Great Lakes Foundation
The foundation's mission includes: 1. Promoting marine safety through education and information about boating practices, harbors and anchorages in the great lakes; 2. Protecting and preserving wilderness areas associated with cruising; 3. Enhancing the appreciation of the great lakes and its unique boating opportunities by boaters and the general public; 4. Encouraging the study and preservation of the marine environment; and 5. Supporting the development or repair of important marine infrastructure.
Great Lakes Foundation at a glance
In short: Great Lakes Foundation reported $25K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $25,471 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -15.1% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $565,098
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $19,262
- -34.4% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $9,891
- +6.2% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $33,312
- -33.2% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Great Lakes Foundation
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Great Lakes Foundation
Who Great Lakes Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 10 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How Great Lakes Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). 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 $14K (2023) to $34K (2021). In 2025 it reported $25K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of PBS Wisconsin Inc Madison, WI | Fund Production of a Documentary Program | $10,000 |
| Friends of Plum and Pilot Island Inc Washington Island, WI | Fund protection and restoration of the plum island rear range light | $10,000 |
| Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society Carlton, MN | Purchase Restoration Materials for Lighthouses | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $565,098 | $19,262 | $33,312 | $25,471 | Total only | $9,891 |
| 2024 | $536,557 | $29,385 | $49,853 | $30,000 | 3 | $9,311 |
| 2023 | $454,771 | $26,232 | $33,976 | $14,251 | 2 | $11,260 |
| 2022 | $412,356 | $28,547 | $47,409 | $31,430 | 2 | $9,518 |
| 2021 | $507,007 | $25,255 | $42,877 | $34,375 | 3 | $10,340 |
| 2020 | $458,373 | $19,901 | $7,409 | — | — | $10,398 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Great Lakes Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Great Lakes Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in New Baltimore, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $565K in total assets. In 2025, it reported $25K in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $10K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Great Lakes Foundation is led by Doug Jackson, President since 2025 (on filings since 2023); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Doug Jackson
President
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Austin
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Niels Jensen
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe McKeown
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Daniel Cline (2021–2024) — President
- Former: Richard Barzyk (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Charles E. Mead (2020) — President
- Former: James Richlak (2020) — Treasurer
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 Great Lakes Foundation
How much does Great Lakes Foundation give each year?
Great Lakes Foundation reported $25K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $30K across 3 grants.
How large is Great Lakes Foundation?
Great Lakes Foundation reported $565K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $19K.
What is Great Lakes Foundation?
Great Lakes Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in New Baltimore, MI. It holds $565K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Great Lakes Foundation operate?
Great Lakes Foundation has awarded grants in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin.
What is Great Lakes Foundation's EIN?
Great Lakes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3843113. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 19, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Great Lakes Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Great Lakes Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Great Lakes Foundation'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.
Great Lakes Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?