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 $86K across 72 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Michigan. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $86,400
- -6.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 72
- -7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,200
- +1.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,200
- Total assets
- $1,450,270
- +8.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (34 of 72, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (81% 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 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
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was ZOE Korson ($1K). Together the top 10 received $12K.
Grant Size Distribution
356 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 356 grants of 356 (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 2024 grant dollars across all 72 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 72 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 42% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+20%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 152% of 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 $66K (2020) to $92K (2023). In 2024 it made 72 grants totaling $86K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ZOE Korson Cedar, MI | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
| Zack Yeomans Cedar, MI | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
| William Jacob Schaub Lake Leelanau, MI | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
| Tyler Buchholz Lake Ann, MI | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
| Tessa Steup Fort Wayne, IN | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
| Sydney Yeomans Cedar, MI | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
| Simeon Popa Traverse City, MI | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
| Sarah Bunek Lake Leelanau, MI | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
| Russell Campbell Palatine, IL | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
| Nicholas Dashner Traverse City, MI | Financial support leading to a post high school degree | $1,200 |
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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 | $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 $68K 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 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 Zoe Korson of Cedar, Michigan, and Tessa Steup of Fort Wayne, Indiana, for financial support leading to a post-high-school degree.
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 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 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
Edward M. Fleis
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Gauthier
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence Fleis
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/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
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donald Thompson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Watkoski
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Cwengros
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Fleis
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/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, 2020–2024. "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 Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation
How much does Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation give each year?
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation gave $86K across 72 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $92K across 78 grants.
What is Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's typical grant size?
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,200, and its average grant was $1,200, across 72 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation that year got $1K on average.
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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cedar, MI (14 grants), Traverse City, MI (10 grants), Suttons Bay, MI (5 grants) and Lake Leelanau, MI (4 grants).
Does Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 72 grants with a stated purpose on Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support Leading to a Post High School Degree" (72 grants).
Who are Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's largest grantees?
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include ZOE Korson ($1,200), Zack Yeomans ($1,200) and William Jacob Schaub ($1,200), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 4% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation?
Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $103K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $68K (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 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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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