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Benson & Edith Ford Fund at a glance

· Private foundation

Benson & Edith Ford Fund

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$1.3M
Granted FY2024still arriving
24
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$700k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$5.1MHealth$3.9MArts & Culture$2.3MPublic Safety & Disaster$2.2MScience & Tech$1.3MFood & Nutrition$225kYouth Development$200kAnimals$130kOther$0
02FY2024 · 24 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k13 grants · $48k
  • $10k–50k7 grants · $110k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $175k
  • $250k+2 grants · $1.0M
$8,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$16M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES$700,000
TEEN STREET SKILLS$300,000
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS$100,000
HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM$75,000
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION$25,000
THE HENRY FORD ESTATE - FAIRLANE$20,000
MICHIGAN HUMANE$15,000
BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA FOUNDATION$15,000
CAPUCHIN SOUP KITCHEN$15,000
THE HENRY FORD$10,000
RACING FOR KIDS$10,000
INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS$8,000
ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL$7,500
DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA$5,000
EMPOWERMENT PLAN$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $108k) land where the poverty rate runs at 18%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 72% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%EMPOWERMENT PLAN: $20k → 21%EMPOWERMENT PLAN: $20k → 21%EMPOWERMENT PLAN: $20k → 21%EMPOWERMENT PLAN: $5k → 21%EMPOWERMENT PLAN: $5k → 21%JARC: $15k → 8%JARC: $15k → 8%CHILDREN'S CENTER OF WAYNE COUNTY INC: $3k → 21%CHILDREN'S CENTER OF WAYNE COUNTY INC: $3k → 21%CHILDREN'S CENTER OF WAYNE COUNTY INC: $3k → 21%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

99%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$16M · 44 repeat orgs$225k to everyone else

44 repeat relationships: 22 still active in FY2024, 22 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

44
8

Total granted

$16M
$214k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+17%
+463%

Still filing today

66%
25%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 99% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $11k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureHealthHuman ServicesPhilanthropyEducationPublic Safety & DisasterOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES
    8× · 2017–2024 · $5.0M · revenue +25%
  • HF
    HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM
    8× · 2017–2024 · $3.4M · revenue +69%
  • TS
    TEEN STREET SKILLS
    8× · 2017–2024 · $2.2M · revenue +251% · 98% of their budget

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2021 · $50k
  • UR
    URBAN RENEWAL INITIATIVE FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $50k · revenue +463%
  • BH
    BAPTIST HEALTH FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $50k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Michigan Enviromental Council

Informing and educating the public and decision makers about environmental issues.

Environment
2
Detroit Regional Chamber

The chamber is the voice for business and works to power the economy for southeast michigan through public policy, advocacy and leading regional economic development and talent initiatives.

—
3
The Greater Detroit Health Transition Company

Gdahc mission: together with our partners, we empower and improve the health and economic vitality of individuals, organizations and communities by catalyzing the power of collaboration. gdahc vision: healthy people. healthy community.…

—
4
Trinity Health - Michigan

We, trinity health-michigan and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities. trinity health-michigan is a member of trinity health.

Health
5
Mclaren Northern Michigan

Mclaren health care, through its subsidiaries, will be the best value in health care as defined by quality outcomes and cost.

Health
6
Mclaren Port Huron

Mclaren healthcare, through its subsidiaries, will be the best value in healthcare as defined by quality outcomes and cost.

Health
7
Henry Ford Macomb Hospital Corporation

Henry ford health macomb hospital (hfmh) is an affiliate of henry ford health system dba henry ford health ("hf health") serving the northeastern metropolitan detroit michigan communities. as an integrated component of one of the nation's…

Health
8
Eastern Market Corporation

Eastern market is organized to combat community deterioration and to lessen the burdens of government in managing its public market that has served detroit since 1891. eastern market operates the market under an agreement with the city of…

Food & Nutrition
9
Detroit Athletic Club

To create life-enriching experiences that build meaningful relations, foster personal and professional growth, and celebrate culture in the heart of detroit.

—
10
Mymichigan Medical Center Midland

Creating healthy communities - together

Health
11
Mymichigan Health Foundation

The corporation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes by conducting or supporting activites exclusively for the benefit of, to perform the functions of, or to carry out the…

Health
12
Business Leaders for Michigan

Business leaders for michigan is a nonprofit, nonpartisan statewide organization driven by ceos from the state's leading employers, all working toward a shared goal: making michigan a top 10 state for jobs, talent and a thriving economy.…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Mclaren Northern Michigan Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Grosse Pointe Historical Society. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

