Our History

The Irwin Foundation is a legacy to two well-known educators in the Detroit area. Dr. James Irwin was an administrator at Detroit Public Schools, and Dr. Claire Irwin was a professor at Wayne State University. Husband and wife, they both passed away in 1994.

The Irwins had no children or other family members to which they could leave their estate. But they both had strong ties to the academic world, along with a love of animals and a sense of obligation for the efforts in veterinary medicine. In accordance with their wishes, the assets from the Irwin trusts were used to create The Irwin Foundation, dedicated to the promotion of higher education in veterinary medicine.

The Irwin Foundation was incorporated in 1995. Soon after its creation, the Board of Directors began pursuing a strategy that would enable The Irwin Foundation to perpetuate its charitable purpose. It was decided that The Irwin Foundation would seek to become a fundraising entity, and so the Board began to direct its efforts to that end.

In 1996, The Irwin Foundation received its tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. Following that, the State of Michigan granted The Irwin Foundation a License to Solicit Charitable Contributions.