Skip to content

Michigan · Private foundation

The Burdick-Thorne Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$499k
Granted FY2024(still arriving)
73
Grants FY2024
55
Organizations funded FY2023
5%
First-time grantees FY2023
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2024
$5,000
Largest grant, FY2024
$50,000
Organizations funded a year
47 to 57
FY2017 to FY2023
States reached, FY2024
2
Total assets, FY2024
$9.2M
Applications
Preselected organizations only
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2023, 5% of the organizations The Burdick-Thorne Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 3% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 97% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $13k went to new ones.

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

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

’18’19’20’21’22’23
Arts & CultureHuman ServicesCommunity ImprovementEducationHealthRecreation & SportsOther
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.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2024still arriving57$481k9%
FY202355$438k5%
FY202254$491k9%
FY202157$529k12%
FY202052$404k6%
FY201950$454k12%
FY201850$464k12%
FY201747$382kn/a
100% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Arts & Culture$1.1MEducation$916kHuman Services$483kHealth$185kRecreation & Sports$155kHousing & Shelter$154kEnvironment$125kYouth Development$119kOther$0

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2017 to FY2024, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

Show all 65 grantees
All grantees of The Burdick-Thorne Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra$579,00089%
Western Michigan University Foundation$359,00080%
Kalamazoo College$283,00080%
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation$135,00084%
Family & Children Services Inc$99,00080%
Boys & Girls Clubs of Kalamazoo Inc$91,50081%
Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo$87,00081%
Fontana Chamber Arts$84,00084%
Senior Services Inc$71,50050%
Kalamazoo Civic Theatre$71,00080%
Southwest Michigan Land Conservency Inc$62,00082%
Kalamazoo Nature Center$60,00080%
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes Inc$58,00080%
Ministry With Community Inc$46,70082%
Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition$46,00033%
American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches$43,00040%
United Way of South Central Michigan$42,00080%
Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency Foundation$41,50045%
Housing Resources Inc$40,00080%
Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan$40,00080%
Heritage Community of Kalamazoo Foundation Inc$38,00051%
Kalamazoo County Humane Society$34,00081%
Kalamazoo Choral Arts Inc$32,00083%
Prevention Works Inc$30,00050%
First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo$30,0002n/a
Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center$30,00030%
Kalamazoo Cultural Center$30,00022%
Community Healing Centers$30,00080%
Gryphon Place$29,00080%
Julius & Esther Stulberg Competition Inc$27,50082%
Salvation Army$27,0008n/a
Pretty Lake Vacation Camp Inc$27,00080%
Open Doors Kalamazoo$27,00080%
Specialized Language Development Center Inc$27,00080%
Crescendo Academy of Music$24,00081%
Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo$24,00040%
Kalamazoo Literacy Council$23,00081%
Michigan Festival of Sacred Music$22,00084%
Peoples Church of Kalamazoo Michigan$21,0007n/a
Wellspring-Cori Terry and Dancers$20,00081%
Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity Inc$19,00080%
Compton Junior Equestrians$18,00062%
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts$15,00060%
Park Club Historic Foundation$15,00013%
Can-Do Kalamazoo$15,00032%
Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan Inc$11,5005n/a
Kalamazoo Concert Band$10,50073%
Burr Oak 4-H Club - Michigan State$10,0001n/a
Vibrant Kalamazoo$10,00012%
First Day Shoe Fund$9,00031%
New Vic Theatricals Inc$8,00081%
Focushope$8,00080%
Kalamazoo Gospel Mission$8,0008n/a
Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Society$8,00081%
Saugatuck Center for the Arts Inc$6,00030%
Community Homeworks Inc$6,00020%
Jr Posse Youth Equestrian Program$6,00020%
Irving S Gilmore International Keyboard$5,00010%
Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck Inc$5,00032%
Kalamazoo in Bloom Inc$4,00081%
Educating for Freedom in Schools$3,0001n/a
The Peoples Church$3,0001n/a
Stewards of Kleinstuck$3,00011%
Hispanic American Council Inc$2,50010%
Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes Inc$2,50010%

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 17 recipients with no EIN on record ($539k), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Each grantee by its size and the share of its budget The Burdick-Thorne Foundation supplied at peak.

