//
Work at this foundation?
Claim this profile to manage it and see interest from grant seekers.
Edsel And Eleanor Ford House is a private corporation based in GROSSE PT SHR, MI. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 1979. It holds total assets of $318M. Annual income is reported at $30.8M. Total assets have grown from $105.4M in 2010 to $318M in 2024. The foundation is governed by 10 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2020 to 2024. The foundation primarily funds organizations in Grosse Pointe, Michigan and Metropolitan Detroit area. According to available records, Edsel And Eleanor Ford House has made 75 grants totaling $135K, with a median grant of $550. Annual giving has grown from $8K in 2020 to $47K in 2023. Individual grants have ranged from N/A to $15K, with an average award of $2K. The foundation has supported 48 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Michigan, Georgia, Maryland, which account for 99% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 4 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is, first and foremost, an operating foundation — a nonprofit historic house museum whose primary purpose is preserving and operating its own 87-acre lakefront estate in Grosse Pointe Shores. This distinction is critical for any organization considering an approach: Ford House does not function as a traditional grantmaking foundation disbursing program grants. Its annual "total giving" figures — ranging from $6.4M in FY2020 to $16M in FY2023 — represent the foundation's own program expenses (estate care, educational programs, special events), not distributions to outside organizations.
External community support exists but is narrowly scoped. Ford House maintains a Community Donation Request program specifically for local 501(c)(3) nonprofits seeking support for fundraisers and community events. This is a sponsorship and in-kind donation mechanism, not a grant program. Actual cash disbursed to external organizations has ranged from roughly $8,000 to $66,000 per year across 75 recorded transactions, with an average grant of $1,802 and a median of just $500.
Organizations with the strongest alignment share two characteristics: they are deeply rooted in the Grosse Pointe and tri-county Detroit area (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb Counties), and they connect meaningfully to Ford House's own institutional values — history, design, nature, community pride, and philanthropy. The Ford family trustees (Benson Ford Jr., Martha Firestone Ford, Sheila Ford Hamp, Eleanor Bourke Ford, Lindsey Ford Buhl) bring legacy connections to automotive heritage, the arts (Detroit Symphony, Detroit Institute of Arts), and education.
First-time organizations should set realistic expectations: this is a community sponsor, not a major funder. Typical support takes the form of event sponsorships ($500-$7,500) or small donations ($100-$2,500). There is no multi-year relationship progression or formal LOI process. The path to support runs through Ford House's online donation request form, community visibility, and demonstrated impact in the local tri-county community.
Ford House's external grantmaking is best understood as community philanthropy at a neighborhood scale, despite the organization's substantial $318M asset base. The discrepancy between asset size and external giving is explained by its operating foundation status — nearly all resources fund the estate's own preservation and programming.
External disbursements by year (grants_paid field, IRS 990): - FY2023: $47,457 across recipients - FY2022: $25,643 - FY2021: $36,781 - FY2020: $8,138 - FY2019: $43,805 - FY2015: $66,546
Across 75 recorded external transactions, total disbursements sum to $135,164. The median grant is $500, average is $1,802, and the maximum recorded single gift is $15,000. The practical range for sponsorship requests runs $500-$7,500 for event-based asks.
Geographic concentration: 96% of giving stays in Michigan (72 of 75 grants), with the overwhelming majority in the Grosse Pointe corridor and surrounding metro Detroit communities. Out-of-state recipients (one each in GA, MA, MD) appear to be personal or legacy-connected gifts rather than open-competition grants.
By recipient type: Local government entities (Village of Grosse Pointe Shores: $30,500; City of St. Clair Shores: $10,000) received the largest cumulative amounts, followed by business associations (Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce: $24,764), arts institutions (College of Creative Studies: $7,500; Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation: $2,000), and education (Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education: $2,200; University Liggett School: $2,250). Sponsorships for racing and motorsport events, environmental organizations, and human services round out the portfolio.
Total organizational revenue grew from $1.1M (FY2022) to $5.8M (FY2023) to $19.5M (FY2024), largely reflecting earned revenue from events, admissions, and the estate's commercial activities — not endowment distributions earmarked for external grants.
