Clear Lake Lions Club
Lions Club of Clear Lake is a public charity based in Clear Lake, Minnesota. Formed in 1973, it describes itself as a local community service organization that raises funds through community activities and lawful gambling and supports community needs through volunteer projects and grants.
Clear Lake Lions Club at a glance
In short: Clear Lake Lions Club gave $152K across 11 grants in 2026 (avg $14K), top state Minnesota. 55% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $151,821
- -24.4% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 11
- -38.9% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $13,802
- +23.7% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $480,972
- +0.9% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (8% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Clear Lake Lions Club
- How to Apply
-
Submit the applicable organization or individual request form. For organization requests, provide the requested tax-status documentation when applicable; the club may request a financial statement or an in-person presentation.
- Review Cycle
- Submit at least five days before the monthly business meeting.
- Deadline
- Submit at least five days before the monthly business meeting.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 127, Clear Lake, MN 55319
Phone: (320) 743-8001
Website: https://clearlakelionsmn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Clear Lake Lions Club funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Becker Food Shelf ($48K). Together the top 10 received $147K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 55 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The club’s stated mission is to serve the local community. Its 2025 filing reports that 4% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota; the recipient-state entry for the remaining 96% is not identified in the filing data provided.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Clear Lake Lions Club open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $23K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $61K (2021) to $201K (2025). In 2026 it made 11 grants totaling $152K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Becker Food Shelf | Support | $47,500 |
| Becker Youth Association | Support | $24,000 |
| Clear Lake Clearwater Food Shelf | Support | $22,500 |
| Becker School District Becker, MN | Support | $12,300 |
| Becker Bulldog Archery | Support | $10,001 |
| Clear Lake Area Youth Baseball | Support | $10,000 |
| Clear Lake Legion Post 534 | Support | $5,520 |
| 3 of a Kind | Support | $5,000 |
| Foley Clay Target Club | Support | $5,000 |
| Help for the Homeless | Support | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $480,972 | $355,864 | $351,024 | $151,821 | 11 | $2,824 |
| 2025 | $476,582 | $392,451 | $354,020 | $200,850 | 18 | $1,683 |
| 2024 | $437,187 | $326,126 | $339,767 | $189,160 | 10 | $1,816 |
| 2023 | $451,810 | $240,393 | $254,511 | $100,125 | 7 | $1,135 |
| 2022 | $465,930 | $249,796 | $208,562 | $67,840 | 9 | $471 |
| 2021 | $460,268 | $260,772 | $206,799 | $60,600 | 6 | $462 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states its mission is “to serve the needs of the local community through volunteer projects.” Its program description says it provides a place to meet and take part in community activities to fund community needs through fundraising and lawful gambling.
The club’s website names past areas of support including youth organizations and sports, schools, food shelves, veteran groups, townships, parks, and Lions projects such as the Lions Eye Bank, Lions Hearing Foundation, Lions Hearing Dog, Lions Leader Dog, and the Wellness Van.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the club reported 18 grants totaling $200,850. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $43,000, with a median of $6,000. The largest listed awards were $43,000 to the City of Clear Lake, $27,100 to Becker Youth Association, $26,450 to Quiet Oaks, $12,700 to Clear Lake Clearwater Food Shelf, and $12,500 to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. Each was listed with the purpose “Support.” Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 11 grants totaling $151,821.
The club’s website provides request forms for organizations and individuals. Requests are reviewed at the monthly business meeting, held on the first Tuesday of each month. The club may ask a requester to attend a meeting and present the request. For organization requests, it may ask for a financial statement; organizations identifying as 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) must submit an IRS tax-status determination letter or have one on file. The website says a response may take up to 90 days.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Kristi Schendzielos, Gambling Manager; Randy Lyon, President; Stan Berg, Secretary; Ed Ploof, Treasurer; Nick Peterson, 1st Vice President; Sue Severson, 2nd Vice President; Dan Bodimer, 3rd Vice President; Joe Gruenes, Lion Tamer; Glenn Goenner, Tail Twister; and Glen Peterson, Past President.
Clear Lake Lions Club is led by Randy Lyon, President since 2025 (on filings since 2023); none of the 15 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Randy Lyon
President
2nd Vice President → 1st Vice President, 2024
1st Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Client Schendzielos
Director
Tail Twister → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Kustermann
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Schustak
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Al Fahsl
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pat Arnold
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Schendzielos
Gambling Manager
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$53K (2025) → $0 (2026)
Glen Peterson
Past President
1st Vice President → President, 2024
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Goenner
Tail Twister
Lion Tamer → Tail Twister, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Gruenes
Lion Tamer
Director → Lion Tamer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stan Berg
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Peterson
1st Vice President
3rd Vice President → 2nd Vice President, 2024
2nd Vice President → 1st Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue Severson
2nd Vice President
3rd Vice President → 2nd Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Bodimer
3rd Vice President
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Cielenski
Treasurer
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Ed Ploof (2021–2025) — Treasurer
- Former: Eric Kronenberg (2021–2024) — Past President
- Former: Scott Ziehl (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Eddy Kronenberg (2024) — Lion Tamer
- Former: Neil Kotzer (2024) — Director
- Former: Parker Schendzielos (2024) — Tail Twister
- Former: Bob Stamm (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Kevin Goenner (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Allan Fashl (2022–2023) — Past President
- Former: Robert Wipper (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Brian Goenner (2021–2022) — 1st Vice President
- Former: Norm Ashfeld (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Joe Hentges (2022) — 3rd Vice President
- Former: Keith Berger (2022) — Director
- Former: Allan Fahsl (2021) — President
- Former: Paul Hans (2021) — Past President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $53K, to Kristi Schendzielos (Gambling Manager).
Frequently asked questions about Clear Lake Lions Club
How much does Clear Lake Lions Club give each year?
Clear Lake Lions Club gave $152K across 11 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $201K across 18 grants.
What is Clear Lake Lions Club's typical grant size?
Clear Lake Lions Club's median grant in 2026 was $10,000, and its average grant was $13,802, across 11 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Clear Lake Lions Club that year got $6K on average.
Where does Clear Lake Lions Club give grants?
Clear Lake Lions Club's top state is Minnesota, with 8% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990.
Does Clear Lake Lions Club give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Clear Lake Lions Club's 2026 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (11 grants).
Who are Clear Lake Lions Club's largest grantees?
Clear Lake Lions Club's largest 2026 grantees include Becker Food Shelf ($47,500), Becker Youth Association ($24,000) and Clear Lake Clearwater Food Shelf ($22,500), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Clear Lake Lions Club?
Clear Lake Lions Club reported $481K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $356K.
What does Clear Lake Lions Club fund?
The organization states its mission is “to serve the needs of the local community through volunteer projects.” Its program description says it provides a place to meet and take part in community activities to fund community needs through fundraising and lawful gambling. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Clear Lake Lions Club?
Submit the applicable organization or individual request form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Clear Lake Lions Club's EIN?
Clear Lake Lions Club's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7333627. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS September 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Clear Lake Lions Club down — hundreds of funders to go?