The Hal & Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation
The Glassen Foundation was established in 1992 to receive and administer funds for these charitable and educational purposes:
- To encourage firearms shooting skills competition.
- To promote the lawful use and possession of firearms.
- To help fund game bird and animal research studies by schools of natural resources.
- To support research of animal diseases affecting dogs and cats.
- To provide for the welfare of animals through the American Humane Society or other organizations that are not anti-hunting.
The Glassens
Hal Glassen, a WWII veteran, lawyer, and lifelong hunter was introduced to the outdoors by his father and developed an early respect and love for firearms. After attending the University of Wisconsin, where he was a member of the competitive pistol team, he served on the board of directors for the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Defense Department's National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice. A staunch advocate of hunter safety training, he was instrumental in getting the Michigan legislature to make mandatory the Michigan Hunter Safety Certification program. He is memorialized by the Hal Glassen Award, presented annually by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs to the affiliate chapter that makes the greatest achievements in hunter education.
Glassen served as president of the National Rifle Association in 1967-69 and was one of only 13 people at the time to be chosen an honorary life member of the then 120-year-old organization (President Reagan was the 14th). A fierce defender of Second Amendment rights, Glassen was an eloquent spokesman for the NRA.
Hal Glassen died on August 26, 1992.
Jean Glassen was born on December 25, 1908 in Columbus, Wisconsin. The first woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Agricultural School, she earned a degree in bacteriology in 1929. Had the university accepted women in its veterinary school, Jean most assuredly would have become a veterinarian. After marrying, the Glassens moved to Lansing, Michigan where Jean worked as a biologist for the Michigan Department of Public Health until retiring.
With the purchase of their first hunting dog in 1939, the Glassens became dog lovers and fanciers. Jean was a pioneer breeder in the U.S. of English cocker spaniels, producing more than 50 champions under her kennel name Maple Lawn. A six-time president of the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America, she was keenly interested in diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy, which is a problem with English cockers and other breeds.
She helped found the Heart of Michigan English Cocker Spaniel Club. Jean died on February 11, 1991.
The Glassen Foundation Trustees
Pictured from left to right: Tom Baird, Dr. Glenn Miller, Tom Huggler, Al Stewart.
Scroll to the end for information on Grant Application Procedures.
Glassen Foundation Projects
The Foundation provides financial assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, matching funds and other support to 501 (c ) (3) tax-exempt organizations whose mission statements are supportive of these objectives.
To date, the Glassen Foundation has allocated nearly $5 million to more than 60 organizations. Grants have ranged from public school classroom environmental projects to helping establish both a river otter exhibit and a moose habitat showcase at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing. Other examples include funding support for an Adopt-A-Game-Area Program at southern Michigan public hunting properties, building an international skeet shooting range at Hillsdale College, an air-rifle shooting pavilion for Grand Rapids-area boy scouts, and restoring a native prairie at a Lansing nature preserve.
Zoom in on the map and click on a point to explore the projects that the Glassen Foundation has contributed to near you!
The National Wetlands Inventory
The Glassen Foundation awarded Ducks Unlimited with a grant to complete the National Wetlands Inventory in the tri-county area. This updated wetlands map was published in the May, 2024 NWI Wetland mapper, and will be used to support the protection and restoration of hundreds of acres of valuable wetland and habitat in the area.
"The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) was established by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to conduct a nationwide inventory of U.S. wetlands to provide biologists and others with information on the distribution and type of wetlands to aid in conservation efforts. To do this, the NWI developed a wetland classification system (Cowardin et al. 1979) that is now the official FWS wetland classification system and the Federal standard for wetland classification." - FWS
This is a sample map of the NWI performed within the Tri-County Area. Each type of wetland has a unique code and is displayed with a different color in the map. Click on the map and explore the wetlands displayed, or zoom in closer for labels!
Grant Making Policies
The Foundation concentrates on giving within the greater Lansing area. Programs within the State of Michigan are not excluded from consideration but are assigned lower priority. The board of trustees assigns highest priority to projects falling within the five program missions described earlier.
The Foundation is interested in providing “seed” money to stimulate the development of innovative programs. The availability of “matching funds” and the prospects for longer-term support from other sources are other important considerations.
Application Procedures
- A letter signed by a senior officer of the requesting organization, is the preferred form application. The letter should include:
- A brief description of the organization seeking support.
- A description of the program in need of funding, including an explanation of its importance and a clear statement of its goals.
- A detailed income and expense budget for the proposed program.
- Information about other potential sources of funding.
- The amount requested, the purpose for which the requested funds are needed, and the time period during which the funds would be used.
- Proof that the organization seeking support has 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS and is not classified as a private foundation.
- A brief explanation of promotional plans, if appropriate, and any public relations value to the Glassen Foundation.
- Availability of principles within the requesting organization to make a presentation to the Glassen Foundation.
- Willingness of the requesting organization to update the Glassen Foundation on performance of the program and to issue a final written report.
- Please mail four (4) copies to:
The Hal & Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation
Attn: Tom Huggler, President
P.O. Box 250
Sunfield, MI 48890
Review Process
The foundation president processes all grant requests. He may turn down proposals that are not within the Foundation's geographic area or program missions. Most requests are decided within six months. Many are determined when year-end revenues are known and calendar year distributions must be made.
