Harold And Grace Upjohn Foundation

The Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation is a classically structured private foundation with deep roots in Kalamazoo's civic heritage. Founded in 1958 by Grace Upjohn — widow of Harold Upjohn, Vice President and General Manager of the Upjohn Company (which later merged into what became Pfizer) — the foundation has distributed over $20 million to local nonprofits across more than six decades. Its giving philosophy is intentionally broad: trustees are not bound to any single program area, though they may designate portions of annual income to specific issue categories at their discretion.

In practice, all recorded giving flows to Michigan organizations, with an overwhelming concentration in Kalamazoo County. This is not a statewide or national funder — applicants based or primarily serving communities outside the greater Kalamazoo area will not be competitive regardless of program quality.

The foundation strongly favors organizations with established track records. An analysis of the top 50 grantees in IRS records reveals that multi-grant relationships are the norm: Planned Parenthood of Michigan has received 5 grants totaling $97,000; the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts has received 5 grants totaling $82,500; Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo has received 4 grants totaling $88,000. In Tax Year 2024, the foundation issued 106 total grants — indicating a broad portfolio of modest awards rather than a concentrated set of major gifts. First-time applicants enter a landscape of entrenched relationships, making a compelling, well-documented case for community impact especially critical.

The foundation's current mission explicitly references 'equity, diversity, and inclusion' — a deliberate values evolution from the founder's original 1958 directive. Proposals should authentically reflect these values: articulate who you serve, how your organization addresses structural inequities, and how diverse voices are centered in leadership and programming.

The application process involves no letter of intent (LOI), no program officer to consult, and no pre-application site visit. A fully volunteer board reviews written applications twice per year. This means the written application is not a first impression — it is the entire case. First-time applicants should treat it with the care typically reserved for a major proposal: complete documentation, specific outcome metrics, and a precise budget that accounts for every dollar requested.

The Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation maintains remarkably consistent annual giving. Over the twelve fiscal years from FY 2010 through FY 2022 documented in IRS filings, grants paid ranged from $744,500 (FY 2010) to $1.225 million (FY 2020), with most years landing between $1.0 million and $1.12 million. The FY 2020 spike to $1.225M likely reflects COVID-19 emergency response grants, as several grantee records explicitly reference pandemic programming. The most recent reporting (Tax Year 2024, IRS filing January 2026) indicates approximately $1.3 million in annual distributions, consistent with asset growth from approximately $17.6 million (FY 2022 IRS filing) to approximately $26 million (current third-party estimates).

At the individual grant level, the median award is $10,000, with a range of approximately $3,500 to $30,000 across recent cycles. The average grant is $11,814 across 86 analyzed awards in the foundation's IRS data. Awards above $25,000 are uncommon and typically appear when capital project components are included — the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo received $70,000 across just 2 grants, one of which included an 'OPERATIONAL FUNDING/CAPITAL CAMPAIGN' component.

Estimated allocation by program area, derived from grantee purpose descriptions in IRS records:

• Human services (food, housing, shelter, clothing, healthcare access): approximately 35-40% of total giving, anchored by Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes ($95,000 cumulative), Kairos Dwelling ($80,000), Open Doors Kalamazoo ($70,000), and Goodwill Industries of Southwest Michigan ($65,000).
• Education and youth development (early childhood, literacy, K-12 supports, after-school): approximately 30-35%, led by Kalamazoo County Ready 4s ($90,000), Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo ($88,000), YMCA Achievement Gap programs ($83,000), and Read and Write Kalamazoo ($78,000).
• Arts and culture: approximately 15%, with consistent support for Kalamazoo Institute of Arts ($82,500), Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra ($80,000), and Crescendo Academy of Music ($64,500).
• Disability services and special populations: approximately 5-8%, including Aacorn Farm ($60,000) and The Arc Community Advocates ($50,000).
• Community development and housing: the remainder, including Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services ($55,000), Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity ($45,000), and Community Homeworks ($35,000).

In Tax Year 2024, 106 grants were issued across the spring and fall cycles, suggesting approximately 53 awards per cycle on average. This breadth signals the foundation's preference for distributing modest grants across many programs rather than concentrating major gifts — reinforcing the strategic case for requests in the $10,000-$15,000 range.

The Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation occupies a distinct position in the Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan philanthropic landscape — large enough to be meaningful but accessible enough for smaller nonprofits. The table below draws on publicly available IRS filings and third-party databases; figures for peers are estimates where exact data was unavailable.