Comparing Ford House to similar Michigan-based historic operating foundations reveals a consistent pattern: substantial assets and institutional prestige, but very limited external grantmaking as a percentage of total resources.
| Foundation | Assets | Annual Giving (External) | Primary Focus | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edsel & Eleanor Ford House | $318M | ~$8K-$67K/yr | Historic estate preservation, education | Donation request form (events/sponsorships) |
| The Henry Ford (Greenfield Village) | ~$400M+ | Not publicly reported | Automotive/American history, education | No open grants program |
| Cranbrook Educational Community | ~$200M | Limited sponsorships | Arts, architecture, education | No open grants program |
| Michigan Humane Society Foundation | ~$15M | Mission-aligned grants | Animal welfare | Open applications |
| Detroit Institute of Arts Foundation | ~$50M | Event sponsorships | Arts, community access | Partnership/sponsorship requests |
Ford House occupies a distinct niche: it has the asset scale of a regional grantmaking foundation but operates entirely as a self-directed mission organization. Unlike the Kresge Foundation or Hudson-Webber Foundation — true grantmaking institutions — Ford House directs essentially all resources toward its own programs. Organizations seeking substantial grants should pursue Detroit's established grantmaking foundations instead. Ford House is appropriate only for small-scale community sponsorship requests from tri-county Michigan nonprofits with clear alignment to its programming themes.
The dominant news story at Ford House in 2024-2026 is the $7 million NOAA habitat restoration project at Ford Cove on Lake St. Clair. Funded by NOAA's Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grant under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Phase 1 concluded in fall 2025 with wetland boardwalk construction. Phase 2 is actively underway in early 2026, with GEI Consultants completing engineering, Catskill Remedial contracted for construction, and the planting of over 200,000 native plants and trees scheduled through summer 2026 and into 2027. This project represents the largest capital initiative in Ford House's recent history and signals growing organizational investment in environmental stewardship.
On the recognition front, Ford House received Michigan Cares for Tourism's 2024 Pure Award for sustainability leadership — reinforcing the environmental positioning that supported the NOAA grant win.
For 2025 programming, Ford House unveiled new children's tea experiences themed around children's literature characters (Once Upon a Tea), new specialty guided tours exploring the Fords' art collection and architecture, and returning beloved programs including the Nooks & Crannies Behind-the-Scenes Tour and All About Eleanor Guided Tour. The December 2025 Home for the Holidays light walk (Fridays-Sundays, December 5-21) continued as a signature seasonal event. The 2026 season is in development with an emphasis on water-based concerts, family programming, and immersive visitor experiences. No leadership changes were identified in publicly available 2025-2026 reporting; Mark J. Heppner continues as President & CEO.
Understand what you're actually applying for. Ford House runs a community donation request program — not a grants competition. It donates tickets, venue use, in-kind services, and occasional small cash gifts to support nonprofit fundraisers and community events. Do not submit a program grant proposal. Submit a specific, event-tied request.
Use the dedicated online form. Go to fordhouse.org/join-and-support/community-donation-requests/ and complete the donation request form. This is the only formal intake pathway; cold calls or mailed letters are not the appropriate channel.
Tri-county geography is the primary filter. If your organization is not headquartered or primarily operating in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb County, your request is unlikely to be approved. Ford House has explicitly prioritized this region in its community giving guidelines.
Frame your request around community events and fundraisers. Requests that specify a concrete event (gala, auction, community festival), a date, and a clear ask (admission tickets for a prize package, venue sponsorship, program ad) have a stronger chance than vague program support requests.
Connect to Ford House's core themes. Historic preservation, arts and design (especially architecture, automotive heritage, decorative arts), nature and environmental education, and youth programming all resonate with board values shaped by the Ford family legacy. The organization's recent sustainability investments make environmental themes particularly timely in 2026.
Keep dollar asks modest. The median gift is $500 and the vast majority of gifts fall below $2,500. Asking for $1,000-$2,500 in cash or equivalent in-kind is realistic. Requests above $5,000 appear to go only to longstanding local institutional partners like the Chamber of Commerce or local government entities.
Timing matters. Submit well in advance of your event — at least 60-90 days. Ford House's programming calendar fills early, and requests tied to events happening within 30 days are likely to be declined or ignored.
Build visibility through participation first. Organizations that appear in Ford House's own event ecosystem (partnering on community events at the estate, participating in programming) develop the visibility that makes donation requests more likely to succeed.
Create a free Granted account to download this report — includes application checklist, full financial data, and all grantees.
Already have an account? Sign in to download.
Smallest Grant
N/A
Median Grant
$500
Average Grant
$2K
Largest Grant
$15K
Based on 22 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
Care, restoration, and maintenance of the historic estate, including the house, furnishings, and grounds, enabling the estate to be open to the public, school/youth groups, and other special groups for tours and education (approx. 19,876 onsite visitors and 9,077 virtual visitors). Acquisition of assets used in the care and restoration of the estate/collection.
Expenses: $5.1M
Youth and adult programming used to educate the general public about the lives & times of the ford family, while living at the estate. Approximately 9,449 visitors.
Expenses: $3.8M
Special functions at the estate to benefit non profit organizations, the community and other special groups. Approximately 2,875 visitors.
Expenses: $2.5M
Care, restoration, and maintenance of the historic Edsel and Eleanor Ford House estate, including the house, furnishings, and grounds, enabling the estate to be open to the public for tours and education.
