McGregor Fund
At a glance
Key takeaways
- McGregor Fund is based in Detroit, MI, with a geographic focus of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb, so only organisations working in those areas should approach it.
- Its priorities are housing justice, economic justice, food justice and sovereignty, basic needs, recovery and restoration, and civil society, centred on Detroiters and racial equity, so fit with one of these themes matters.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $1,000 and $250,000, with about eight in ten in that range, a median of $35,000 and a largest grant of $650,000, so a request in the region of $25,000 to $35,000 is realistic for a first approach, while the Fund does not fund individuals, start-ups, loans, scholarships, requests under $25,000, travel or conference expenses, event sponsorships, research, film or video projects, or disease-specific organisations.
- The process starts with an online General Inquiry Form, after which staff begin a conversation and only extend an invitation to submit a full application, with materials, method and deadline given at that stage, and the board makes the final decision; the IRS filing gives no deadlines for this process.
- A high share of grant dollars, 84%, went to organisations also funded in the two previous filings, and half of all grants were $35,000 or less, so new applicants should expect a competitive, staff-engaged process and are encouraged to engage Fund staff during application development.
Overview
McGregor Fund is a US private foundation based in Detroit, MI.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The McGregor Fund centres Detroiters and racial equity in its grantmaking. It supports grant partners advancing housing justice through community-led, trauma-informed responses, and economic justice through pathways to opportunity and independence for young people and adults. Its priorities include food justice and sovereignty through community-driven food infrastructure, urban agriculture, food rescue and dignified distribution; basic needs, including day-to-day necessities and direct aid; and recovery and restoration, particularly trauma-informed, survivor-centred work addressing violence and marginalisation. It also invests in civil society by supporting residents and nonprofits to organise, mobilise and advocate for community priorities, including through capacity-building and movement-building.
Themes
- Housing Justice
- Economic Justice
- Food Justice & Sovereignty
- Basic Needs
- Recovery & Restoration
- Civil Society
Geographic Focus
Wayne; Oakland; Macomb.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals or start-ups
- Loans, scholarships or requests < $25k
- Expenses to travel or attend conferences or workshops
- Sponsorships for events
- Research, film/video projects
- Disease-specific organizations
How to apply
Organisations begin with an online General Inquiry Form. Fund staff then starts a conversation; if an invitation is extended, staff provides the required application materials, submission method and deadline. The board makes grant decisions.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 84% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 385 grants to organisations were $35,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Staff considers each organisation individually, including its stage of development, current needs and alignment with the Fund’s priorities.
- Staff considers what a partnership can teach the field and the Fund, cultural alignment with communities served, and how the work advances anti-racism and racial equity and justice.
- Applicants are encouraged to engage Fund staff during application development to maximise their application’s chances of success.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to organisations McGregor Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 141 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $55,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Detroit Phoenix Center · General Operations$650,0002024 tax year
- South Oakland Shelter · General Operations and Capital Support$500,0002024 tax year
- Alternatives for Girls · General Operations$425,0002024 tax year
- First Step · General Operations$400,0002024 tax year
- FORCE Detroit · General Operations$375,0002024 tax year
- Turning Point · General Operations$350,0002024 tax year
- Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages · General Operations$325,0002024 tax year
- Community and Home Supports · General Operations$325,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kelly Major Green — Trustee
- Byna Elliott — Trustee
- Donna Murray-Brown — Trustee
- Philip B Phillips — Trustee
- Felix M Valbuena Jr MD — Trustee
- Kate Levin Markel — President & Secretary
- Sheilah P Clay — Trustee
- Michelle Johnson Tidjani — Trustee
- Kristi D Plain — Trustee
- Joyce E Jenereaux — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $11,130,011 | $8,728,871 | $209,656,665 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $11,869,628 | $9,791,289 | $224,332,937 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $19,428,285 | $13,511,248 | $235,056,423 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to McGregor Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (313) 963-3495
- heidi@mcgregorfund.org
- reports@mcgregorfund.org
- Detroit, MI
- mcgregorfund.org
Applying to McGregor Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (313) 963-3495
- heidi@mcgregorfund.org
- reports@mcgregorfund.org
- Detroit, MI
- mcgregorfund.org