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Perkins Malo Hunter Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.9M
Grant Range
Up to $0.5M00
00

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,872,089 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only grantmaking)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies widely; median grant $90,000
  • Geographic Focus: Midwest United States (Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana)

Contact Details

Address: 2427 Lakefront Dr, Holland, MI 49424-6095

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website, email, or phone contact. They do not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Perkins Malo Hunter Foundation was established in 1996 as a family foundation based in Holland, Michigan. With assets of approximately $61.5 million and annual giving of $5.9 million (2023), the foundation focuses primarily on supporting high-performing charter schools serving disadvantaged youth in urban Midwest communities. The foundation is committed to helping underserved students access quality education through funding for academic programs, tuition assistance, and operational support. The foundation operates through a preselected grantmaking model, contributing only to organizations identified by the trustees rather than accepting public applications. Leadership is provided by the Perkins family, with Phillip Perkins serving as the active director overseeing the foundation's strategic direction and grantmaking activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation made 51 grants in 2023, primarily supporting charter school networks across the Midwest:

  • Charter School Operating Support: Major grants ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 for established charter networks
  • Educational Program Funding: Support for academic program expenses and tuition assistance
  • Median Grant Amount: $90,000

Priority Areas

  • Charter School Networks: Primary focus on high-performing charter schools in urban areas
  • K-8 Education: Emphasis on elementary and middle school education
  • Disadvantaged Youth: Supporting schools serving low-income communities in major Midwest cities
  • Academic Excellence: Funding organizations with proven track records of student achievement

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's grantmaking pattern indicates they do not support:

  • Organizations outside the Midwest region
  • Traditional public school districts
  • Higher education institutions
  • Individual scholarships directly to students
  • Organizations outside the education sector

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The foundation is governed by a family board consisting of:

  • Phillip Perkins - Director (Full-time, 40 hours/week, $230,326 compensation) - Serves as the foundation's primary executive and strategic leader
  • Robert H. Perkins - Director (Part-time, 5 hours/week, no compensation)
  • Jill Perkins - Director (no compensation)
  • Laurie Perkins - Director (no compensation)
  • Todd Perkins - Director (no compensation)
  • Curtis L. Stine - Director (no compensation)

The foundation is managed primarily by Phillip Perkins, who provides full-time leadership and oversight of the foundation's grantmaking activities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Perkins Malo Hunter Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "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 and selected. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, meaning they proactively identify and approach organizations rather than responding to external applications.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Decisions are made by trustees on their own timeline based on organizational strategy and priorities.

Grantmaking Patterns and Recipients

Recent Major Grant Recipients (2023)

The foundation demonstrates a clear pattern of supporting established, high-performing charter school networks:

  • Learn Charter Network (Chicago, IL) - $500,000
  • Friends of Breakthrough Schools (Cleveland, OH) - $500,000
  • KIPP Chicago (Chicago, IL) - $300,000
  • Milwaukee College Prep (Milwaukee, WI) - $250,000
  • E.L. Haynes Public Charter School (Washington, DC)

Geographic Distribution

The foundation focuses its grantmaking on major Midwest cities including:

  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Cleveland, Ohio
  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Detroit, Michigan

Relationship-Building Indicators

The foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with grantee organizations, as evidenced by:

  • Named campus: LEARN Charter School operates a "Hunter Perkins Campus" in Chicago, indicating a significant partnership
  • Repeat funding patterns to established charter networks
  • Focus on organizations with proven track records rather than start-ups

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Organizational Profile of Successful Grantees

  • Proven Track Record: All major grantees are established charter networks with documented student achievement outcomes
  • Urban Focus: Organizations serving low-income, disadvantaged communities in major Midwest cities
  • Scale: Charter networks operating multiple schools (not single-site schools)
  • K-8 Focus: Emphasis on elementary and middle school education
  • Academic Excellence Model: Schools with measurable student success metrics

Strategic Alignment Factors

  • High-performing charter schools with data-driven results
  • Organizations committed to closing achievement gaps for disadvantaged youth
  • Networks with strong governance and financial stability
  • Schools with demonstrated community impact

Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking, organizations cannot directly apply. The foundation identifies and approaches organizations that align with their mission of supporting high-performing charter schools serving disadvantaged youth in the Midwest.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications; all grants are made to preselected organizations
  • Charter School Focus: Virtually all funding goes to charter school networks, particularly those serving K-8 students
  • Geographic Specificity: Strong preference for Midwest locations, especially major urban areas like Chicago, Cleveland, and Milwaukee
  • Significant Grant Sizes: Major grants range from $250,000-$500,000 to established organizations; median grant is $90,000
  • Relationship-Driven: The foundation builds ongoing partnerships with grantees (evidenced by named campus and repeat funding)
  • Quality over Quantity: With 51 grants distributed annually from $5.9 million in giving, the foundation makes selective, strategic investments
  • Family Foundation Operations: Managed primarily by the Perkins family with Phillip Perkins providing full-time leadership
  • Academic Excellence Priority: The foundation's mission centers on supporting high-performing schools serving disadvantaged youth rather than experimental or start-up programs

References

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