lists Jennifer Borowy (President), Janet Barden (Treasuruer), Delonaka Edwards (Secretary) and Deirdre Scott (Director) among 5 officers and trustees.
What does Michigan First Foundation Inc fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, youth programs and human services.