Consumers Energy Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 38-2935534 · since 1991consumersenergy.com/community/foundation·Michigan·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$7.5M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$5,000 to $50,000

Grant range

From the funder's website

$5,000

Typical grant (median)

295 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Consumers Energy Foundation funds work that aligns with Michigan's people, planet and prosperity, spanning basic needs, education, workforce readiness, environmental protection, economic development, arts and culture and neighbourhood improvement.
Its geographic focus is Michigan, with priority given to Michigan's lower peninsula, so your project should operate in Michigan or benefit Michigan and serve a community or project area within Consumers Energy's service area.
Grants typically range from $5,000 to $50,000, and across its recent filings half of its grants to organisations were $5,000 or less, so a modest request is realistic.
Fifty-four per cent of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its two previous filings, suggesting some weight towards continuing relationships, though it runs a rolling application process open to new applicants; check your project against its stated qualifications before applying, and feel free to call with questions about guidelines, deadlines or fit.
Do not apply if you are an individual, a fraternal, social or alumni organisation, a labor organisation, an individual K-12 school or an organisation operating within one, a political organisation or campaign, a private foundation, or if you are seeking funding for debt-reduction campaigns, energy-related projects or costs, sports teams or athletic events, talent or beauty contests, or tickets, payments or ads for fundraising events; religious organisations should note that funds cannot be used for activities promoting a specific denomination or sectarian beliefs.

Overview

Consumers Energy Foundation is a US private foundation based in Jackson, 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 Consumers Energy Foundation awards grants to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organisations, municipalities and federally recognised Indian Tribal Governments for projects aligned with Michigan’s people, planet and prosperity. Its people-focused work includes reducing poverty and meeting basic needs, education and workforce readiness. It supports protection of Michigan’s land, water and air, and economic development through job growth, arts and culture, and cleaning up neighbourhoods. Applicants must operate in Michigan or propose a project that benefits Michigan, and serve a community or project area within Consumers Energy’s service area. The Foundation focuses mainly on communities in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula where it has a business presence, while considering requests from elsewhere for projects strongly aligned with its mission.

Themes

Basic needs
Education
Workforce readiness
Environmental protection
Economic development
Arts and culture
Neighborhood improvement

Geographic Focus

Michigan. Priority: Michigan’s lower peninsula.

What They Don't Fund

Debt-reduction campaigns
Energy related projects or costs, including but not limited to electric and gas infrastructure, generators, lighting, solar panels, weatherization, energy efficiency projects, or direct energy bill payment assistance
Individuals
Fraternal organizations, social clubs, or alumni organizations
Labor organizations
Individual K-12 schools or organizations that operate within an individual school
Political Organizations or campaigns
Private Foundations
Religious organizations where funds will be used for activities that promote a specific denomination or sectarian beliefs
Sports teams, athletic events, or related activities
Talent or beauty contests
Tickets, payments for fundraising events for charity, or ads supporting these efforts

How to apply

Applicants should check their project against the stated qualifications and use the appropriate link to start an application.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 54% 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 906 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The foundation asks applicants to align projects with its priorities and provide metrics showing how projects support its goals.
The foundation considers project need, budget, requested amount, plan, impact, goals, objectives and measurable impact.
The foundation encourages organisations to submit their top-priority request.
Applicants are encouraged to call with questions about the process, guidelines, deadlines or fit.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Michigan93%

South Carolina6%

Illinois1%

Tennessee<1%

Florida<1%

Texas<1%

5 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 54% of grant dollars went to organisations Consumers Energy Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
21% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

295 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $5,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 295 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k9%

$1k–$2.5k9%

$2.5k–$5k17%

$5k–$10k24%

$10k–$25k18%

$25k–$50k11%

$50k–$100k4%

$100k–$250k5%

$250k–$500k3%

$500k–$1M<1%

Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Grand Action 20 · The next wave capital campaign
$500,0002024 tax year
United Way of South Central Michigan · 2024 corporate contribution -
$290,7002024 tax year
City of West Branch · Gathering place
$250,0002024 tax year
Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy · Monarch meadows preservation and restoration project
$250,0002024 tax year
Mundy Township · Mundy township accessible and universally designed amphitheater
$250,0002024 tax year
Michigan Women's Foundation · Womanup & pitch business plan and pitch competition
$250,0002024 tax year
Muskegon County Parks · Dune harbor park habitat restoration and community engagement project
$250,0002024 tax year
Community Food Clubs · Community food club facility upgrades
$250,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Catherine A Wilson — Sectretary / Treasurer And Director
Angela Thompkins — Director
Tonya L Berry — Director
Scott B Mcintosh — Director
Shaun M Johnson — Director
Rejji P Hayes — Director
Leeroy Wells JR — Director
Catherine A Hendrian — Director
Brian F Rich — Director
Brandon J Hofmeister — President And Director
Garrick J Rochow — Chairman & Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$7,948,317	$7,827,894	$63,004,403	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$7,920,461	$7,820,257	$55,085,639	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$7,610,714	$7,524,138	$67,056,730	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.