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Russell Family Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Russell Family Foundation

The RUSSELL FAMILY FOUNDATION supports the community foundation for southeast michigan (cfsem) by supporting organizations whose work furthers cfsem's mission.

$241k
Granted FY2024still arriving
6
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Youth Development$280kRecreation & Sports$228kEducation$191kPhilanthropy$139kFood & Nutrition$98kEmployment$87kHousing & Shelter$75kHealth$73kOther$0
02FY2024 · 6 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k4 grants · $141k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $100k
$49,818
Median grant
1
States reached
$6.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SOUTHWEST SOLUTIONS$50,000
FIGURE SKATING IN HARLEM INC$50,000
CARE HOUSE OF OAKLAND COUNTY INC$49,818
826 MICHIGAN$35,750
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN$29,156
PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE ALL CYCLISTS$26,000
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 (FY20–24, $141k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 38% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%KIDS ON THE GO: $37k → 10%PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE ALL CYCLISTS: $26k → 14%OAKLAND FAMILY SERVICES: $25k → 8%OAKLAND FAMILY SERVICES: $25k → 8%CHILDREN'S CENTER OF WAYNE COUNTY INC: $28k → 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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 13% of Russell Family Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 100% of the giving stays in MI; by stated purpose, 96%.

Russell Family Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

38%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$473k · 7 repeat orgs$756k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +18% since the first grant, against +14% for those funded once.

7 repeat relationships: 0 still active in FY2024, 7 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

7
16

Total granted

$473k
$544k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+18%
+14%

Still filing today

86%
88%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 0% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $212k went to new ones.

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

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

’20’21’22’23’24
Youth DevelopmentHuman ServicesFood & NutritionRecreation & SportsCrime & LegalEducationOther
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

  • ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS
    2× · 2020–2022 · $75k · revenue +64%
  • FORGOTTEN HARVEST INC
    2× · 2020–2021 · $73k · revenue +2%
  • DETROIT HORSE POWER
    2× · 2021–2023 · $53k · revenue +133%

Funded once

  • SER METRO DETROIT JOBS FOR PROGRESS INCgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $50k · revenue +100%
  • HI
    Hope Ignites Detroitgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $50k · revenue +30%
  • Avalon Village Inc
    one grant, 2023 · $50k · revenue -16%
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
Brilliant Detroit

Helping families and neighborhoods succeed by providing a place and support to assure kids ages 0-5 are school ready and families are healthy and stable.

Youth Development
2
Friends of the Children - Detroit

Friends of the children - detroit has a mission of impacting generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships and professional mentors - 12+ years, no matter what. 92% go on to enroll in…

Crime & Legal
3
Detroit Parent Network

To be a champion for parents of children in the community.

Human Services
4
Fs-Detroit Inc

Figure nbsp;skating nbsp;in nbsp;detroit nbsp;helps nbsp;girls nbsp;transform nbsp;their nbsp;lives nbsp;and nbsp;grow nbsp;in nbsp;confidence nbsp;leadership nbsp;and nbsp;academic nbsp;achievement nbsp;we nbsp;are nbsp;the nbsp;only…

Youth Development
5
Say Detroit

Providing pathways to success for detroiters in need.

Housing & Shelter
6
Local Circles

Local circles offers young detroiters an employment opportunity in youth- led research. by employing youth to do research, local circles intervenes on two simultaneous social issues facing young detroiters today: youth unemployment and…

—
7
The Youth Connection Inc

The Youth Connection is committed to connecting all youth and their families in metro Detroit to a brighter future by providing quality programs and supportive services.

Youth Development
8
The Greening of Detroit

The greening of detroit's mission is the sustainable growth of a healthy urban community through trees, green spaces, healthy living, education, training and job opportunities.

Environment
9
Arise Detroit

To inspire a community of active engagement, personal responsibility and hope by connecting people to opportunities and resources to transform the quality of life for all Detroiters.

Community Improvement
10
Detroit Food Policy Council

The organization was founded by a group of concerned citizens, working in cooperation with the detroit city council, to shape food policy and to work for a more localized, more just, and environmentally friendly food system. the…

Food & Nutrition
11
Urban League of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan

To enable african americans and people in need to reach their full human potential

—
12
Detroit Public Schools Foundation

DPSFs mission is to create and enhance educational opportunities for over 50,000 Detroit Public Schools Community Districts students, families and educators. DPS Foundation was organized to ensure DPS, now DPSCD student and families to…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Alternatives for Girls; the most unlike its peers is Free Bikes 4 Kidz - Detroit. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

26 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. 26 of the 29 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
26/26
Grantees still filing
15/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

