Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes
Our mission is to protect resources and heighten visitor experience in partnership with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes at a glance
In short: Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes gave $76K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $76K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $76,369
- +19.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $76,369
- +19.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $76,369
- Total assets
- $498,755
- +17.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore ($76K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
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 Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes gives
- Giving grew 106% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $32K (2021) to $79K (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $76K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Empire, MI | Park Visitor Experience and Safety | $76,369 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $498,755 | $525,162 | $474,659 | $76,369 | 1 | $14,002 |
| 2024 | $423,934 | $419,888 | $324,926 | $64,093 | 1 | $10,249 |
| 2023 | $328,333 | $287,772 | $286,058 | $78,536 | 1 | $7,995 |
| 2022 | $324,574 | $205,226 | $181,789 | $37,154 | 1 | $408 |
| 2021 | $300,076 | $197,651 | $109,316 | $32,285 | 1 | $28 |
About Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes
Based on IRS filings
Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Empire, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $499K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $76K. Net investment income was $14K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes is led by Bonnie Bastian, Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2023); none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bonnie Bastian
Chair
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Antle
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Aleksov
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Natalia Szymczak
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brennan Sang
Director
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Thelen
Director
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Knebel
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerald Peterson
Past Chair
Chairman → Ex-Officio Chairman, 2023
Ex-Officio Chairman → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kerry Kelly
Past Chair
Director → Chairman, 2023
Chairman → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Klein
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosemary Hagen
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Ichord
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Ray
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Laura Ann Johnson (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Laurie Pope (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Kayle DiCicco (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Rachael Franks-Taylor (2024) — Director
- Former: Fred Luthardt (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Steve Horne (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Tracy Barrilleaux (2021–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: William Stott (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Heather Patterson (2021–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes
How much does Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes give each year?
Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes gave $76K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $64K across 1 grant.
How large is Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes reported $499K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $525K.
What is Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Empire, MI. It holds $499K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes operate?
Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes has awarded grants in Michigan.
What is Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes's EIN?
Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3178841. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes'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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