Max M & Marjorie S Fisher Foundation Inc.

## How to Approach the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation

The Fisher Foundation operates as a deeply relational, partnership-driven funder rooted in the Jewish tradition of tzedakah (charitable giving) and tikkun olam (repairing the world). Their grantmaking philosophy centers on asking grantees "what do you need?" rather than imposing donor-driven priorities. This is not a foundation that responds well to transactional, one-off funding requests.

Alignment signals that matter most: - Geographic rootedness in Detroit/Southeast Michigan: The foundation concentrates resources in specific neighborhoods (particularly Brightmoor) rather than spreading funding broadly. Organizations embedded in Detroit communities have a significant advantage. - Family-centered, multigenerational approaches: For early childhood work, they want to see programs that strengthen entire families, not just serve individual children. Kindergarten readiness and childcare quality are top priorities. - Jewish community connection: Jewish causes represent their largest single grant category ($1.3M to Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit). Organizations strengthening Jewish identity, Israel connections, and community legacy are core to their mission. - Racial justice lens: The foundation conducts grantmaking through a racial justice framework, particularly in their Detroit-focused work. Proposals should demonstrate awareness of systemic inequities. - Willingness to share power: They have pioneered community-directed grantmaking where local Detroiters decide how basic needs resources are distributed. Organizations that genuinely share decision-making authority with communities they serve will resonate.

Theory of change: The Fisher Foundation believes in long-term, place-based investment with deep relationships. They supported Brightmoor childcare initiatives continuously since 2008. Expect them to value sustained commitment over flashy new programs.

## Funding Patterns and Grant Distribution

Annual giving: Approximately $19.5 million across 215 grants (2024 data).

Grant size distribution: - Minimum: $630 - Maximum: $1,300,000 - Median: $47,908 - Average: ~$91,000

The distribution is heavily skewed toward a small number of large anchor grants. The top grant (Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit at $1.3M) represents roughly 6.7% of total giving. The top 10 grants likely account for 25-30% of all disbursements.

Sector allocation (estimated from 2024 990-PF): - Jewish causes and Israel: ~35-40% of total giving - Early childhood and family strengthening: ~20-25% - Arts and culture (Detroit institutions): ~15-20% - Health (HIV/AIDS focus): ~5-10% - Impact investing and social enterprise: ~5-10% - Legacy and other grants: ~5%

Geographic distribution: - Primary: Detroit and Southeast Michigan (estimated 60-70% of grants) - Secondary: National organizations with Michigan connections - International: Israel-focused organizations (Birthright Israel, Jewish Agency for Israel, American Friends of Orr Shalom)

Grant duration: The foundation favors multi-year commitments for core partners. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra received a four-year commitment ($250K for 2024/25-2027/28). Brightmoor childcare investments span nearly two decades.

Impact investing: The foundation deploys approximately $10M through program-related investments (PRIs) and mission-related investments (MRIs), primarily through CDFIs. Their social enterprise lending program offers concessionary loans of $150,000-$500,000 to Southeast Michigan-based social enterprises.

## Peer Comparison

The Fisher Foundation sits among a cohort of large Michigan-based family foundations with significant Detroit-area focus. Here is how it compares to peers in the same asset range and geographic focus:

Distinguishing characteristics: - More focused than peers: While Kresge and the Community Foundation cast wide nets, Fisher concentrates deeply in five defined impact areas with an explicit Jewish values framework. - Stronger relational model: Fisher is known for its unusually collaborative approach — reducing reporting burdens, soliciting grantee feedback, and sharing decision-making power. This contrasts with more structured, metrics-driven peers like Kresge. - Unique impact investing commitment: Fisher's $10M PRI/MRI portfolio and social enterprise lending program distinguish it from most peers its size, which rely primarily on traditional grantmaking. - Multigenerational family governance: As a family foundation now transitioning to third-generation leadership (David Sherman becoming chair in 2026), Fisher maintains family engagement across four generations — unusual for a foundation of its vintage (est. 1955). - Payout rate: At ~7% of assets ($19.5M on $280M), Fisher's payout significantly exceeds the 5% IRS minimum, indicating strong commitment to current impact rather than perpetual endowment growth.