APEX ACADEMY INC: $120,000 · OtherAPEX ACADEMY INCSOUTHWEST SOLUTIONS INC: $50,000 · OtherSOUTHWEST SOLUTIONS INCHope Ignites Detroit: $50,000 · OtherHope Ignites DetroitVISTA MARIA: $48,361 · OtherVISTA MARIA826 MICHIGAN INC: $35,750 · Other826 MICHIGAN INCTherapeutic Riding Inc: $27,500 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF DETROIT JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL AND ACADEMY: $27,500 · OtherMICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY: $25,000 · OtherCAREHOUSE OF OAKLAND COUNTY INC: $49,818 · OtherCAREHOUSE OF OAKLAND COUNTY INCSER METRO DETROIT JOBS FOR PROGRESS INC: $50,000 · OtherSER METRO DETROIT JOBS FOR PROGRESS INCHURON-CLINTON METROPARKS FOUNDATION: $46,100 · OtherHURON-CLINTON METROPARKS FOUNDATIONDETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: $35,000 · OtherDETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETYDETROIT FOOD & ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY: $27,500 · OtherDETROIT INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN: $25,000 · Other+1 more: $15,000 · OtherDETROIT HORSE POWER: $52,500 · Youth DevelopmentDETROIT HORSE …FREE BIKES 4 KIDZ - DETROIT: $50,000 · Youth DevelopmentFREE BIKES 4 K…Avalon Village Inc: $50,000 · Youth DevelopmentAvalon Village…GIRLS GROUP: $27,500 · Youth DevelopmentGIRLS GROUPOAKLAND FAMILY SERVICES: $50,000 · Human ServicesOAKLAND FAM…KIDS ON THE GO: $36,607 · Human ServicesKIDS ON THE…CHILDRENS CENTER OF WAYNE COUNTY INC: $28,000 · Human ServicesCHILDRENS C…Programs to Educate All Cyclists: $26,000 · Human ServicesPrograms to…COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN: $139,065 · PhilanthropyCOMMUNITY F…RACQUET UP DETROIT: $52,500 · Recreation & SportsFIGURE SKATING IN HARLEM INC: $50,000 · Recreation & SportsFORGOTTEN HARVEST INC: $72,500 · Food & NutritionGREATER LANSING FOOD BANK: $25,000 · Food & NutritionALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS: $75,000 · Housing & Shelter
Other$632,529Youth Development$180,000Human Services$140,607Philanthropy$139,065Recreation & Sports$102,500Food & Nutrition$97,500Housing & Shelter$75,000

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 budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN: $139,065 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS: $75,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetFORGOTTEN HARVEST INC: $72,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetRACQUET UP DETROIT: $52,500 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetDETROIT HORSE POWER: $52,500 over 2y, 2.6% of budgetFREE BIKES 4 KIDZ - DETROIT: $50,000 over 2y, 10% of budgetSOUTHWEST SOLUTIONS INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetSER METRO DETROIT JOBS FOR PROGRESS INC: $50,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetFIGURE SKATING IN HARLEM INC: $50,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetOAKLAND FAMILY SERVICES: $50,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetHope Ignites Detroit: $50,000 over 1y, 8.1% of budgetAvalon Village Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 4.4% of budgetCAREHOUSE OF OAKLAND COUNTY INC: $49,818 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetVISTA MARIA: $48,361 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHURON-CLINTON METROPARKS FOUNDATION: $46,100 over 1y, 44% of budgetKIDS ON THE GO: $36,607 over 1y, 4.8% of budget826 MICHIGAN INC: $35,750 over 1y, 6.8% of budgetDETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: $35,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCHILDRENS CENTER OF WAYNE COUNTY INC: $28,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGIRLS GROUP: $27,500 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetTherapeutic Riding Inc: $27,500 over 1y, 4.9% of budgetDETROIT FOOD & ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY: $27,500 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetPrograms to Educate All Cyclists: $26,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetDETROIT INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN: $25,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetGREATER LANSING FOOD BANK: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHAVEN INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

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 …United Way for Southe…DTE Energy FoundationDetroit Industrial Sc…Children's Hospital o…The Skillman Foundati…The Ralph C Wilson Jr…Ford PhilanthropyEthel and James Flinn…Harry a and Margaret …The Barton Malow Foun…Michigan Health Endow…
Community Foundation for Southeast MichiganMI40.6× affinity18 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · United Way for Southeastern Michigan · DTE Energy Foundation · Detroit Industrial School · Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation · The Skillman Foundation · The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation · Ford Philanthropy · Ethel and James Flinn Foundation · Harry a and Margaret D Towsley Foundation · The Barton Malow Foundation · Michigan Health Endowment Fund

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 Russell Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Russell Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%13%28%50%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get 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
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
    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 Russell Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Russell Family Foundation 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 29 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 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

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    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