Forest H Akers Trust
Forest H Akers Trust is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Grand Rapids, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $8.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $717K. Net investment income was $1.5M.
Forest H Akers Trust at a glance
In short: Forest H Akers Trust gave $717K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $717K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $716,600
- +17.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $716,600
- +252.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $716,600
- Total assets
- $8,687,024
- +10.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Forest H Akers Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Michigan State University ($717K).
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 5 grants of 7 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Forest H Akers Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). Method
- In 2025 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $516K (2020) to $717K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $717K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | Endow Fund - Entrepreneurial Develop | $716,600 |
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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 | $8,687,024 | $1,586,801 | $784,421 | $716,600 | 1 | $716,600 | $1,513,980 | $791,193 |
| 2024 | $7,884,644 | $657,251 | $678,838 | $609,742 | 3 | $609,742 | $341,900 | $717,373 |
| 2023 | $7,906,231 | $607,568 | $687,262 | $622,000 | 1 | $622,000 | $542,306 | $609,539 |
| 2022 | $7,985,925 | $1,015,936 | $731,048 | $649,784 | 1 | $649,784 | $934,672 | $624,819 |
| 2021 | $7,701,037 | $1,686,890 | $651,782 | $600,000 | 1 | $600,000 | $1,635,108 | $647,731 |
| 2020 | $6,665,929 | $542,093 | $570,371 | $516,000 | 1 | — | $487,722 | $598,646 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Forest H Akers Trust reported a distributable amount of $791K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Forest H Akers Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brian Breslin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy E. Craig
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Roger Wilkinson (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Stephen H. Terry (2020–2024) — 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 Forest H Akers Trust
How much does Forest H Akers Trust give each year?
Forest H Akers Trust gave $717K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $610K across 3 grants.
How large is Forest H Akers Trust?
Forest H Akers Trust reported $8.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $717K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $791K (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 Forest H Akers Trust?
Forest H Akers Trust is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Grand Rapids, MI. It holds $8.7M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Forest H Akers Trust operate?
Forest H Akers Trust has awarded grants in Michigan.
What is Forest H Akers Trust's EIN?
Forest H Akers Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6066391. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
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 August 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Forest H Akers Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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