The Michigan State Capitol
Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 38-6071938

Besser Foundation

A private foundation in Alpena, MI. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 17 grants and $768,227 paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Gary Dawley
350 N Second Ave 701
Alpena, MI 49707
(989) 356-6613
Form and materials
Requests should be in writing and include proof of 501(c)(3) status.
Deadlines
Requests must be received by the end of the first month of each calendar quarter to be considered by
Restrictions
Programs and projects related to the welfare of the citizens of alpena area are of primary concern and will receive priority. Unless specifically requested by a trustee, the foundation will not consider grant requests from organizations outside of alpena; nor for endowment funds, to defray meeting or conference expenses, or to pay for travel of individuals or groups. We will not relieve organizations or the public of their responsibilities, nor make grants to individuals for any purpose.

Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $768,227

    Grants listed
    17
    Assets, end of year
    $18,702,391

  • Tax year 2024

    $1,178,199

    Grants listed
    16
    Assets, end of year
    $17,355,794

  • Tax year 2023

    $906,056

    Grants listed
    20
    Assets, end of year
    $16,448,773

  • Tax year 2022

    $1,091,160

    Grants listed
    22
    Assets, end of year
    $15,208,189

  • Tax year 2021

    $950,337

    Grants listed
    21
    Assets, end of year
    $19,627,149

  • Tax year 2020

    $1,024,066

    Grants listed
    27
    Assets, end of year
    $18,889,668

  • Tax year 2019

    $1,796,091

    Grants listed
    31
    Assets, end of year
    $17,933,237

  • Tax year 2018

    $920,682

    Grants listed
    28
    Assets, end of year
    $17,572,900

Grants paid in 2025

17 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Besser MuseumAlpena, MI

    Operating expenses

    $260,000
  2. All Saints Catholic ChurchAlpena, MI

    Capital improvements

    $75,000
  3. Child & Family ServicesAlpena, MI

    Operating

    $50,000
  4. Hope Shores AllianceAlpena, MI

    DV victim shelter renovation

    $50,000
  5. City of AlpenaAlpena, MI

    Northeast mi materials MGMT

    $50,000
  6. Pace Northeast MichiganAlpena, MI

    General

    $50,000
  7. Alpena Public SchoolsAlpena, MI

    Excellence in education

    $41,697
  8. Boys & Girls Club of AlpenaAlpena, MI

    Operating

    $40,000
  9. Friends of Alpena CourtsAlpena, MI

    General

    $25,000
  10. Friends of Hubbard Lake Comm CenterHubbard Lake, MI

    Community center improvements

    $25,000
  11. Alpena Public SchoolsAlpena, MI

    Mini-grants

    $20,000
  12. Boys & Girls Club of AlpenaAlpena, MI

    Club bigs program

    $20,000
  13. Boys & Girls Club of AlpenaAlpena, MI

    Volunteen program

    $15,000
  14. Child Advocacy CenterAlpena, MI

    Operations

    $15,000
  15. Habitat for HumanityAlpena, MI

    General

    $14,030
  16. Thunder Bay Arts CouncilAlpena, MI

    Operations

    $12,500
  17. Friends of Harrisville DepotHarrisville, MI

    Construction

    $5,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Human services1 grant $50,00057% of the total
  2. Sports and recreation1 grant $25,00029% of the total
  3. Arts and culture1 grant $12,50014% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Michigan17 grants $768,227

Officers, directors and trustees

8 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Chris McCoyTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $4,360
  • Gary DawleyMANAGER Hours 8Pay $25,000
  • Gary DawleySECRETARY/TR Hours 1Pay $4,360
  • James C ParkPRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $4,360
  • Patricia GardnerTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $4,360
  • Ann BurtonVICE PRESIDE Hours 1Pay $4,360
  • Kimberly ParkTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $4,360
  • Pete WilsonTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $4,360

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (human services), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Alden and Vada Dow FundMidland, MI 38 grants Preselected only $770,000 giving
  2. Theophil and Amanda Aprill Family FoundationAnn Arbor, MI 3 grants Preselected only $734,302 giving
  3. James A and Faith Knight FoundationAnn Arbor, MI 41 grants Preselected only $810,500 giving
  4. Lilian E and Earl A Bettinger CharitableDetroit, MI 10 grants Preselected only $690,300 giving
  5. The Barton Malow FoundationSouthfield, MI 87 grants Preselected only $869,050 giving