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Non-profit

Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation

Website:

www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/
Location:

Detroit, MI
Tax ID:

45-0921232
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Assets: $1,300,036,042
Type:

Grantmaking Foundation
Formation:

2015
President and CEO:

David Egner

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The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a private grant making foundation that was created when Ralph C. Wilson Jr., former owner of the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills, decided to sell the football franchise. 1 The foundation focuses the vast majority of its philanthropy on economic development, youth sports, nonprofit support, and caregiving for older adults. 2

The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation has given money to media entities such as the Center for Michigan’s Bridge Michigan, 3 Chalkbeat, 4 and Solutions Journalism Network, 5 all of which are funded by many left-of-center foundations.

History

The Wilson family sold the Buffalo Bills for $1.4 billion in 2014 and that money was funneled to the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. 6 The foundation began operations in 2015 and is located in Detroit, with a stated goal to spend down all the funds by 2034 with a focus on southeast Michigan and western New York, primarily Buffalo and Detroit. 7

Assets

The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation had $261.2 million in total income in 2019 with $131.6 million in total expenses with total assets of $1.27 billion. 8 The foundation has given out 573 grants for a total of $614.6 million from 2015 to 2019. 9

Grantmaking

Media

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has supported journalism initiatives. The foundation gave $150,000 to Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit that is funded by many left-of-center organizations and provides training and curriculum to journalists and news organizations. 10 In one example of the work of Solutions Journalism Network, the Kansas City Star linked food insecurity with gun violence for a story on how black farmers worked on a “food justice” solution. 11

The Solutions Journalism Network is funded by the Democracy Fund, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Ford Foundation, left-leaning Barr Foundation, left-of-center Emerson Collective as well as the Rita Allen Foundation and the NoVo Foundation that both have supported left-of-center projects. 12

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation gave $300,000 to Chalkbeat, a non-profit that manages news sites and is funded by the left-of-center Joyce Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and the Democracy Fund. 13

The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation gave $50,000 to The Center for Michigan to support the news site Bridge Michigan, 14 whose funders include the left-of-center Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 15

Policy Research

The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation gave $50,000 to the left-of-center Michigan League for Public Policy to fund a program called Kids Count in Michigan that tracks demographic information on children. 16 The Michigan League for Public Policy is a left-of-center racial-policy advocacy organization funded left-of-center W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 17 Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, 18 Ford Foundation, 19 Kresge Foundation 20 and the Tides Center. 21

The Brookings Institution received three grants totally $200,000 from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. The Brookings Institution was described by Forbes as having “deep ties to political leaders on the left.” 22  The Brookings Institution’s other funders of $100,000 or more in 2019 included the center-left organizations W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Democracy Fund, Facebook, Inc., and Arnold Ventures. 23

Teach for America

The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation gave $450,000 to Teach for America to help recruit teachers. 24 The Washington Post referred to Teach For America as “the prototypical liberal education reform organization.” 25

Controversy

In May 2024, it was reported that up to $40 million was embezzled from the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that claims to advocate for increased access to the city’s industrial riverfront. According to the investigation, now turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as of June 2024, the scandal involves “falsifying bank records, securing loans and pocketing the proceeds and investing in private, for-profit limited partnerships.” 26 The Ralph C. Wilson Foundation previously made a $40 million donation to the Conservancy, with president and CEO David Egner commenting, “We’ve got to avoid a national black eye…We have to make sure this project is looked at for its contribution to the community and not this short-term disruption.” 27

People

The list of foundation officers includes the CEO/president, a treasurer and secretary and seven trustees. 28 Eugene Driker was listed as the chairman of the trustees as of 2019, the most recent filing by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. 29 Driker is a business litigation lawyer whose clients included the Buffalo Bills, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, and the Dow Chemical Company. 30

David Egner has been the president and CEO of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation since 2016. He also served as the president and CEO of the left-of-center Hudson-Webber Foundation from 1997 to 2015 31 and was executive assistant to Russell G. Mawby, who was the former CEO and chair of the trustees of the left-of-center W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 32

Lavea Brachman was the vice president of programs for five years at the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. She co-founded the Greater Ohio Policy Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Greater Ohio Policy Center advocates for more spending on public transportation and higher taxes and more government spending. 33 Brachman is a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. 34