## Recent Activity and Strategic Shifts

Leadership transition (2025-2026): The foundation is undergoing its most significant governance change in years. The board passed new bylaws in late 2024 and elected David Sherman as vice chair for 2025. Sherman will become the first third-generation family member to serve as board chair in 2026, succeeding Julie Fisher Cummings (second generation). This transition has been carefully planned with rotating three-year chair terms to ensure multigenerational voice.

Board composition evolution: Five third and fourth-generation Fisher family members now serve on the board, including Alissandra Aronow who chairs the impact investment committee. Executive Director Doug Bitonti Stewart (compensated at $475,487 in 2024) continues to lead operations.

Community-directed grantmaking: The foundation has launched a community program allowing local Detroiters to make decisions about how basic needs resources are distributed. This represents a meaningful shift toward participatory grantmaking and power-sharing — a trend among progressive foundations but still uncommon at this asset level.

Social enterprise expansion: The foundation issued a formal Request for Applications (RFA) for concessionary loans to social enterprises in Southeast Michigan, seeking to expand their impact investing pipeline. Loan sizes range from $150,000 to $500,000, targeting both early-stage and established social enterprises.

Grantee relations reform: The foundation has actively reduced reporting burdens on grantees and institutionalized feedback mechanisms. This reflects a broader trend in philanthropy toward trust-based grantmaking, but Fisher has been an early and committed adopter.

Brightmoor deepening: The foundation continues its nearly two-decade investment in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit, with significant 2024 grants to Everybody Ready ($737K) and Development Centers Inc ($452K) for childcare quality initiatives.

Endowment alignment: The foundation has aligned approximately half of its endowment to "do no harm" investment principles, with the impact investment committee pushing for deeper alignment. This positions Fisher among the more progressive family foundations on ESG/impact investing.

## Application Tips for the Fisher Foundation

1. Start with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), not a full proposal. The Fisher Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All prospective grantees must submit an LOI through their online portal at mmfisher.fluxx.io. Keep your LOI concise and clearly aligned with one of their five impact areas. Expect an initial response within approximately 2 weeks.

2. Demonstrate deep community embeddedness. This foundation prizes organizations that are rooted in the communities they serve, particularly in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Generic national programs without local ties will not advance. Show specific neighborhood-level knowledge and relationships, especially if working in areas like Brightmoor where Fisher has deep history.

3. Frame your work through a family-strengthening lens. For early childhood proposals, avoid framing children as isolated beneficiaries. Fisher wants to see how your program strengthens entire family units across generations. Reference kindergarten readiness outcomes and childcare quality metrics where applicable.

4. Emphasize partnership over transaction. Fisher Foundation staff approach grantees as partners, asking "how can we facilitate?" rather than directing work. Your LOI should signal that you welcome collaborative learning and are open to foundation engagement beyond the check. Mention how you incorporate stakeholder feedback and share decision-making with the communities you serve.

5. Be honest about what you need. Executive Director Doug Bitonti Stewart has publicly stated their approach centers on asking grantees "what do you need?" Do not understate your needs or pad requests. Be transparent about organizational challenges and capacity gaps — this foundation respects honesty over polish.

6. Align with their racial justice framework. The foundation explicitly conducts grantmaking through a racial justice lens. Proposals should demonstrate awareness of systemic inequities and articulate how your work advances racial equity, particularly in the Detroit context.

7. For impact investing: consider social enterprise loans. If your organization operates as or supports social enterprises in Southeast Michigan, explore their concessionary loan program ($150K-$500K). This is a distinct pathway from traditional grants and may have less competition.

8. Do not apply if you lack geographic fit. Unless your organization serves Jewish causes or has strong Israel connections (which are funded nationally/internationally), organizations outside Detroit/Southeast Michigan face very long odds. Focus your energy on funders aligned with your geography.