Bill and Bea Idema Foundation
Bill and Bea Idema Foundation is a private foundation, based in Grand Rapids, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $118.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $5.9M. Net investment income was $4.4M.
Bill and Bea Idema Foundation at a glance
In short: Bill and Bea Idema Foundation gave $5.9M across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $741K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,930,000
- +269.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $741,250
- +177.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $125,000
- Total assets
- $118,203,328
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Bill and Bea Idema Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was John Ball Zoo ($3.5M). Together the top 8 received $5.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 8 grants of 18 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Bill and Bea Idema Foundation gives
- Giving grew 493% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2020) to $5.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $5.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| John Ball Zoo Grand Rapids, MI | Project/Program Support | $3,500,000 |
| Grand Action 20 Grand Rapids, MI | Project/Program Support | $1,030,000 |
| Mary Free Bed Foundation Grand Rapids, MI | Project/Program Support | $1,000,000 |
| Westminster Presbyterian Church for Camp Henry Newaygo, MI | Project/Program Support | $200,000 |
| Our Hope Association Grand Rapids, MI | Project/Program Support | $50,000 |
| Upcycle Bikes Grand Rapids, MI | Project/Program Support | $50,000 |
| American Heart Association Inc Grand Rapids, MI | Project/Program Support | $50,000 |
| Mackinac Center Midland, MI | Operating Support | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $118,203,328 | $5,225,585 | $6,809,275 | $5,930,000 | 8 | $5,950,381 | $4,414,715 | $6,562,579 |
| 2023 | $119,688,344 | $3,067,377 | $2,567,863 | $1,603,000 | 6 | $1,624,000 | $2,135,719 | $5,812,650 |
| 2022 | $119,297,037 | $107,283,948 | $1,696,798 | $1,300,000 | 2 | $1,308,932 | $1,398,446 | $3,236,826 |
| 2021 | $13,700,818 | $1,268,197 | $1,150,000 | $1,000,000 | 1 | $1,004,020 | $1,134,471 | $954,646 |
| 2020 | $13,581,433 | $575,549 | $1,125,222 | $1,000,000 | 1 | — | $456,528 | $828,888 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bill and Bea Idema Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bill and Bea Idema Foundation is led by Jeffrey B. Power, President, Secretary & Trustee on every filing since 2022; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jeffrey B. Power
President, Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$28K (2023) → $27K (2024)
P. Craig Welch Jr.
Chairperson & Trustee
Trustee → Chairperson & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas G. Welch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heidi B. Jark
Vice President - Grants
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristine Nisper
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Lisa Sharp (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Beatrice A. Idema (2020–2021) — President & Trustee
- Former: Jeff Power (2020–2021) — Secretary & Trustee
- Former: Joyce Versluis (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Fifth Third Bank N A (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $27K, to Jeffrey B Power (President/Secretary/Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Bill and Bea Idema Foundation
How much does Bill and Bea Idema Foundation give each year?
Bill and Bea Idema Foundation gave $5.9M across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 6 grants.
What is Bill and Bea Idema Foundation's typical grant size?
Bill and Bea Idema Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $125,000, and its average grant was $741,250, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bill and Bea Idema Foundation give grants?
Bill and Bea Idema Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (6 grants).
Does Bill and Bea Idema Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of Bill and Bea Idema Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Project/Program Support" (7 grants).
Who are Bill and Bea Idema Foundation's largest grantees?
Bill and Bea Idema Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include John Ball Zoo ($3,500,000), Grand Action 20 ($1,030,000) and Mary Free Bed Foundation ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bill and Bea Idema Foundation?
Bill and Bea Idema Foundation reported $118.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Bill and Bea Idema Foundation's EIN?
Bill and Bea Idema Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2653272. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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