Leinweber Foundation

• The Leinweber Foundation funds fundamental scientific research and related fellowships, STEM educational opportunity and scholarships (particularly for students from underserved and rural areas of Michigan), literacy and environmental protection, with its Michigan work given priority.
• It does not accept unsolicited proposals, instead working closely with expert partners it has identified itself, so a grant writer should not send in a cold application.
• Most grants fall between $10,000 and $2,950,000, with a median of $120,000, and half of its grants are $120,000 or less, so a modest request in that range is realistic once a relationship exists.
• The foundation looks highly relationship-led: 91% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the previous two filings, so new, uninvited applicants face a steep climb.
• Given its invitation-only approach, organisations should focus on building genuine connections and visibility in its focus areas rather than preparing a formal unsolicited application.

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

• University of Michigan · Charitable
  $3,000,0842024 tax year
• National Wildlife Federation · Charitable
  $200,0002024 tax year
• Beyond Basics · Charitable
  $150,0002024 tax year
• Michigan College Access Network · Charitable
  $150,0002024 tax year
• University of Michigan · Ch
  $120,0002024 tax year
• Michigan State University · Charitable
  $120,0002024 tax year
• Science Philanthropy Alliance · Charitable
  $100,0002024 tax year
• Cranbrook · Charitable
  $75,0002024 tax year

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

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.