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Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Max Fisher founded the Foundation in 1955 after converting his Aurora Gasoline chain into one of the Midwest's largest independent fuel distributors.
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Max Fisher founded the Foundation in 1955 after converting his Aurora Gasoline chain into one of the Midwest's largest independent fuel distributors. The fortune later expanded through board seats at Comerica, Sotheby's, and major Detroit real estate projects. Today, Phillip Fisher and Julie Fisher Cummings manage the Foundation directly from Southfield, Michigan — the Fisher Group, led by President and CEO Mark Davidoff, handles the broader family office and its real estate holdings. Grantmaking concentrates on three core areas: Jewish community programs — the Foundation is a member of the Jewish Funders Network — education, and hunger relief. The Foundation runs a structured feedback loop with grantees and published a 2023-24 impact report titled 'Together & Forward' that emphasizes closing the feedback loop and learning from partner organizations. Real estate underpins the family's wider balance sheet: the Fisher Group controls the landmark Fisher Building in Detroit's New Center, the Riverfront Towers residential complex, Orchestra Place, and Third and Grand, a mixed-use development in Detroit, alongside Martin Downs in Martin County, Florida. The Foundation reports no headcount or assets-under-management figure, consistent with a private family entity. The family office side operates through The Fisher Group, which Mark Davidoff leads as President and CEO; the philanthropic Fisher Foundation sits alongside related structures such as the Lovelight Foundation and the social-impact platform Mission Throttle. Philanthropic governance stays with the founding generation: Phillip Fisher as Managing Trustee and Julie Fisher Cummings as Trustee, both children of Max Fisher. What distinguishes the Fisher Foundation is its refusal to separate philanthropy from family governance. There's no external CIO or outsourced grantmaking committee — the Trustees write checks from a pool of capital anchored by commercial real estate and an industrial legacy, operating more like a private family council than a professional foundation.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1955
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Southfield
Corporate office
Southfield, MI, United States
Principals
Phillip Wm. Fisher
Managing Trustee
Julie Fisher Cummings
Trustee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation?
The Foundation does not disclose a CIO or dedicated investment team. Mark Davidoff serves as President and CEO of The Fisher Group, the umbrella family office that manages the Fisher family's real estate and broader balance sheet. Grantmaking decisions are governed directly by Managing Trustee Phillip Wm. Fisher and Trustee Julie Fisher Cummings, both children of founder Max Fisher.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The wealth traces to Max Fisher, who built Aurora Gasoline into one of the Midwest's largest independent gasoline chains before the brand was sold to what became Marathon Petroleum. Fisher later accumulated Detroit real estate holdings and served on the boards of Comerica and Sotheby's. The family's commercial real estate portfolio, anchored by the Fisher Building, remains a core asset.
What is the relationship between the Fisher Foundation and The Fisher Group?
The Fisher Group operates as the family office overseeing the Fisher family's real estate investments and other business interests under President and CEO Mark Davidoff. The Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation is the primary philanthropic vehicle, governed separately by the Fisher children. The two entities share a common capital base rooted in the original Fisher fortune.
Does the Foundation publish its asset base or annual grantmaking total?
No. The Foundation maintains a private filing profile and does not disclose AUM, grantmaking volumes, or headcount. Its 2023-24 impact report discusses grantee feedback and programmatic focus but omits financial metrics.
What investment stages or asset classes does the Foundation target?
The Foundation is a pure grantmaker; it does not make program-related investments, direct venture deals, or fund commitments. Capital deployment happens exclusively through charitable grants to operating nonprofits. The Fisher Group handles for-profit real estate and other investments separately.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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