Buist Foundation
Buist Foundation is a private foundation based in Byron Center, Michigan. It says its program is to provide assistance to needy families in the surrounding community, and its 2024 filing describes direct aid for housing and other household expenses, as well as clothing, counseling, adoption, auto, and medical costs. Its 2024 grants also supported a range of charitable organizations, including community-assistance, housing, and faith-based organizations.
Buist Foundation at a glance
In short: Buist Foundation gave $322K across 68 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Michigan. 54% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $322,163
- +47.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 68
- -2.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,738
- +51.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $809,171
- -3.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (34 of 63, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Buist Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Brent Brinks with a written request specifying the need and background information. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Brent Brinks
Mailing address: 2- 84Th Street, Byron Center, MI 49315-8660
Phone: (616) 878-3315
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Buist Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Daffodil Ministries ($51K). Together the top 10 received $190K.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($1,372), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
261 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 255 grants of 261 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Byron Center, Michigan. In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan; listed recipient-state shares also included Florida (2%), Texas (1%), Kentucky (1%), and Ohio (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 68 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Buist Foundation open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 63 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 40% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 114% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $151K (2021) to $322K (2024). In 2024 it made 68 grants totaling $322K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Daffodil Ministries Wyoming, MI | Community Assistance | $51,388 |
| Impact Burundi Po Box, MI | Missions | $25,000 |
| Barry County Livestock Development Committee Hastings, MI | Community Assistance | $23,825 |
| Streams of Hope Suite, MI | Electrical Work | $20,000 |
| Bridge Street House of Prayer Grand Rapids, MI | Missions | $15,000 |
| Woodfield Community Center Grand Rapids, MI | Community Assistance | $15,000 |
| Alpha Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MI | Community Assistance | $10,000 |
| Byron Community Ministries Byron Center, MI | Missions | $10,000 |
| Jason Kinzler Family First Foundation Wyoming, MI | Community Assistance | $10,000 |
| Selah Empowers Byron Center, MI | Community Assistance | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Buist Foundation?
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 | $809,171 | $621,489 | $654,401 | $322,163 | 68 | $648,885 | $38,010 | $47,278 |
| 2023 | $842,083 | $521,166 | $451,293 | $218,487 | 70 | $224,199 | $13,281 | $43,096 |
| 2022 | $772,210 | $386,130 | $497,465 | $318,546 | 43 | $323,238 | $769 | $44,190 |
| 2021 | $883,545 | $914,356 | $348,987 | $150,746 | 41 | $339,421 | $281 | $22,946 |
| 2020 | $318,176 | $344,314 | $325,722 | $152,957 | 39 | — | $1,307 | $17,213 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Buist Foundation reported a distributable amount of $47K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated program is to provide assistance to needy families in the surrounding community. Its direct charitable activities include assistance with housing, mortgage or rent payments, insurance, utilities, and related expenses; it also provides assistance with clothing, counseling, adoption assistance, auto expenses, and medical costs.
The organizations it supported in 2024 reflect varied charitable work. Daffodil Ministries says it facilitates safe, sustainable housing and connections to local resources for survivors of domestic abuse. Family Promise of Grand Rapids describes its work as homeless prevention, emergency shelter, housing solutions, and services for families in a housing crisis. Byron Community Ministries says it serves lower-income, at-risk, and senior residents in the greater Byron Center area. Other grantees’ stated missions include supporting people affected by unplanned pregnancy (Alpha Grand Rapids), building healthier neighborhoods (Streams of Hope), and empowering youth through holistic development (Bridge Street House of Prayer).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 68 grants totaling $322,163. Individual grants ranged from $100 to $51,388, with a median of $2,000. Among its largest awards were $51,388 to Daffodil Ministries, $25,000 to Impact Burundi, $23,825 to Barry County Livestock Development Committee, $20,000 to Streams of Hope, and $15,000 each to Bridge Street House of Prayer and Woodfield Community Center.
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It accepts written requests specifying the need and background information; the filing lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Brent Brinks as president, Matt DeVries as vice president, Andy Vermurlen as secretary, and Adam Herrema and Scott Bishop as directors.
Buist Foundation is led by Brent Brinks, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brent Brinks
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Herrema
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Bishop
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andy Vermurlen
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Devries
Vice President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Josh Cisler (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: John Feenstra (2020) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Buist Foundation
How much does Buist Foundation give each year?
Buist Foundation gave $322K across 68 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $218K across 70 grants.
What is Buist Foundation's typical grant size?
Buist Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $4,738, across 68 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Buist Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Buist Foundation give grants?
Buist Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 97% 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 (18 grants), Byron Center, MI (7 grants), Hudsonville, MI (6 grants) and Wyoming, MI (3 grants).
Does Buist Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 68 grants with a stated purpose on Buist Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Assistance" (33 grants), "Missions" (16 grants) and "Community Development" (9 grants).
Who are Buist Foundation's largest grantees?
Buist Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Daffodil Ministries ($51,388), Impact Burundi ($25,000) and Barry County Livestock Development Committee ($23,825), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($1,372), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Buist Foundation?
Buist Foundation reported $809K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $649K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $47K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Buist Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated program is to provide assistance to needy families in the surrounding community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Buist Foundation?
Contact Brent Brinks with a written request specifying the need and background information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Buist Foundation's EIN?
Buist Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3314509. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Buist Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/buist-foundation-morg_8d01396eca434d189bca37c25277cbd0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383314509_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Buist Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/buist-foundation-morg_8d01396eca434d189bca37c25277cbd0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Buist Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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