Frey Foundation
Historical FunderGrand Rapids, Michigan · EIN 23-7094777 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$4.8M
Organizations funded195
Typical grant$5,000
Total assets$162.4M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $1,500 and $10,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | HOLLY A JOHNSON |
|---|---|
| Address | 40 PEARL STREET NW Ste 1100, GRAND RAPIDS MI 45903 |
| Phone | 6164510303 |
| CONTACT@FREYFDN.ORG | |
| Form and materials | 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. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
24% of grants went outside Michigan.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Action Foundation 20 | Grand Rapids, MI | Acrisure Amphitheater in Downtown Grand Rapids | $500,000 |
| Grand Valley State University | Grand Rapids, MI | Fully endow the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy | $500,000 |
| Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | 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 | Grand Rapids, MI | A Shared Vision for Brighter Futures - Building a Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital | $300,000 |
| Pine Rest Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | Pine Rest Pediatric Center for Behavioral Health | $300,000 |
| Grand Rapids Public Museum Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | The riverfront and community archives portions of the Expanding Curiosity Capital Campaign | $200,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Kent County Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | Imagine capital campaign to create 100 units of affordable housing | $200,000 |
| West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition | Grand Rapids, MI | Building Connections, Building Communities | $150,000 |
| Children's Healing Center | Grand Rapids, MI | A Million Minutes More | $100,000 |
| Housing North | Traverse City, MI | Support for a regional housing fund and expansion of existing programs | $100,000 |
| Mosaic Counseling | Grand Haven, MI | YOU Matter Campaign | $100,000 |
| The Michigan Women's Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | West Michigan Loan Officer ($100k) and Microlending Investment Fund ($50k) | $100,000 |
| West Michigan Sports Commission | Grand Rapids, MI | Meijer Sports Complex expansion campaign | $100,000 |
| Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation | Petoskey, MI | The Edward J. Frey Jr. Charitable Fund | $90,500 |
| North Central Michigan College Foundation | Petoskey, MI | Child Care Initiative Phase 2 | $90,000 |
| Northern Homes Community Development Corporation | Boyne City, MI | Pinebridge Place Apartments | $90,000 |
| Downtown Grand Rapids Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | Building organizational capacity and infrastructure (2024 renewal) | $75,000 |
| Harbor Springs Area Historical Society | Harbor Springs, MI | Bringing History to Life Comprehensive Campaign | $75,000 |
| The STEM Greenhouse | Kentwood, MI | Programming for high school students in GRPS | $60,000 |
| Munson Healthcare Foundations | Traverse City, MI | General operating support | $52,200 |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | General operating support | $52,200 |
| Northwest Michigan Rural Housing Partnership | Traverse City, MI | Emmet and Charlevoix County Housing Ready Program Expansion | $50,000 |
| Grand Valley State University | Grand Rapids, MI | Storytime in the Park - Garfield | $40,000 |
| Harbor Springs Festival of the Book | Harbor Springs, MI | Harbor Springs Festival of the Book - Books for Schools | $36,750 |
| Diatribe Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | 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 | Grand Rapids, MI | 2024 Non Profit Technical Assistance Fund (NPTA) | $30,000 |
| Grand Rapids Urban League Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | The Launch and Initial Cohorts of the Equitable Development Initiative | $30,000 |
| Ottawa County Parks Foundation | West Olive, MI | Fullfilling the Rosy Mound Vision | $30,000 |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | Frey Gomes Giving | $25,000 |
| Harbor Springs Area Historical Society | Harbor Springs, MI | Bringing History to Life campaign | $25,000 |
| PlayMakers Repertory Company | Chapel Hill, NC | Community and Student Access Fund | $25,000 |
| UNC Law Foundation | Chapel Hill, NC | Dean's Discretionary Fund | $25,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | 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 | Chapel Hill, NC | The Carolina Performing Arts Student Ticket Angel Fund for the David G. Frey '64 '67 challenge grant | $25,000 |
| Amplify GR | Grand Rapids, MI | Boston Square Community Ownership Pilot | $21,500 |
| Michigan League for Public Policy | Lansing, MI | Champions for Kids Strong Kids sponsorship | $20,000 |
| New City Kids Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | Teen Life Internship Program Enhancement and Expansion | $20,000 |
| The Grand Rapids Economic Club Charitable Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | Collaborative pilot project to increase community access and inclusion through the sponsorship of a table at every lunch event for the… | $20,000 |
| Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan | Petoskey, MI | Empowering Bright Futures | $19,000 |
| Marvelous Lifestyles Outreach Corporation | Grand Rapids, MI | Marvelous Kidz Learning Center | $15,000 |
| New City Neighbors | Grand Rapids, MI | Food security programming that empowers youth and address food insecurity | $15,000 |
| Treetops Collective | Grand Rapids, MI | Building to Belong Capital Campaign | $15,000 |
| Grand Valley State University | Grand Rapids, MI | Support for the expansion and enhancement of their local public television show, Mutually Inclusive | $12,000 |
| United Way of North Carolina | Cary, NC | Hurricane Helene Relief | $11,000 |
| Arts Marketplace at Studio Park | Grand Rapids, MI | Business Development Resources for Women and Minority Owned Small Businesses | $10,000 |
| Council of Michigan Foundations Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | Family Foundation Retreat and Annual Conference | $10,000 |
| Downtown Grand Rapids Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | 2024 ArtPrize Event | $10,000 |
| First Steps Kent | Grand Rapids, MI | Kent County Parent Outreach and Education | $10,000 |
