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Jones Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.8M
Grant Range
$18K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,760,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (preselected grantees only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: $18,000 - $500,000 (median: $18,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Southeast Michigan and Southeast Florida
  • Total Assets: $37 million

Contact Details

Address:
PO Box 575
Saline, MI 48176

Phone: (734) 678-6496

Email: info@jonesfamilyfoundation.org

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Jones Family Foundation was established in 2009 as a private grantmaking foundation based in Saline, Michigan. Led by President Wayne Jones and Vice President Shelly Jones, the foundation has total assets of approximately $37 million and distributes around $1.8 million annually in charitable grants. The foundation serves Southeast Michigan and Southeast Florida, focusing its philanthropy on children's health (particularly pediatric brain cancer research), education, and veterans' support. The foundation accomplishes its charitable purpose exclusively through making grants to qualified nonprofit organizations and does not conduct direct charitable programs. Tammi Carr serves as Executive Director of the foundation, bringing deep connections to the pediatric brain cancer research community through her dual role as co-founder of the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation. The Jones Family Foundation has been instrumental in establishing the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center at the University of Michigan, contributing to the $30 million in gifts that created this specialized research and treatment center.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants on a discretionary basis to preselected organizations. In 2024, the foundation made 24 grants ranging from small contributions to major gifts of $500,000.

Recent Major Grants (2024):

  • Brain Tumor Michigan: $500,000 (General Support)
  • Children's Healing Center: $250,000 (General Support)
  • Johns Hopkins: $250,000 (General Support)
  • The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation: $200,000 (General Support)
  • ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation: $125,000 (General Support)

Priority Areas

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Children's Health: Particularly pediatric brain cancer research and treatment, including major support for DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) research
  • Education: Supporting educational programs and opportunities
  • Veterans' Support: Addressing needs of military veterans
  • Community Health: General support for qualified health-related nonprofits

Geographic Priorities:

  • Southeast Michigan (primary)
  • Southeast Florida (secondary)
  • Select national organizations with mission alignment

What They Don't Fund

The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Organizations not previously known to the foundation or its leadership are unlikely to receive funding consideration.

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership:

  • Wayne Jones - President and Founder
  • Shelly Jones - Vice President and Co-Founder
  • Max Jones - Director
  • Tammi Carr - Executive Director (joined 2013)

The foundation is governed by the Jones family, who established the organization in 2009. Tammi Carr, who joined as Executive Director in 2013 after working in fundraising at the University of Michigan, brings significant expertise in pediatric brain cancer philanthropy. Following her son Chad's diagnosis with DIPG in 2014 and his passing in 2015, Carr co-founded the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation. The Jones family aligned their foundation's mission with ChadTough, making the fight against pediatric brain cancer a central philanthropic priority.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organizations they have identified through their own research, personal connections, and philanthropic networks. The foundation does not maintain application forms, deadlines, or a formal review process for external applicants.

Getting on Their Radar

The Jones Family Foundation operates through a highly selective, relationship-based grantmaking model. Based on available information about the foundation's approach:

Key Pathway:

  • Executive Director Connection: Tammi Carr, the foundation's Executive Director since 2013, plays a central role in identifying grantmaking opportunities. She met Wayne and Shelly Jones while working in fundraising at the University of Michigan, which led to her appointment as Executive Director. This suggests relationship-building within Michigan's philanthropic and nonprofit community may be relevant.

Foundation's Known Network:

  • Strong connection to the University of Michigan health system, particularly Michigan Medicine
  • Active involvement with pediatric brain cancer research community through ChadTough Foundation partnership
  • Member of the Council of Michigan Foundations

Note: Organizations should not send unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry to this foundation, as their Form 990 explicitly states they do not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - grants are made to preselected organizations only.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the Jones Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no application process to navigate. Organizations that have received funding from the foundation share these characteristics:

Common Traits Among Grantees:

  • Pre-existing relationships with foundation leadership or executive director
  • Focus areas aligned with children's health (especially pediatric brain cancer), education, or veterans' support
  • Located in Southeast Michigan or Southeast Florida
  • Demonstrated impact in their mission area
  • General operating support rather than restricted project grants

Foundation's Documented Approach: According to publicly available information, the foundation "accomplishes its charitable purpose through a program of making charitable gifts and grants" to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation has shown particular commitment to pediatric brain cancer research, evidenced by their major support for establishing the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center at the University of Michigan and ongoing partnership with the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation exclusively funds preselected organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited proposals or inquiries
  • Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: The foundation's grants flow from personal connections, trustee knowledge, and the Executive Director's professional network
  • Pediatric Brain Cancer as Core Focus: The foundation has made defeating DIPG and supporting pediatric brain cancer research a central mission, aligned with their partnership with ChadTough Foundation
  • Geographic Concentration: Strong preference for Southeast Michigan and Southeast Florida organizations
  • Significant Grant Sizes: Recent grants range from $18,000 median to $500,000 maximum, with capacity for major gifts to aligned organizations
  • General Support Preference: Available grant data shows nearly all grants designated for "general support" rather than specific projects
  • Not a Prospect for Cold Outreach: Organizations without existing connections to the Jones family, foundation leadership, or their known philanthropic network should not pursue this foundation as a funding prospect

References

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