Great Lakes Sports Commission
The mission of the Great Lakes Sports Commission is to promote northern Michigan as a premier destination for sports, recreation, and tourism. It works to drive economic development, community vitality, and quality of life by leveraging sports and recreation through strategic partnerships, infrastructure support, events, and tourism-focused initiatives.
Great Lakes Sports Commission at a glance
In short: Great Lakes Sports Commission gave $252K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $252,000
- +225.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $36,000
- +178.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $22,100
- Total assets
- $5,938,338
- -14.9% 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.
How to apply to Great Lakes Sports Commission
- Next open deadline
- March 31, 2027 (Infrastructure Development Grant)
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Great Lakes Sports Commission
Who Great Lakes Sports Commission funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau ($150K). Together the top 7 received $252K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 21 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Great Lakes Sports Commission gives
- Giving fell 56% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $78K (2024) to $578K (2022). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $252K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Sault Ste Marie, MI | Infrastructure Development Grant for Improvements to I-500 Facility | $150,000 |
| Gogebic Community College Ironwood, MI | Sports development grant in support of the ironwood snocross nationals | $25,000 |
| Traverse City Area Public Schools Traverse City, MI | Sports development grant in support of planning and design for indoor sports complex | $25,000 |
| Swedetown Trails Club Calumet, MI | Sports development grant in support of the great bear chase nordic skiing event | $22,100 |
| Top Shelf Hockey Shop LLC Traverse City, MI | Sports development grant in support of the tc challenge women's hockey tournament | $12,400 |
| Paddle Antrim Elk Rapids, MI | Sports development grant in support of the paddle antrim festival | $10,000 |
| St Ignace Vistors Bureau St Ignace, MI | Sports development grant in support of the st ignace up pond hockey event | $7,500 |
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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 | $5,938,338 | $218,429 | $1,294,364 | $252,000 | 7 | $194,629 |
| 2024 | $6,976,705 | $221,743 | $713,754 | $77,500 | 6 | $199,167 |
| 2023 | $7,382,285 | $169,111 | $862,523 | $300,000 | 2 | $164,111 |
| 2022 | $7,895,734 | $41,173 | $1,111,859 | $577,757 | 5 | $6,173 |
| 2021 | $9,033,304 | $194,911 | $496,603 | $83,323 | 1 | $149,402 |
| 2020 | $9,493,493 | $233,972 | $771,957 | $375,000 | 3 | $83,406 |
About Great Lakes Sports Commission
Based on IRS filings
Great Lakes Sports Commission is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Iron Mountain, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $252K. Net investment income was $195K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Great Lakes Sports Commission is led by Eric Marvin, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eric Marvin
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
25 hrs/week
$186K (2023) → $186K (2025)
Steve Verrette
Chair
Commissoner → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brigitte Lapointe
Trustee
Commissoner → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Sanregret
Trustee
Commissoner → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Hoath
Trustee
Commissoner → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Beachnau
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Antonishen
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Hackbarth
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kris Dunbar
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Paavola
Vice Chair
Commissoner → Trustee, 2024
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Marshall
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Doug Luciani (2020–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Fritz Erickson (2020–2024) — Chair
- Former: Laura Ness (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Douglas Luciani (2023) — Past Chair
- Former: Lois Ellis (2023) — Commissoner
- Former: Billy Demong (2020–2022) — Commissoner
- Former: Kevin Korpi (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Dennis West (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Stacie Stachowiz Bytwork (2020–2021) — Commissoner
- Former: Gina Thornsen (2020) — Commissoner
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $186K, to Eric Marvin (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes Sports Commission
How much does Great Lakes Sports Commission give each year?
Great Lakes Sports Commission gave $252K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $78K across 6 grants.
What is Great Lakes Sports Commission's typical grant size?
Great Lakes Sports Commission's median grant in 2025 was $22,100, and its average grant was $36,000, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Great Lakes Sports Commission give grants?
Great Lakes Sports Commission gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Traverse City, MI (2 grants).
Does Great Lakes Sports Commission give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Great Lakes Sports Commission's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Great Lakes Sports Commission's largest grantees?
Great Lakes Sports Commission's largest 2025 grantees include Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau ($150,000), Gogebic Community College ($25,000) and Traverse City Area Public Schools ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Great Lakes Sports Commission?
Great Lakes Sports Commission reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $218K.
What is Great Lakes Sports Commission?
Great Lakes Sports Commission is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Iron Mountain, MI. It holds $5.9M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Great Lakes Sports Commission's EIN?
Great Lakes Sports Commission's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-0954493. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Great Lakes Sports Commission's focus areas in our free grants database
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