| Fountain Street Church | Grand Rapids, MI | Restoration of the Historic Memorial Bell Tower | $10,000 |
| Good Hart Artist Residency Inc | Harbor Springs, MI | Organization transition, capacity building and growth | $10,000 |
| Grand Action Foundation 20 | Grand Rapids, MI | Community engagement and administrative support | $10,000 |
| Grand Action Foundation 20 | Grand Rapids, MI | General support for amphitheater and soccer stadium | $10,000 |
| Grand Haven Community Foundation | Grand Haven, MI | Holly & Erick Johnson Family Fund | $10,000 |
| Harbor Springs Public Schools | Harbor Springs, MI | Harbor Springs High School Stratford Theater Trip | $10,000 |
| Harbor Springs Public Schools | Harbor Springs, MI | Harbor Springs High School Stratford Theater Trip | $10,000 |
| Heart of West Michigan United Way | Grand Rapids, MI | Disaster recovery from water main break in Southeast Grand Rapids | $10,000 |
| Hoap Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | A Pathway to Permanent Housing | $10,000 |
| Little Traverse Bay Humane Society | Harbor Springs, MI | Restricted support for the emergency care center | $10,000 |
| Meaning In Colors | Grand Rapids, MI | Expansion of the Empowering Future Professional program | $10,000 |
| Momentum Center | Grand Haven, MI | General operating support | $10,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 195 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Action Foundation 20 | Grand Rapids, MI | Soccer Stadium near Downtown Grand Rapids | $500,000 |
| Grand Action Foundation 20 | Grand Rapids, MI | Soccer Stadium near Downtown Grand Rapids | $500,000 |
| Grand Action Foundation 20 | Grand Rapids, MI | Acrisure Amphitheater in Downtown Grand Rapids | $500,000 |
| Grand Action Foundation 20 | Grand Rapids, MI | Soccer Stadium near Downtown Grand Rapids | $500,000 |
| Grand Rapids Whitewater Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | The construction portion of restoring the Lower Reach of the Grand River | $350,000 |
| Grand Valley State University | Grand Rapids, MI | Fully endow the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy | $200,000 |
| Downtown Grand Rapids Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | Building organizational capacity and infrastructure (2024 renewal) | $50,000 |
| Michigan Women Forward | Grand Rapids, MI | West Michigan Loan Officer ($100k) and Microlending Investment Fund ($50k) | $50,000 |
| UNC Law Foundation | Chapel Hill, NC | Dean's Discretionary Fund | $50,000 |
| Harbor Springs Area Historical Society | Harbor Springs, MI | Bringing History to Life campaign | $25,000 |
| PlayMakers Repertory Company | Chapel Hill, NC | Community and Student Access Fund | $25,000 |
| UNC Law Foundation | Chapel Hill, NC | Dean's Discretionary Fund | $25,000 |
| Grand Action Foundation 20 | Grand Rapids, MI | General support for amphitheater and soccer stadium | $10,000 |
| Saint Mary's Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | Capital Campaign, Behavioral Health | $10,000 |
| The Fund for Park Avenue | New York, NY | Holiday tree lighting and Park Avenue planting | $10,000 |
| Rotary Club of Little Traverse Bay Sunset | Petoskey, MI | the Petoskey High School Vocational scholarship program | $8,000 |
| EARTH University Foundation | Atlanta, GA | General operating support | $5,000 |
| EARTH University Foundation | Atlanta, GA | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Grand Rapids Civic Theatre | Grand Rapids, MI | Annual fund | $5,000 |
| Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Inc | Grand Rapids, MI | Annual fund | $5,000 |
| Greater Michigan Council Inc Boy Scouts of America | Grand Rapids, MI | The Leadership Dinner | $5,000 |
| Opera Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | Annual fund | $5,000 |
| Opera Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | Annual fund | $5,000 |
| The Young Americans Inc | Corona, CA | general operating funds for the Harbor Springs Summer Camp Program | $5,000 |
| University of Florida Foundation Inc | Gainesville, FL | UF College of Medicine | $5,000 |
| University of Florida Foundation Inc | Gainesville, FL | UF Cancer Center | $5,000 |
| University of Florida Foundation Inc | Gainesville, FL | Florida Museum of Natural History | $5,000 |
| Alachua County Public Schools | Gainesville, FL | Eastside High School | $3,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America North Florida Council Inc | Jacksonville, FL | General Fund | $3,000 |
| FLOW For Love of Water | Traverse City, MI | Art Meets Water | $3,000 |
| FLOW For Love of Water | Traverse City, MI | Art Meets Water | $3,000 |
| Saint Mary's Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | Capital Campaign, Behavioral Health | $2,800 |
| Alachua County Public Schools | Gainesville, FL | Eastside High School | $2,500 |
| Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | General operating support | $2,500 |
| Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | General operating support | $2,500 |
| University of Florida Foundation Inc | Gainesville, FL | UF Performing Arts | $2,500 |
| Arbor Circle | Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $1,500 |
| Arbor Circle | Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $1,500 |
| Walking Mountains Science Center | Avon, CO | School Initiatives and Camps | $1,500 |
| Walking Mountains Science Center | Avon, CO | School Initiatives and Camps | $1,500 |
| YouthPower365 | Avon, CO | YouthPower365 | $1,500 |
| YouthPower365 | Avon, CO | YouthPower365 | $1,500 |
| Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre | Harbor Springs, MI | Loving Support! | $1,000 |
| Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre | Harbor Springs, MI | Loving Support! | $1,000 |
| Mountain Recreation Foundation | Gypsum, CO | Eagle Valley Trail | $1,000 |
| East Grand Rapids Community Foundation | East Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $500 |
| East Grand Rapids Community Foundation | East Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $500 |
| The Ruffed Grouse Society of America | Coraopolis, PA | General Operating (MI if able) | $250 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,780,950 | 243 |
| 2023 | $5,522,441 | 245 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 14, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202543189349105489
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 23-7094777
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.