Educational programs to teach the general public about the lives and times of the Ford family while living at the estate.
Special events and functions at the estate to benefit non-profit organizations, the community, and other special groups.
Ford House's external grantmaking is best understood as community philanthropy at a neighborhood scale, despite the organization's substantial $318M asset base. The discrepancy between asset size and external giving is explained by its operating foundation status — nearly all resources fund the estate's own preservation and programming. External disbursements by year (grants_paid field, IRS 990): - FY2023: $47,457 across recipients - FY2022: $25,643 - FY2021: $36,781 - FY2020: $8,138 - FY2019: $.
Edsel And Eleanor Ford House has distributed a total of $135K across 75 grants. The median grant size is $550, with an average of $2K. Individual grants have ranged from N/A to $15K.
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is, first and foremost, an operating foundation — a nonprofit historic house museum whose primary purpose is preserving and operating its own 87-acre lakefront estate in Grosse Pointe Shores. This distinction is critical for any organization considering an approach: Ford House does not function as a traditional grantmaking foundation disbursing program grants. Its annual "total giving" figures — ranging from $6.4M in FY2020 to $16M in FY2023 — represent the found.
Edsel And Eleanor Ford House is headquartered in GROSSE PT SHR, MI. While based in MI, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 4 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark J Heppner | PRESIDENT & CEO | $227K | $31K | $271K |
| Lindsey Ford Buhl | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Benson Ford Jr | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Alessandro Uzielli | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Martha Firestone Ford | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| David M Hempstead | SECRETARY | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Chris Dine | TREASURER | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Eleanor Bourke Ford | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Sheila Ford Hamp | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Lynn F Alandt | CHAIRMAN | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
N/A
Total Assets
$318M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$273.5M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
N/A
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
75
Total Giving
$135K
Average Grant
$2K
Median Grant
$550
Unique Recipients
48
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndale Community FoundationSPONSORSHIP | Ferndale, MI | $1K | 2023 |
| Village Of Grosse Pointe ShoresDONATION | Grosse Pointe Shores, MI | $15K | 2023 |
| Grosse Pointe Chamber Of CommerceDONATION | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $9K | 2023 |
| City Of St Clair ShoresDONATION | St Clair Shores, MI | $5K | 2023 |
| College For Creative StudiesSPONSORSHIP | Detroit, MI | $3K | 2023 |
| City Of Grosse Pte WoodsDONATION | Grosse Pointe Woods, MI | $3K | 2023 |
| Historical Society Of MichiganDONATION | Lansing, MI | $2K | 2023 |
| Motorcities National Heritage AreaDONATION | Detroit, MI | $2K | 2023 |
| Grosse Pointe Historical SocietyDONATION | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $2K | 2023 |
| The Helm Life CenterSPONSORSHIP | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $2K | 2023 |
| University Liggett SchoolDONATION | Grosse Pointe Woods, MI | $2K | 2023 |
| Michigan Green IndustrySPONSORSHIP | Bingham Farms, MI | $1K | 2023 |
| Racing For Kids To The HillSPONSORSHIP | Grosse Pointe, MI | $1K | 2023 |
| Berry CollegeDONATION | Mt Berry, GA | $630 | 2023 |
| Grosse Pointe Foundation For Public EducationDONATION | Grosse Pointe Woods, MI | $500 | 2023 |
| Macomb County Heritage AllianceDONATION | Clinton Township, MI | $100 | 2023 |
| Sam Sandifer Funeral CostsCONTRIBUTION TO SAM SANDIFER | Grosse Pointe Shores, MI | $8K | 2022 |
| College Of Creative StudiesSPONSORSHIP | Detroit, MI | $3K | 2022 |
| Albert Kahn Legacy FoundationSPONSORSHIP | Detroit, MI | $1K | 2022 |
| Racing For Kids Front Row SponserSPONSORSHIP | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $1K | 2022 |
| Michigan Green Industry Association (Mgia)SPONSORSHIP | Bingham Farms, MI | $550 | 2022 |
| Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary ClubSPONSORSHIP | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $550 | 2022 |
| Friends Of DetroitSPONSORSHIP | Detroit, MI | $500 | 2022 |
| Continental Cafe LlcDONATIONS | Grosse Pointe Shores, MI | $401 | 2022 |
| Nadine SiedersDONATIONS | Clinton Township, MI | $300 | 2022 |
| National Association For The Advancement Of Colored PeopleSPONSORSHIP | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | $100 | 2022 |
| City Of Grosse Pointe WoodsDONATION | Grosse Pointe Woods, MI | $3K | 2021 |
| Motorcities National HeritageDONATION | Detroit, MI | $1K | 2021 |