Ferris Foundation

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The Foundation was established to advance the mission and goals of Ferris state university by generating and managing private support for the university.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 38-6115813) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
97¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 103 volunteers.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.8M a year · 26% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
97%
of spending
97% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
6.6 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $127.0M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
6.6 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $255K
7 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$83K
0.06% of total assets
Liabilities are 0.06% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
25
of 27 voting members
25 of 27 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$12.6M
+16% vs prior year
Spent
$11.4M
To programs
97%
Net assets
$135.0M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$12.6M
FY2025▲ +16%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$10.7M
FY2022$13.0M
FY2023$8.4M
FY2024$10.8M
FY2025$12.6M
Expenses
$11.4M
FY2025▲ +37%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$6.3M
FY2022$8.0M
FY2023$7.2M
FY2024$8.4M
FY2025$11.4M
Net assets
$135.0M
FY2025▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$122.5M
FY2022$118.0M
FY2023$123.3M
FY2024$130.9M
FY2025$135.0M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 1966.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

97 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 97% · $11.1M Management & general 3% · $326K Fundraising 0% · $13K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

36 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Board Member/Professor of
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member/Professor of
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Ferris Foundation executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Raises and manages private donations to support Ferris State University's mission and goals.

Questions for Ferris Foundation

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Your first name shows with your question. Ferris Foundation answers here, for everyone.

1 program · $11.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Our Mission Is Accomplished Through

A comprehensive, aggressive, and ethical private fundraising program targeted toward identified university needs and goals; aggressive, yet prudent, fiscal management of long-term private assets; and enthusiastic and ethical advocacy of the university among all its constituents.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 38-6115813) · Dispute this line
$11.1Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 7 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $39.1M · 2020–2024
Ferris State UniversityMI · FY2024$8,942,864
Ferris State UniversityMI · FY2023$6,525,506
Ferris State UniversityMI · FY2022$5,626,641
Ferris State UniversityMI · FY2021$6,619,762
Ferris State UniversityMI · FY2020$5,697,608
Ferris State UniversityMI · FY2020$5,697,608

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.6M
Ln 12
Investment incomeLn 3$6.8M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.8M
Money outPt IX
$11.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$11.1M
Managementcol C$326K
Fundraisingcol D$13K
Owns and owesPt X
$135.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.3M
Total assetsLn 16$135.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$83K
PeoplePt VI, VII
36
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a27
IndependentVI 1b25
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$973K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$131K
Investment incomeLn 3$6.8M
Gains on assetsLn 7$4.6M
Total revenueLn 12$12.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.2M
SavingsLn 2$5.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.3M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$1.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$127.0M
Total assetsLn 16$135.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$83K
Net assetsLn 32$135.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 6103
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$973K
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$131.9M$127.5M$119.7M$113.0M$116.1M
AddedLn 1b$1.8M$2.0M$4.8M$4.8M$2.5M
SpentLn 1d–1f−$7.2M$5.2M$4.5M−$4.2M−$3.9M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.9M$6.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$124.7M$127.0M
Total assetsLn 16$131.1M$135.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$275K$83K
Net assetsLn 32$130.9M$135.0M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$9.5M$9.5M
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$167K$154K$13K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$18K$18K
Office expensesLn 13$82K$82K
Information technologyLn 14$4K$4K
TravelLn 17$4K$4K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$1.6M$1.6M
InsuranceLn 23$13K$13K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$50K$50K
Total functional expensesLn 25$11.4M$11.1M$326K$13K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 15, 2026 $12.6M$11.4M$1.1M$135.0M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS May 2, 2025 $10.8M$8.4M$2.4M$130.9M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 9, 2024 $8.4M$7.2M$1.2M$123.3M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Jan 20, 2023 $13.0M$8.0M$5.0M$118.0M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS May 5, 2022 $10.7M$6.3M$4.4M$122.5M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support B · Donors D · Assets and endowments F · Foreign G · Fundraising I · Grants J · Pay M · Noncash O · Explanations R · Related orgs
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $12,550,062 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,109,404$5,793,762
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $5,807,833$6,846,952
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$105,135−$90,652
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $10,812,102$12,550,062
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $7,808,230$9,490,722
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $0$0
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $562,998$1,939,063
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $8,371,228$11,429,785
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,440,874$1,120,277
Part VI · Governance 25 of 27 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body27
VI-1b Independent voting members25
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $12,550,062 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$131,119
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,662,643
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$973,397
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,793,762
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $251,874 · Excluded from tax $2,040,631$2,292,505
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $4,554,447$4,554,447
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$90,652−$90,652
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $251,874 · Excluded from tax $6,504,426$12,550,062
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $11,429,785 across 9 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $9,490,722$9,490,722
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $153,891 · Fundraising $13,200$167,091
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $18,434$18,434
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $82,351$82,351
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $3,798$3,798
IX-17 TravelManagement $4,312$4,312
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $1,600,000$1,600,000
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $12,990$12,990
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $50,087$50,087
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $11,090,722 · Management $325,863 · Fundraising $13,200$11,429,785
Part X · Balance sheet $135,070,689 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $301,527$1,163,468
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,625,501$5,137,894
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,541,556$1,786,748
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $17,919,285$17,962,232
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $106,761,817$109,020,347
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $131,149,686$135,070,689
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $191,110$2,040
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $83,998$80,477
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $275,108$82,517
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $8,955,806$7,557,843
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $121,918,772$127,430,329
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $130,874,578$134,988,172
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $131,149,686$135,070,689
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $134,988,172 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,550,062
XI-2 Total expenses$11,429,785
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,120,277
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$130,874,578
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$2,996,362
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$3,045
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$134,988,172

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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