Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation funds work across Active Lifestyles, Preparing for Success, Caregivers, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, and a Nonprofit Support and Innovation initiative, so check your project sits clearly within one of these before applying.
- Its geographic focus is a specific list of counties and areas in Western New York and Southeast Michigan, so confirm your organisation's work impacts those listed communities.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $400 and $750,000, with a median of $30,000, so a modest request is realistic, though the largest grant on record reached $12,000,000.
- The process starts with a Letter of Inquiry, with a Full Proposal invited only if staff see a fit with programme interests and strategies; there are no recurring deadlines for the main process, so you can apply year-round, though separate Special Initiative or RFP opportunities may carry their own deadlines.
- A large share of grant dollars has gone to organisations already funded in the two previous filings, suggesting the Foundation leans towards sustained relationships, so new applicants should present a clear, well-aligned case for support.
Overview
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation 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 Foundation invests through its four core focus areas—Active Lifestyles, Preparing for Success, Caregivers, and Entrepreneurship and Economic Development—and a special Nonprofit Support and Innovation initiative. It accepts applications from nonprofit organisations whose work impacts the listed communities in Western New York and Southeast Michigan and is strategically aligned with a focus area. Its investments build on good work already underway through collaboration with organisations and communities. The Foundation supports access to safe spaces and programmes that get children active, parks and trails that connect people with nature and recreation, skills that help people grow through life and career, caregivers’ contributions, small-business growth, place-based development and entrepreneurial ecosystems. It also supports nonprofit capacity and takes a sector-wide view of strengthening communities. Its approach is guided by community voice, strong partnerships and positive, sustainable outcomes.
Themes
- Active Lifestyles
- Preparing for Success
- Caregivers
- Entrepreneurship & Economic Development
- Nonprofit Support & Innovation
Geographic Focus
Livingston; Macomb; Monroe; Oakland; St. Clair; Washtenaw; Wayne; Allegany; Cattaraugus; Chautauqua; Erie; Genesee; Niagara; Orleans; Wyoming.
How to apply
Applicants submit a Letter of Inquiry. If it fits the Foundation’s program interests and strategies, staff invite them to submit a Full Proposal.
Deadlines: The main grant application process has no recurring deadlines and accepts applications year-round; separate Special Initiative or RFP opportunities may have their own deadlines.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 83% 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 1,474 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less.
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 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to organisations Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Canada).
- 35% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 413 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo · City Within a Park Fund$10,000,0002024 tax year
- Southeast Michigan Foundation for Public Spaces · Detroit Riverfront Finishline Fund$7,500,0002024 tax year
- Detroit Riverfront Conservancy · Construction Support - Ralph Wilson Park$6,532,8002024 tax year
- Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · RCWJRF Inclusive Arts & Culture Initiative$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo · RCWJRF Inclusive Arts & Culture Initiative$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Budc · Ralph Wilson Park: Phase 1 GMP Package 2$4,000,0002024 tax year
- Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · To sustain the Arts and Culture Sector$3,750,0002024 tax year
- Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo · Support for the Arts and Culture Sector in WNY$3,750,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Monique Wells — Committee Member
- Ray Telang — Trustee
- Dr Thomasina Stenhouse — Committee Member
- Howard Morris — Committee Member
- W Frank Fountain — Trustee
- Gerard T Mazurikiewicz — Committee Member
- David J Colligan — Trustee
- Mary M Wilson — Trustee
- Mary M Owen — Chairman / Trustee
- Jeffrey C Littmann — Trustee
- Elizabeth Woike-Ganga — Trustee
- Maura Dewan — Secretary
- Norah M O'Brien — Treasurer
- David O Egner — President / Chief Executive Officer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $174,236,047 | $154,662,837 | $1,027,946,333 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $156,934,231 | $138,055,386 | $1,001,561,935 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $160,094,754 | $140,293,690 | $896,526,758 | 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 Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (313) 885-1895
- info@ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org
- INFO@RCWRF.ORG
- Detroit, MI
- ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org
Applying to Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (313) 885-1895
- info@ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org
- INFO@RCWRF.ORG
- Detroit, MI
- ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org