The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Foundation's stated eligibility is limited to organisations incorporated and located in Michigan that are 501(c)(3) or governmental bodies, so an organisation incorporated outside Michigan should not apply, and neither should a political organisation or one whose purpose is to influence legislation.
- Its stated interests are education, science and technology, arts and culture, community life, economic development, youth and older adults, and religious life, so check that your work fits one of these before you write.
- It looks for contributions that can be leveraged, favours seed or matching grants, and expects new programmes to plan for self-sufficiency, so frame your request around how the money would be matched or sustained.
- Start with a letter of intent, since full applications are invited only if the request aligns with its mission and current grantmaking priorities, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- The grant range is not stated, and the $13,972,499 paid in total does not show what size of request will fit, so base your figure on your own project costs.
Overview
The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation is a US private foundation based in Midland, 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 Foundation supports organisations incorporated and located in Michigan that are 501(c)(3) or governmental bodies. Its charter encompasses educational, religious, economic and cultural life. Its stated interests include education, advanced research and new applications of science and technology, arts and culture, and projects that add to community life, including local initiatives promoting economic development and job creation. It looks for contributions that can be leveraged and expects new programmes to be planned for future self-sufficiency. In Midland and across Michigan, trustees value seed or matching grants that stimulate broad public participation and help artistic, recreational, educational or cultural projects become self-sustaining. Projects benefiting young people or older adults are of special interest. It tends to favour organisations with clear objectives, strong purposeful management and public accountability, especially needs not normally funded by government or public financing.
Themes
- Education
- Science and technology
- Arts and culture
- Community life
- Economic development
- Youth and older adults
- Religious life
Geographic Focus
Michigan.
What They Don't Fund
- Grants made directly to individuals
- Organizations to which contributions are not tax deductible, according to the Internal Revenue Service regulations
- Organizations that practice discrimination by race, sex, creed, age or national origin
- Political organizations or organizations whose purposes are to influence legislation
- Organizations incorporated outside of the State of Michigan
How to apply
Organisations first submit a letter of intent. If the request aligns with the Foundation’s mission and current grantmaking priorities, the organisation is invited to submit a full application.
Application success factors
What the foundation says:
- It looks for programmes where its contribution can be leveraged and expects new programmes to be planned for future self-sufficiency.
- It tends to support organisations with clearly stated objectives, strong and purposeful management, and public accountability.
- It tends to favour needs in areas not normally funded by governmental or public financing.
- It supports organisations willing to explore, initiate, volunteer or execute original ideas or concepts.
- It values collaboration to create synergy towards a common objective or goal.
- It favours purposes that advance private enterprise and a free, open and self-resourceful society.
- It seeks seed or matching grants that stimulate broad public participation and help projects become self-sustaining.
- It gives special interest to projects benefiting youth or older adults.
Officers and directors
- Suzanna Mccuan — Gov. Chair/T
- Bonnie Buchanan Matheson — Trustee
- Alden Lee Hanson — Trustee
- James Fitterling — Trustee
- Stephen Carras — Trustee
- Diane Dow Hullet — Secretary
- Willard Mott — Treasurer
- Michael Lloyd Doan — Vice President
- Francine Padgett — CFO
- Jenee Velasquez — Executive Director
- Macauley Whiting JR — Trustee
- Stephanie Scheets — Trustee
- Sarah Opperman — Trustee
- Lilla Ym Ohrstrom — Trustee
- Ruth A Doan — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $32,131,559 | $16,396,731 | $550,175,251 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $45,144,955 | $19,968,632 | $621,175,059 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $38,170,123 | $13,972,499 | $642,648,050 | 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 The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (989) 631-3699
- Midland, MI
- hhgadowfdn.org
Applying to The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (989) 631-3699
- Midland, MI
- hhgadowfdn.org