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The Samuel And Jean Frankel Jewish Heritage Foundation

Annual Giving
$15.6M
Grant Range
Up to $20.0M00
00

The Samuel And Jean Frankel Jewish Heritage Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $15,625,032 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $176.4 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly based on project
  • Number of Grants: 21 awards in 2023
  • Geographic Focus: Michigan (primarily Detroit metropolitan area)
  • Application Method: Invitation only / No public application process

Contact Details

Address: 2301 W Big Beaver Rd, Suite 900, Troy, MI 48084-3332
Phone: (248) 649-2600
EIN: 30-0095016
Website: Not publicly available

Overview

The Samuel And Jean Frankel Jewish Heritage Foundation was established in 2004 to honor the legacy of Jean and Samuel Frankel, prominent Detroit-area philanthropists. Samuel Frankel (1918-2012) was a successful real estate developer who built iconic Michigan properties including Somerset Mall and Sheffield Office Plaza during his 30-year career. The foundation operates as a private grantmaking organization with total assets of $176.4 million as of 2024 and distributed over $15.6 million in grants during 2023.

The foundation focuses primarily on Jewish heritage, education, and cultural institutions, with particular emphasis on Jewish studies programs, Jewish schools, synagogues, and Jewish federated giving programs in Michigan. The foundation has made transformational gifts to institutions including the University of Michigan, where a $20 million endowment established the Frankel Institute for Advanced Judaic Studies in 2005—the largest gift ever dedicated to Judaic studies at a U.S. university at that time. For his outstanding community service, Samuel Frankel was awarded the Butzel Award in 1984 and was honored as Troy's Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 1991.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Based on historical giving patterns, the foundation supports:

  • Jewish Education: Jewish schools, academies, and educational programs (including the Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit, established through a $20 million challenge grant)
  • Higher Education: University-level Jewish studies programs, particularly the Frankel Institute for Advanced Judaic Studies at University of Michigan
  • Synagogues and Religious Institutions: Including Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills and Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy
  • Jewish Federated Giving Programs: Jewish Welfare Federation of Metro Detroit
  • Theological Schools: Yeshivas and Jewish theological institutions
  • Cultural Institutions: The foundation's broader charitable heritage has included support for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Institute of Arts, and other cultural institutions
  • Healthcare: Historical support for Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital of Detroit

Geographic Focus

Primary focus on Michigan, particularly:

  • Detroit metropolitan area
  • Ann Arbor
  • West Bloomfield
  • Farmington Hills
  • Troy

Some support extends to Jewish institutions outside Michigan, including in Jerusalem.

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations, they do not fund:

  • Unsolicited requests from new organizations
  • Organizations without established relationships to the foundation or its trustees
  • Non-Jewish heritage initiatives

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Stanley Frankel - President and Trustee; Treasurer and Trustee

  • Son of Jean and Samuel Frankel
  • Heads Frankel Associates, a privately held commercial real estate development and management firm founded by his father
  • Second-generation Butzel Award recipient (following his father who received the award in 1984)
  • Continues the family legacy of exemplary service to the community

Judith Frankel - Secretary and Trustee

  • Wife of Stanley Frankel
  • Has been an antiques dealer since 1991 and owns the Antiques Center of Troy

Arthur Weiss - Assistant Secretary

All officers report zero compensation from the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion and initiative
  • Pre-existing relationships with beneficiary organizations
  • Strategic philanthropic priorities established by the Frankel family
  • Continuation of longstanding partnerships with Jewish institutions in Michigan

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for public applications. The foundation operates on its own timeline for identifying and supporting organizations through trustee-directed giving.

Success Rates

With 21 awards made in 2023 and no public application process, success rates are not applicable. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to pre-selected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, the traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have historically benefited from Frankel family philanthropy share these characteristics:

Organizational Profile:

  • Established Jewish educational, cultural, or religious institutions
  • Organizations in the Detroit metropolitan area or Michigan
  • Institutions with strong governance and proven track records
  • Organizations aligned with Jewish heritage preservation and education

Historical Funding Examples:

  • University of Michigan: Received $20 million to establish the Frankel Institute for Advanced Judaic Studies (2005), enabling annual fellowships for scholars and artists from around the world
  • Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit: Received $20 million gift in 2003 as a 2-1 challenge fund, requiring JAMD and the Jewish Federation to raise $10 million to receive the full amount
  • Jewish Welfare Federation of Metro Detroit: Ongoing support for federated giving programs
  • Local synagogues: Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills and Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy

Foundation Values (Based on Legacy): The Frankel family's heritage of philanthropy demonstrates commitment to:

  • Long-term institutional building rather than one-time support
  • Transformational gifts that create lasting impact
  • Jewish education and cultural preservation
  • Community institutions serving Detroit metropolitan area
  • Academic excellence in Judaic studies

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made to preselected organizations at the trustees' discretion.
  • Relationship-Driven: Funding flows to organizations with established connections to the Frankel family or their trusted advisors.
  • Major Gift Focus: The foundation has a history of making significant, transformational gifts ($20 million grants) rather than small grants across many organizations.
  • Jewish Heritage Priority: Nearly exclusive focus on Jewish education, culture, religious institutions, and heritage preservation.
  • Michigan-Centric: Strong geographic preference for Detroit metropolitan area and Michigan institutions.
  • Generational Continuity: Foundation is now led by Stanley and Judith Frankel, continuing the philanthropic legacy established by Samuel and Jean Frankel.
  • Strategic Philanthropy: Foundation appears to identify strategic opportunities aligned with family values rather than responding to external requests.

References

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