The Ravitz Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $2.0 million
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $250 - $250,000
Median Grant: $10,000
Geographic Focus: Michigan, primarily Metro Detroit area

Contact Details

Address: 34705 West Twelve Mile Rd, Suite 160, Farmington Hills, MI 48331

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. There is no public phone number, email, or website available for general inquiries.

Overview

The Ravitz Foundation was established in February 2000 as a private grantmaking foundation in Michigan. With total assets of approximately $41 million and annual grant distributions of $2.0 million, the foundation makes approximately 68 grants per year. The foundation's mission centers on supporting Jewish community organizations, higher education (particularly medical school education), medical research, youth mental health awareness, and programs for at-risk youth. Led by President Burton Shifman and Program Director Carole Shifman, the foundation operates as a traditional family foundation that identifies and supports charitable organizations through trustee discretion rather than through a public application process. The foundation generates revenue primarily through investment returns and directs approximately 80% of its annual expenses toward charitable disbursements.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Ravitz Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than through a formal application cycle.

Grant Range: $250 - $250,000 Median Grant: $10,000 Annual Distribution: Approximately $2.0 million across 68 grants

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity, the foundation prioritizes:

Jewish Community Organizations and Institutions

Jewish educational programs and camps
Holocaust education and remembrance
Jewish cultural and community centers
Jewish senior services
Jewish federations and community initiatives

Education

Higher education, particularly medical school education
Jewish youth education programs
Campus-based Jewish student organizations

Youth Services

Youth mental health awareness programs
Programs for at-risk youth
Jewish youth camps and experiential learning

Community Support

General operating support for established nonprofits
Food security programs for seniors
Anti-discrimination and civil rights initiatives

Recent Grant Recipients (2023)

Notable grants awarded in 2023 include:

Tamarack Camp (Bloomfield Hills, MI) - $250,000 for general support
Holocaust Memorial Center (Farmington Hills, MI) - $125,000 for general support
Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan (East Lansing, MI) - $115,000 for general support
Anti-Defamation League (Michigan operations) - $100,000
Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit - $100,000 for Small Communities Initiative
Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit - $76,000 for Israel Emergency Campaign
Jewish Senior Life of Metro Detroit - $100,000 for Food Subsidy Program

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's grant history indicates:

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from organizations outside their established network
Funding is primarily concentrated in Michigan, particularly Metro Detroit
Focus is predominantly on Jewish community causes

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Burton Shifman - President/Director

Compensation: $30,251 (2024)
Provides strategic leadership for the foundation

Carole Shifman - Program Director/Director

Compensation: $139,300 (2024)
Oversees program operations and grant selection

Brian H. Aaron - Treasurer/Director

Compensation: $74,832 (2024)
Manages financial operations

Additional directors serve on the board with minimal or no compensation, maintaining the foundation's character as a family foundation with focused philanthropic interests.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Ravitz Foundation has explicitly indicated that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations that have been identified and selected by the foundation's leadership.

Organizations cannot apply for funding through any formal process. The foundation proactively identifies and selects grant recipients based on trustee knowledge, relationships, and strategic priorities.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through ongoing trustee discretion rather than through scheduled review cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the general nonprofit community.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot submit initial applications or reapplications. Repeat funding is determined solely by trustee discretion, and many organizations receive grants in multiple years based on the foundation's pattern of repeat grantmaking to established partners.

Application Success Factors

Since the Ravitz Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of the foundation's grantmaking patterns reveals the following characteristics of funded organizations:

Strong Connection to Jewish Community: The vast majority of grants support Jewish organizations or causes, including Jewish education, cultural preservation, community services, and civil rights organizations serving the Jewish community.

Established Organizations: Grant recipients tend to be well-established institutions with strong reputations in their fields, such as major community organizations, educational institutions, and long-standing service providers.

Geographic Focus: Nearly all funding goes to Michigan-based organizations, with particular concentration in the Metro Detroit area (Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Southfield).

Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation demonstrates loyalty to its grantees, with many organizations receiving funding across multiple years, suggesting that once an organization is in the foundation's network, continued support is possible.

General Operating Support: Many grants are designated for "general support," indicating the foundation's willingness to provide flexible funding to trusted organizations rather than restricting grants to specific projects.

Range of Grant Sizes: While the median grant is $10,000, the foundation makes grants ranging from $250 to $250,000, suggesting they tailor grant amounts to organizational needs and capacity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - there is no formal application process available to organizations seeking funding
Trustee discretion drives all grantmaking - grants are awarded based on trustee knowledge, relationships, and strategic priorities
Strong Jewish focus - the overwhelming majority of funding supports Jewish community organizations and causes
Geographic concentration in Metro Detroit - nearly all funding stays within Michigan, particularly the Detroit metropolitan area
Relationship-based philanthropy - the foundation operates through a traditional family foundation model where existing relationships and trustee connections determine funding
Multi-year funding is common - organizations that receive funding often receive repeat grants, suggesting long-term relationships with select grantees
No pathway for new organizations - unless an organization has a direct connection to the foundation's trustees or is identified proactively by foundation leadership, there is no mechanism to request funding

References

Information compiled December 2025 from publicly available 990-PF tax forms and nonprofit databases