Sage Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,100,000
• Total Assets: $60,000,000
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $200,000
• Median Grant: $12,000
• Number of Grants: 71 (2024), 79 (2023)
• Geographic Focus: No geographic restrictions
• Foundation Type: Private family foundation

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 1919, Brighton, MI 48116-5719

Phone: (810) 227-7660

Note: This is a private family foundation with limited public-facing contact information. No website or email address is publicly available.

Overview

The Sage Foundation was established in 1955 and granted tax-exempt status by the IRS in March of that year. As a private family foundation based in Brighton, Michigan, it operates with substantial assets of approximately $60 million and distributes over $2.1 million annually in grants. The foundation is led by Melissa Sage Fadim, who serves as Chairperson, President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The foundation's mission encompasses general charitable and educational purposes with particular emphasis on arts and culture, education, health organizations, social services, and Roman Catholic churches and agencies. The foundation maintains a consistent grantmaking program with no geographic restrictions, supporting organizations across diverse charitable fields. With over 70 grants awarded annually, the foundation demonstrates a broad philanthropic reach while maintaining a focused approach to its priority areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Sage Foundation operates a single discretionary grant program with no designated sub-programs. Grant amounts vary widely based on project scope and organizational need:

• Grant Range: $1,000 - $200,000
• Median Grant: $12,000
• Application Method: Rolling basis, no specific deadlines

Priority Areas

The foundation's funding interests include:

• Arts and Culture: Orchestras, ballet companies, film organizations, museums, and historical societies
• Education: Educational institutions, scholarship programs (notably the Choral Scholars Program at Hillsdale College with a $200,000 grant)
• Public Broadcasting: Support for public media organizations (including Window to the World Communications/WTTW with grants totaling $325,000)
• Social Services: Community organizations serving various populations
• Health Organizations: Healthcare-related nonprofits
• Roman Catholic Institutions: Churches and Catholic agencies
• Arts and Humanities: Broad support for cultural organizations
• Community Development: Local historical societies and community organizations (such as the Chelsea Area Historical Society, which received $25,000)

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are publicly documented. The foundation states "no restrictions" in its application guidelines regarding geographic area, charitable fields, or types of institutions.

Governance and Leadership

Melissa Sage Fadim - Chairperson, President, Secretary, Treasurer

• Works 20 hours per week for the foundation
• Annual compensation: $75,000
• Oversees all grantmaking decisions for the private foundation

James E. Van Doren - Vice President, Trustee

• Works 2 hours per week
• Uncompensated trustee position

Emily M. Booth - Trustee

• Works 1 hour per week
• Uncompensated trustee position

The foundation maintains a small, family-oriented governance structure with concentrated decision-making authority. The leadership has maintained consistent financial stewardship, allocating approximately 87-92% of annual expenses to charitable disbursements over the past five years.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Sage Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis with no specific deadlines. Applications should include:

1. Grant amount requested
2. Project objectives - Clear description of what the grant will accomplish
3. Evaluation procedures - How success will be measured
4. 501(c)(3) determination letter - Proof of tax-exempt status

Application Method: Written proposals sent to the foundation's mailing address (no online portal available)

Address: Sage Foundation, PO Box 1919, Brighton, MI 48116-5719

Contact Phone: (810) 227-7660

The foundation's application guidelines explicitly state there are "no restrictions" on who may apply, suggesting they accept unsolicited applications from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations across all charitable fields and geographic areas.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. As a private family foundation with rolling applications and no set board meeting schedule published, decision times likely vary based on when applications are received and reviewed by the trustees.

Success Rates

With 71-79 grants awarded annually from assets of $60 million and annual giving of $2.1 million, the foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. However, specific data on total applications received and overall success rates is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Organizations are not prohibited from reapplying after a grant award or rejection.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of the foundation's grantmaking patterns and priorities:

Alignment with Funding Interests: The foundation has demonstrated consistent support for arts and culture organizations, educational institutions, public media, Roman Catholic organizations, and community-based nonprofits. Proposals that clearly fit within these areas appear most likely to receive consideration.

Range of Grant Sizes: The foundation makes grants across a wide spectrum, from small awards under $5,000 to major grants of $200,000. The median grant of $12,000 suggests most successful applications request modest amounts, though the foundation is clearly capable of and willing to make transformational gifts to organizations whose projects align with trustee priorities.

Michigan Connection: While the foundation states it has no geographic restrictions, it is based in Brighton, Michigan, and has supported Michigan organizations such as the Chelsea Area Historical Society. Both in-state and out-of-state organizations appear eligible.

Clear Project Definition: Application guidelines emphasize the importance of clearly stating project objectives and evaluation procedures, suggesting the foundation values well-defined projects with measurable outcomes.

Educational and Cultural Focus: The largest recent grants have supported educational programs (Hillsdale College Choral Scholars Program at $200,000) and public broadcasting (Window to the World Communications at $325,000 total), indicating particular interest in education and cultural programming.

Catholic Institutional Support: The foundation's stated interest in Roman Catholic churches and agencies suggests Catholic organizations may find a receptive audience, though this is one of several priority areas rather than an exclusive focus.

Established Organizations: As a private family foundation, the Sage Foundation may prioritize organizations with track records and established reputations, though this is not explicitly stated.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Broad eligibility with focused interests: While technically open to all charitable fields and geographic areas, the foundation clearly prioritizes arts/culture, education, public media, social services, health, and Catholic institutions
• Wide grant range: Don't self-select out based on project size - grants range from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $12,000
• Simple application process: No complex online portals or lengthy application forms - focus on clearly articulating project objectives, evaluation methods, and funding needs
• Rolling basis means timing flexibility: No deadline pressure, but also no predictable decision schedule - plan accordingly for funding timelines
• Private family foundation dynamics: With concentrated decision-making authority in a small trustee group, relationship building and organizational reputation may play important roles
• Major gift capacity: While most grants are modest, the foundation has demonstrated capacity for transformational gifts ($200,000) when projects align with trustee priorities
• No stated reapplication restrictions: Organizations can presumably reapply if initially unsuccessful or after completing a prior grant, though this is not explicitly documented

References

• Grantmakers.io Profile - SAGE FOUNDATION. Retrieved from https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/386041518-sage-foundation/ (January 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Sage Foundation (EIN 38-6041518). Form 990-PF filings 2020-2024. Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/386041518 (January 2025)
• Candid Foundation Directory - Sage Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=SAGE002 (January 2025)
• Chelsea Update. "Chelsea Area Historical Society receives $25,000 grant from the Sage Foundation." October 2013. Retrieved from https://chelseaupdate.com/chelsea-area-historical-society-receives-25000-grant-from-the-sage-foundation/ (January 2025)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Sage Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/sage-foundation-304a9f3c-9b97-4f4c-a1e2-3d16d79f3f83 (January 2025)