F Ross Birkhill And Laura Jean Birkhill
This organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various charitable causes. Its mission centers on providing financial assistance to nonprofits that focus on human services, arts and culture, education, and animal welfare. The foundation primarily serves organizations that contribute to community well-being and cultural enrichment. It has a notable commitment to supporting the daily operations of its grantees, which include a range of charities and educational institutions. While the foundation is based in Michigan, its funding extends to organizations in multiple states.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Small to mid-sized charitable organizations, especially Michigan-based nonprofits, seeking operating support in human services, arts/culture, education or animal welfare and able to submit a concise letter request.
Good Fit
- • Organizational base or demonstrated impact in Michigan.
- • Request for general operating or near-term program support.
- • Fits sectors previously funded (human services, arts, education, humane society).
- • Willingness to apply by mailed letter and to work with an individual contact.
- • Capacity to use modest-to-midsize grants (roughly $1.5K–$25K).
Geography
Latest-year grants reached four states (including MI, NY, FL, IN) but a clear majority (about 63% of dollars) stayed in the foundation's home state, indicating a state-level/regional concentration rather than strictly local or fully national giving.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows ten distinct independent recipients across multiple sectors (salvation army, museum, university, humane society, film festival), which indicates a moderately diverse recipient set for a micro private foundation; however the top five recipients captured 83% of dollars, so financial concentration is high.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of multi-year turnover is unavailable, but the foundation accepts letters of request to a named contact and funded ten different organizations in the observed year, so unfamiliar applicants appear plausibly able to enter the portfolio though long-term openness cannot be confirmed from one year of data.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