References

  1. Detroit News. Jennifer Chambers. Oct. 8, 2014. “Sale Of Buffalo Bills To Benefit Detroit”; Accessed 7/4/2021. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2014/10/08/buffalo-bills-detroit-sale/16941307/
  2. Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation website. Accessed 7/4/2021. https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/our-focus/caregivers/
  3. Bridge Michigan website. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://www.bridgemi.com/about/funders
  4. Chalkbeat website. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://www.chalkbeat.org/pages/supporters
  5. Solutions Journalism Network. Accessed 7/6/2021. https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/
  6. Detroit News. Jennifer Chambers. Oct. 8, 2014. “Sale Of Buffalo Bills To Benefit Detroit”; Accessed 7/4/2021. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2014/10/08/buffalo-bills-detroit-sale/16941307/
  7. Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation website. Accessed 7/4/2021. https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/who-we-are/
  8. Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation 2019 Annual Report. Accessed 7/5/2021 https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/wp-content/flipbooks/2019-Annual-Report/index.html#page=9
  9. Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation 2019 Annual Report. Accessed 7/5/2021 https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/wp-content/flipbooks/2019-Annual-Report/index.html#page=9
  10. Solutions Journalism Network. Accessed 7/6/2021. https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/
  11. Solutions Journalism Network story tracker. Accessed 7/6/2021. https://storytracker.solutionsjournalism.org/stories/food-insecurity-linked-to-gun-violence-in-st-louis-black-farmers-work-on-a-solution
  12. Solutions Journalism Network website. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/who-we-are/funders
  13. Chalkbeat website. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://www.chalkbeat.org/pages/supporters
  14. Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation website. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/our-grantees/#filter-form-wrapper
  15. Bridge Michigan website. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://www.bridgemi.com/about/funders
  16. Michigan League for Public Policy website. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://mlpp.org/kids-count/michigan/
  17. W.K. Kellogg Foundation Form 990 2018. Part XV. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/381359264/201901939349100620/IRS990PF
  18. Charles S. Mott Foundation Form 990, 2018. Part XV. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/381211227/201903059349100725/IRS990PF
  19. Ford Foundation Form 990, 2017. Part XV. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131684331/201803209349100025/IRS990PF
  20. [1] Kresge Foundation Form 990, 2017. Part XV. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/381359217/201823169349101227/IRS990PF
  21. Tides Center Form 990, 2018. Part II. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943213100/201943189349314209/IRS990ScheduleI
  22. Forbes. Adam Andrzejewski. June 2, 2017. “Brookings Institution – The Progressive Jukebox Funded By U.S. Taxpayers”; Accessed 6/30/2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2017/06/02/brookings-institution-the-progressive-jukebox-funded-by-u-s-taxpayers/?sh=51407aa35e53
  23. Brookings Institution website. Accessed 7/6/2021. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Brookings-Institutions-Contributors-List-Fiscal-Year-2020.pdf
  24. Ralph C. Wilson Jr Foundation website. Accessed 7/5/2021. https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/our-grantees/#filter-form-wrapper
  25. Washington Post. Andrew Hartman. Dec. 25, 2011. “Teach For America: Liberal Missions Helps Conservative Agenda”; Accessed 7/6/2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/teach-for-america-liberal-mission-helps-conservative-agenda/2011/12/25/gIQApoVZHP_blog.html
  26. Finley, Nolan and Daniel Howes. “Alleged theft from Detroit Riverfront Conservancy could reach $40 million.” The Detroit News, Accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.detroitnews.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.detroitnews.com%2Fstory%2Fbusiness%2F2024%2F05%2F29%2Falleged-theft-from-detroit-riverfront-conservancy-could-reach-millions%2F73895821007%2F&gps-source=CPROADBLOCKDH
  27. Finley, Nolan and Daniel Howes. “Alleged theft from Detroit Riverfront Conservancy could reach $40 million.” The Detroit News, Accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.detroitnews.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.detroitnews.com%2Fstory%2Fbusiness%2F2024%2F05%2F29%2Falleged-theft-from-detroit-riverfront-conservancy-could-reach-millions%2F73895821007%2F&gps-source=CPROADBLOCKDH
  28. Ralph C. Wilson Foundation Form 990, Part VII. Accessed 7/6/2021. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/45-0921232
  29. Ralph C. Wilson Foundation Form 990, Part VII. Accessed 7/6/2021. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/45-0921232
  30. Barris, Sott, Denn, Driker, PLLC website. Accessed 7/6/2021. https://www.bsdd.com/Eugene-Driker
  31. Our State Of Generosity website. Accessed 6/30/2021. https://ourstateofgenerosity.org/leader/david-egner/
  32. W.K. Kellogg Foundation website. Oct. 23, 2017. “In Tribute: Honoring The Life And Legacy Of Dr. Russell G. Mawby, Legendary Leader And Friend Of Philanthropy”; Accessed 6/30/2021. https://ourstateofgenerosity.org/leader/david-egner/
  33. Greater Ohio Policy Center website. “Building A Greater Ohio, Greater Ohio Policy Center 2021-22 Public Policy Agenda”; Accessed 6/30/2021. https://www.greaterohio.org/2020-policy-platform
  34. Brookings Institution website. Accessed 7/7/2021. https://www.brookings.edu/experts/lavea-brachman/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: April 1, 2012

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form PF $0 $0 $1,300,036,042 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2019 Dec Form PF $0 $0 $1,267,518,713 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form PF $0 $0 $1,109,505,376 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form PF $0 $0 $1,211,813,740 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form PF $0 $0 $1,859,510 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form PF $0 $0 $1,895,400 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form PF $0 $0 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation


    Detroit, MI