31 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 31 of the 54 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
31/31
Grantees still filing
18/31
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES: $5,046,584 · EducationCOLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIESHENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM: $3,362,686 · HealthHENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM+6 more: $257,000 · Health+6 moreTHE HENRY FORD: $1,843,333 · OtherTHE HENRY FORDALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION: $175,000 · OtherALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIAT…CAPUCHIN SOUP KITCHEN: $120,000 · OtherGLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN: $105,000 · Other+26 more: $652,000 · Other+26 moreTEEN STREET SKILLS: $2,175,000 · Public Safety & DisasterTEEN STREET SKI…THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS: $800,000 · Arts & CultureTHE DETROIT …HENRY FORD ESTATE: $675,000 · Arts & CultureHENRY FORD E…+8 more: $256,000 · Arts & Culture+8 moreTACOMA COMMUNITY BOAT BUILDERS INC: $140,000 · PhilanthropyURBAN RENEWAL INITIATIVE FOUNDATION: $50,000 · PhilanthropyTHE EMPOWERMENT PLAN: $70,000 · Human ServicesJARC: $30,000 · Human ServicesCHILDRENS CENTER OF WAYNE COUNTY INC: $7,500 · Human Services
Education$5,046,584Health$3,619,686Other$2,895,333Public Safety & Disaster$2,175,000Arts & Culture$1,731,000Philanthropy$190,000Human Services$107,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCOLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES: $5,046,584 over 8y, 0.8% of budgetHENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM: $3,362,686 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetTEEN STREET SKILLS: $2,175,000 over 8y, 98% of budgetTHE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS: $800,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetHENRY FORD ESTATE: $675,000 over 3y, 4.5% of budgetTACOMA COMMUNITY BOAT BUILDERS INC: $140,000 over 6y, 6.8% of budgetGLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN: $105,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetRACING FOR KIDS: $80,000 over 8y, 4.5% of budgetTHE EMPOWERMENT PLAN: $70,000 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetMICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY: $70,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBaptist Health South Florida Foundation Inc: $60,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMCLAREN NORTHERN MICHIGAN FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetURBAN RENEWAL INITIATIVE FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetINTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS: $48,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetDETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA: $43,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetDETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC: $40,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetGROSSE POINTE HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $37,000 over 5y, 12% of budgetJARC: $30,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetOCEAN REEF CHAPEL FOUNDATION INC: $30,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetBaptist Health South Florida Inc: $30,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE PEWABIC SOCIETY INC: $28,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetDETROIT ARTISTS MARKET: $24,000 over 8y, 1.2% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMOTOWN HISTORICAL MUSUEM INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE GREENING OF DETROIT: $18,000 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetMARINERS INN: $17,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetDetroit Historical Society: $16,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetDETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY INC: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetOLD NEWSBOYS GOODFELLOW FUND OF DETROIT MICHIGAN: $14,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetCHILDRENS CENTER OF WAYNE COUNTY INC: $7,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES ↗
  • Who funds HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM ↗
  • Who funds TEEN STREET SKILLS ↗
  • Who funds THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS ↗
  • Who funds HENRY FORD ESTATE ↗
  • Who funds TACOMA COMMUNITY BOAT BUILDERS INC ↗
  • Who funds GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN ↗
  • Who funds RACING FOR KIDS ↗
  • Who funds THE EMPOWERMENT PLAN ↗
  • Who funds MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds Baptist Health South Florida Foundation Inc ↗
  • Who funds MCLAREN NORTHERN MICHIGAN FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds URBAN RENEWAL INITIATIVE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS ↗
  • Who funds DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA ↗
  • Who funds DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC ↗
  • Who funds GROSSE POINTE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds JARC ↗
  • Who funds OCEAN REEF CHAPEL FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds Baptist Health South Florida Inc ↗
  • Who funds THE PEWABIC SOCIETY INC ↗
  • Who funds DETROIT ARTISTS MARKET ↗
  • Who funds ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC ↗
  • Who funds MOTOWN HISTORICAL MUSUEM INC ↗
  • Who funds THE GREENING OF DETROIT ↗
  • Who funds MARINERS INN ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Community Foundation …DTE Energy FoundationWilliam & Martha Ford…The Kresge FoundationLynn & Paul Alandt Fo…Hudson-Webber Foundat…Ford PhilanthropyChildren's Hospital o…The Skillman Foundati…Alice Kales Hartwick …Matilda R Wilson FundYoung Woman's Home As…
Community Foundation for Southeast MichiganMI29.1× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · DTE Energy Foundation · William & Martha Ford Fund · The Kresge Foundation · Lynn & Paul Alandt Foundation · Hudson-Webber Foundation · Ford Philanthropy · Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation · The Skillman Foundation · Alice Kales Hartwick Foundation · Matilda R Wilson Fund · Young Woman's Home Association of Detroit Michigan

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Benson & Edith Ford Fund funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Benson & Edith Ford Fund. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    13report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Benson & Edith Ford Fund?

    Find your warmest path to Benson & Edith Ford Fund through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 54 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Benson & Edith Ford’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home