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The Charboneau Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.3M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.1M

The Charboneau Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • EIN: 20-8080199
  • Total Assets: $27.5 million (2024)
  • Annual Giving: $1,340,000 (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 26 awards (2024)
  • Foundation Type: Private Independent Family Foundation
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Michigan (Hartford area)
  • Tax-Exempt Since: November 2007

Contact Details

Address: 64683 77th Ave, Hartford, MI 49057-9604

Phone: 269-568-0847

Foundation Type: Private Independent Family Foundation (501(c)(3))

Overview

The Charboneau Family Foundation is a private independent family foundation established in 2007 and based in Hartford, Michigan. With total assets of approximately $27.5 million as of 2024, the foundation distributes approximately $1.3-1.4 million annually in charitable grants. The foundation has maintained consistent grant-making activity over the past several years, making between 26-27 awards annually to various nonprofit organizations.

The foundation generates its revenue primarily through investment activities, with approximately 81% of revenue coming from sales of assets, 18% from dividends, and the remainder from interest income. As a family-managed foundation, all officers are members of the Charboneau family and serve without compensation, reflecting a traditional family foundation structure focused on strategic philanthropic giving in their local Michigan community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through discretionary grant-making rather than structured programs with published guidelines. Based on available tax filing data:

  • Annual Grant Distribution: Approximately $1.3-1.4 million
  • Number of Awards: Consistently 26-27 grants per year
  • Average Grant Size: Approximately $50,000-52,000 per grant (based on total distribution divided by number of awards)

Priority Areas

Specific priority areas are not publicly documented. As a private family foundation without a public website or published guidelines, funding priorities are determined at the discretion of the trustees. Prospective applicants would need to review the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (Part XV) to identify past grant recipients and discern funding patterns.

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. As with most private foundations, they likely do not fund:

  • Individuals (except through qualified scholarship programs, if any)
  • Political campaigns or lobbying activities
  • Non-charitable purposes

Governance and Leadership

The Charboneau Family Foundation is governed by family members who serve without compensation:

  • Kenneth Charboneau - President
  • Donna Charboneau - Secretary
  • Kent Charboneau - Treasurer
  • Michael Charboneau - Vice President

All officers are members of the Charboneau family from Hartford, Michigan. The foundation operates from the family's property at 64683 77th Ave, Hartford, MI, a 110-acre property. As a family foundation, governance decisions are made internally by family trustees, and none of the officers receive compensation for their service.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, The Charboneau Family Foundation does not maintain a public website, published application guidelines, or an open application process.

Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the family trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and interests. Most grants are likely awarded to organizations already known to the foundation or identified through the trustees' networks and community involvement.

Organizations interested in being considered for funding would need to:

  1. Contact the foundation directly at 269-568-0847
  2. Submit an introductory letter describing their organization and funding needs
  3. Be prepared that the foundation may not accept unsolicited proposals

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation operating at trustee discretion, grant decisions are likely made on a rolling basis or at scheduled trustee meetings throughout the year.

Success Rates

Public data indicates:

  • Number of Awards: 26-27 grants made annually
  • Total Applications: Not publicly disclosed

Without knowing the number of applications received, it is not possible to calculate a success rate. However, with only 26-27 grants made annually from a pool that likely includes both invited and unsolicited proposals, competition would be expected to be significant.

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations would need to inquire directly with the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not have a public application process or published guidelines, success factors must be inferred from their operational structure:

Strategic Considerations:

  1. Local Connection: Being based in Hartford, Michigan, the foundation likely prioritizes organizations serving their local community and region. Michigan-based nonprofits would have a natural advantage.

  2. Relationship-Based Giving: As a family foundation without public application processes, grants are likely relationship-driven. Organizations connected to the Charboneau family through business, community, or personal networks would be better positioned.

  3. Established Organizations: With average grants of approximately $50,000, the foundation appears to fund established organizations rather than startup initiatives.

  4. Consistency in Giving: The foundation has maintained remarkably consistent grant-making (26-27 awards annually for multiple years), suggesting they may have regular beneficiaries they support year after year.

  5. Financial Stability: With $27.5 million in assets and consistent annual giving of approximately $1.34 million, the foundation appears financially stable and committed to long-term philanthropic engagement.

For Organizations Seeking Funding:

Since specific grant recipients are not publicly listed in readily accessible formats, interested organizations should:

  • Review the foundation's Form 990-PF filings through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer or GuideStar to identify past recipients
  • Analyze patterns in past giving to understand if your organization aligns with their interests
  • Consider whether you have any connection to the Hartford, Michigan community or the Charboneau family
  • Prepare a compelling case for support before making contact, as you may only have one opportunity to make an impression

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. No Public Application Process: This is a private family foundation operating at trustee discretion - do not expect a formal RFP or application portal.

  2. Relationship-Driven: Success likely depends on having a connection to the Charboneau family, their business interests, or the Hartford, Michigan community.

  3. Research Past Giving: Before reaching out, obtain their Form 990-PF filings to understand who they've funded historically - this is your best guide to their interests.

  4. Significant Grant Size: With average grants around $50,000, this foundation makes meaningful investments in the organizations they support.

  5. Consistent Giving Pattern: The foundation has maintained stable grant-making (26-27 awards annually) for years, suggesting both reliability and that they likely have established relationships with regular grantees.

  6. Limited Access to Information: With no website or published guidelines, information is limited to IRS filings - expect to do significant research and potentially face difficulty getting a response to unsolicited inquiries.

  7. Direct Contact Required: Organizations interested in support will need to make direct contact via phone (269-568-0847) or mail, as there are no other communication channels available.

References

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