Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation
The Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It grants scholarships to students pursuing a post-high-school degree or certificate, with eligibility tied to connections to Solon and Centerville townships and Leelanau County, Michigan.
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation at a glance
In short: Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation gave $95K across 79 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $94,800
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 79
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,200
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,200
- Total assets
- $1,684,873
- +16.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Theodore Fleis for application information. Awards are restricted to people with a lineal connection to Centerville or Solon Township, Michigan, who are attending college.
- Review Cycle
- April 30.
- Deadline
- April 30.
- Contact
Application contact: Theodore Fleis
Mailing address: 6060 Grand Haven Road, Norton Shores, MI 49441
Phone: (231) 798-8473
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
369 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 369 grants of 369 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 81% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan. The remaining reported shares were Georgia (6%), Indiana (3%), Illinois (3%), and Ohio (3%). The foundation’s stated scholarship eligibility connects applicants to Solon and Centerville townships and Leelanau County, Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 79 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 135% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $66K (2020) to $95K (2025). In 2025 it made 79 grants totaling $95K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 50 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $60,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,684,873 | $306,160 | $131,529 | $94,800 | 79 | $102,369 | $116,998 | $75,749 |
| 2024 | $1,450,270 | $226,118 | $116,343 | $86,400 | 72 | $102,837 | $77,638 | $67,695 |
| 2023 | $1,342,601 | $171,558 | $122,047 | $92,400 | 78 | $109,906 | $37,675 | $64,129 |
| 2022 | $1,282,915 | $150,036 | $105,742 | $89,800 | 76 | $102,629 | $40,129 | $66,611 |
| 2021 | $1,444,772 | $284,054 | $83,469 | $72,199 | 64 | $79,912 | $156,131 | $63,737 |
| 2020 | $1,231,632 | $233,530 | $69,864 | $66,000 | 66 | — | $137,482 | $53,665 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation reported a distributable amount of $76K for 2025 — 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 charitable activity is awarding scholarships to students pursuing a post-high-school degree or certificate. Its filing describes eligibility as being a resident or lineal descendant who lived or is living in Solon or Centerville townships or Leelanau County, Michigan.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 72 grants totaling $86,400. Each was $1,200. Examples include $1,200 scholarships to two individual recipients, for financial support leading to a post-high-school degree. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 79 grants totaling $94,800.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Theodore A. Fleis as president. Directors are Edward M. Fleis, Joan Gauthier, Lawrence Fleis, Benadette Denoyer, Shirley Milowski, Noreen Savage, Donald Thompson, Doug Watkoski, and Becky Sordelet.
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation is led by Theodore A. Fleis, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 12 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Theodore A. Fleis
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benadette Denoyer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Noreen Savage
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shirley Milowski
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Becky Sordelet
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donald Thompson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Watkoski
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Cwengros
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Fleis
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward M. Fleis
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Gauthier
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence Fleis
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Diane Pelak (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: James Fleis (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Laura Cwengros (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mary Jane Steup (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ruth Ann Smith (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation
How much does Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation give each year?
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation gave $95K across 79 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $86K across 72 grants.
What is Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's typical grant size?
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,200, and its average grant was $1,200, across 79 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation give grants?
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 79 grants with a stated purpose on Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support Leading to a Post High School Degree" (79 grants).
How large is Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation?
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $102K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $76K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated charitable activity is awarding scholarships to students pursuing a post-high-school degree or certificate. Its filing describes eligibility as being a resident or lineal descendant who lived or is living in Solon or Centerville townships or Leelanau County, Michigan. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation?
Contact Theodore Fleis for application information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's EIN?
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0302442. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 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 2021 (received by the IRS June 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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