The Upjohn Foundation is significantly smaller than the Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KCF) but fills a distinct niche: its general-purpose mandate, biannual open application cycle, and accessible grant range ($3,500-$30,000) make it more reachable for smaller nonprofits than funders that require demonstrated organizational capacity or operate through invited relationships. Unlike the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation — which operates primarily through invited relationships and concentrates heavily on arts and performing arts — the Upjohn Foundation maintains a fully open application process across multiple issue areas with no invitation requirement.

The W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, though closely related historically (the foundation operates from the Institute's building at 300 S. Westnedge Ave. and the current President, Randall W. Eberts, leads both organizations), is a distinct entity focused on employment policy research and does not accept general grant applications. Applicants should not conflate the two. For Kalamazoo nonprofits, the most effective funding strategy layers Upjohn Foundation awards alongside KCF grants and program-specific funders to build a diversified local base.

No major press releases, programmatic announcements, or leadership statements from 2025-2026 were identified in web searches. The foundation maintains a deliberately low public profile consistent with its fully volunteer governance structure and $0 officer compensation across all recorded periods.

The most recent IRS 990-PF was filed January 21, 2026, covering Tax Year 2024. This filing reflects approximately $1.3 million in annual distributions across 106 grants — a modest increase from $1.078 million (FY 2022) and $1.016 million (FY 2021). A prior filing was submitted January 31, 2025, covering Tax Year 2023.

One notable governance transition is visible across IRS filings: Florence U. Orosz, who served as President in earlier periods, has been succeeded by Randall W. Eberts as President. Eberts is also President and CEO of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, the historically affiliated entity that shares the foundation's 300 S. Westnedge Avenue address. Lisa Rodriguez has rotated between Vice President and Trustee roles across recent filings. Don Edgerly remains the consistent Secretary/Treasurer and primary institutional contact at (269) 385-0439.

The most operationally significant recent change is the transition to a fully online application system at haroldandgraceupjohnfoundation.org. The prior IRS instructions directed applicants to submit paper forms to the address on file — a process now replaced by a structured digital portal with cycle windows, a 30-day save feature, and specific file requirements. This modernization, combined with the updated equity, diversity, and inclusion mission language, signals a foundation that has meaningfully evolved its accessibility and values framing while maintaining its core commitment to the greater Kalamazoo community.

The following guidance reflects what is specific and distinctive about the Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation — not generic grant-writing advice.

Timing is non-negotiable. The foundation accepts applications during two windows per year only: Spring (March 1 at 9:00am through April 1 at 5:00pm EST) and Fall (August 1 at 9:00am through September 1 at 5:00pm EST). The portal closes sharply at each deadline with no extensions. Submit at least 48 hours early to avoid technical issues.

Read the annual report before drafting your narrative. The foundation explicitly instructs applicants to review its most current annual report at haroldandgraceupjohnfoundation.org/annual-report/ before applying. This document reveals recently funded organizations, grant size patterns, and program types the board currently favors — calibrate your narrative to what you find.

Request a realistic amount for your relationship stage. Median grant: $10,000. Reasonable first-time request range: $7,500-$15,000. Established multi-year grantees typically request $15,000-$25,000. Requests above $25,000 are exceptional and require a capital component or demonstrated multi-cycle track record with this funder. Do not overreach on an initial application.

Anchor every claim in Kalamazoo geography. Geographic alignment is the foundational eligibility test. Name the specific Kalamazoo neighborhoods, schools, ZIP codes, or census tracts where programs operate. Avoid regional or statewide framing — this funder exists exclusively for greater Kalamazoo benefit.

Integrate EDI language authentically. The current mission statement specifies 'equity, diversity, and inclusion.' Dedicate a paragraph to your organization's approach: who you serve (with demographic specifics), how you recruit diverse staff and board members, and how programs address structural root causes rather than surface-level symptoms.

Prepare all 9 required documents well in advance. Required attachments: (1) signed cover letter, (2) completed online application, (3) officer and board list with occupations, (4) one-page budget for the request, (5) full organizational operating budget, (6) letters of support if applicable, (7) IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, (8) most recent audited financial statement, (9) nondiscrimination policy statement. All must be PDF format, each under 1 MB, with no more than 12 total uploads for document categories A-F.

Re-apply every cycle to build a multi-year relationship. The top grantees in IRS records have accumulated 4-5 grants over multiple cycles — Planned Parenthood of Michigan (5 grants, $97,000), Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (5 grants, $82,500). A successful Spring award does not preclude a Fall request for a complementary program component. Build a deliberate multi-year engagement strategy from the first application.