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetKalamazoo Symphony Orchestra: $579,000 over 8y, 9.5% of budgetWestern Michigan University Foundation: $359,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetKalamazoo College: $283,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetKalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation: $135,000 over 8y, 3.6% of budgetFamily & Children Services Inc: $99,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetBoys & Girls Clubs of Kalamazoo Inc: $91,500 over 8y, 0.8% of budgetArts Council of Greater Kalamazoo: $87,000 over 8y, 1.1% of budgetFontana Chamber Arts: $84,000 over 8y, 3.9% of budgetSenior Services Inc: $71,500 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetKalamazoo Civic Theatre: $71,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetSouthwest Michigan Land Conservency Inc: $62,000 over 8y, 1.7% of budgetKalamazoo Nature Center: $60,000 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetKalamazoo Loaves & Fishes Inc: $58,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetMinistry With Community Inc: $46,700 over 8y, 1.5% of budgetKalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition: $46,000 over 3y, 2.8% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $43,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetUnited Way of South Central Michigan: $42,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetKalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency Foundation: $41,500 over 4y, 5.3% of budgetHousing Resources Inc: $40,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetHospice Care of Southwest Michigan: $40,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetHeritage Community of Kalamazoo Foundation Inc: $38,000 over 5y, 1.5% of budgetKalamazoo County Humane Society: $34,000 over 8y, 0.7% of budgetKalamazoo Choral Arts Inc: $32,000 over 8y, 2.7% of budgetPrevention Works Inc: $30,000 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetSherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center: $30,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetKalamazoo Cultural Center: $30,000 over 2y, 1.8% of budgetCommunity Healing Centers: $30,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetGryphon Place: $29,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetJulius & Esther Stulberg Competition Inc: $27,500 over 8y, 2.3% of budgetPretty Lake Vacation Camp Inc: $27,000 over 8y, 0.4% of budgetOpen Doors Kalamazoo: $27,000 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetSpecialized Language Development Center Inc: $27,000 over 8y, 0.5% of budgetCrescendo Academy of Music: $24,000 over 8y, 0.5% of budgetCommunities in Schools of Kalamazoo: $24,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetKalamazoo Literacy Council: $23,000 over 8y, 1.1% of budgetMichigan Festival of Sacred Music: $22,000 over 8y, 3.7% of budgetWellspring-Cori Terry and Dancers: $20,000 over 8y, 1.3% of budgetKalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity Inc: $19,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetCompton Junior Equestrians: $18,000 over 6y, 2.5% of budgetKalamazoo Institute of Arts: $15,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetPark Club Historic Foundation: $15,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetCan-Do Kalamazoo: $15,000 over 3y, 1.6% of budgetKalamazoo Concert Band: $10,500 over 7y, 3.1% of budgetVibrant Kalamazoo: $10,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetFirst Day Shoe Fund: $9,000 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetNew Vic Theatricals Inc: $8,000 over 8y, 1.3% of budgetFocushope: $8,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetKalamazoo Junior Symphony Society: $8,000 over 8y, 0.6% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 57.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

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.

Tyler-Little Family FoundationMI103.6× affinity47 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Tyler-Little Family Foundation · Kalamazoo Community Foundation · Dorothy U Dalton Foundation Inc · Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation · Irving S Gilmore Foundation · Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation · Suzanne Upjohn Delano Parish Foundation · H P & Genevieve Connable Fund · John E Fetzer Institute Inc · United Way of South Central Michigan · Jim Gilmore Jr Foundation · The Ronda E Stryker and William D Johnston Foundation

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.

Compare The Burdick-Thorne Foundation with peer funders

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Burdick-Thorne Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Burdick-Thorne 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.

About The Burdick-Thorne Foundation

How much does The Burdick-Thorne Foundation give?
The Burdick-Thorne Foundation reported 73 grants totaling $498,500 in its FY2024 IRS filing. It funded between 47 and 57 organizations a year over FY2017 to FY2023.
What does The Burdick-Thorne Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2017 to FY2024, its largest causes are Arts & Culture (30%), Education (25%), Human Services (13%).
Who are The Burdick-Thorne Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2017 to FY2024: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra ($579k), Western Michigan University Foundation ($359k), Kalamazoo College ($283k).
Does The Burdick-Thorne Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2023, 5% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does The Burdick-Thorne Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and does not take unsolicited requests. Check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
Which funders back the same organizations as The Burdick-Thorne Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include Tyler-Little Family Foundation, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Dorothy U Dalton Foundation Inc.
Where is The Burdick-Thorne Foundation based?
The Burdick-Thorne Foundation is based in MI.

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 84 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 Burdick-Thorne’s filings →

More from the funding graph