Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer
Hands of Hope is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the philanthropic arm of the Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western Michigan. It provides financial support to cancer patients, their families, and organizations that support them in West Michigan.
Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer at a glance
In short: Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer gave $63K across 120 grants in 2024 (avg $527.083), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $63,250
- -15.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 120
- +16.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $527
- -27.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $137,202
- +28.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
Submit the grant application and 501(c)(3) status form; the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Review Cycle
- Submit at least 14 days before the committee’s next meeting.
- Deadline
- Submit at least 14 days before the committee’s next meeting.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5800 Foremost Se Suite 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Phone: (616) 954-9949
Website: HTTPS://HANDSOFHOPEFOUNDATION.COM/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Beautiful You ($1K). Together the top 10 received $9K.
Grant Size Distribution
244 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 244 grants of 244 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan. The foundation’s stated mission refers to supporting organizations in West Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 120 itemized grants.
Cities
How Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer gives
- 6% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 71% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $37K (2021) to $75K (2023). In 2024 it made 120 grants totaling $63K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Beautiful You Comestock Park, MI | Donation | $1,000 |
| Bluebird Cancer Retreats - SL Spring Lake, MI | Donation | $1,000 |
| Emmanuel Hospice Grand Rapids, MI | Donation | $1,000 |
| Gilda's Club of Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MI | Donation | $1,000 |
| Hospice of Holland Holland, MI | Donation | $1,000 |
| New Day Foundation for Families Rochester Hills, MI | Donation | $1,000 |
| American Cancer Society Detroit, MI | Donation | $1,000 |
| Abbey Ritter Muskegon, MI | Donation | $500 |
| Abdul Salaam Muskegon, MI | Donation | $500 |
| Alan Haga Grant, MI | Donation | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $137,202 | $102,561 | $68,709 | $63,250 | 120 | $66,852 | — | $6,617 |
| 2023 | $106,830 | $88,268 | $83,432 | $74,875 | 103 | $80,453 | — | $4,488 |
| 2022 | $101,994 | $109,324 | $81,781 | $58,250 | 13 | $71,904 | — | $4,981 |
| 2021 | $74,451 | $30,484 | $49,536 | $37,000 | 8 | $49,196 | — | $4,403 |
| 2020 | $93,503 | $93,503 | — | — | — | — | $3 | $391 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer reported a distributable amount of $7K 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 mission is “to lend a hand to our community by providing intentional financial support to our cancer patients, their families and the organizations that support them in West Michigan.” Its stated vision is to help people living with cancer access resources that alleviate financial stress associated with care.
Its 2024 grants included support for hospice and cancer-support organizations. Hospice of Holland describes its mission as providing compassionate end-of-life care through physical, emotional, and spiritual support. Emmanuel Hospice describes its mission as providing spiritual and physical care for people who are dying and their loved ones. The American Cancer Society describes its mission as improving the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 120 grants totaling $63,250. Grants ranged from $250 to $1,000, with a median grant of $500. The largest listed grants were $1,000 each to Beautiful You, Bluebird Cancer Retreats - SL, Emmanuel Hospice, Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, Hospice of Holland, New Day Foundation for Families, and the American Cancer Society.
The foundation’s website says organizations seeking a grant should submit an application and their 501(c)(3) status form. Applications must be submitted at least 14 days before the committee’s next meeting, which the website identifies as the second Tuesday of each month. The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Erin Pettijohn, MD, as president; Patty Jereck as secretary; and Stuart Genschaw as treasurer. The foundation’s website also lists Kathryn Alguire, MD, Brett Brinker, MD, and Kelly Parling-Lynch, DO, as committee members.
Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer is led by Erin Pettijohn MD, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Erin Pettijohn MD
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patty Jereck
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stuart Genschaw
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer
How much does Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer give each year?
Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer gave $63K across 120 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $75K across 103 grants.
What is Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer's typical grant size?
Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer's median grant in 2024 was $500, and its average grant was $527, across 120 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer give grants?
Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Muskegon, MI (27 grants), Grand Rapids, MI (16 grants), Holland, MI (12 grants) and Spring Lake, MI (4 grants).
Does Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 120 grants with a stated purpose on Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (120 grants).
Who are Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer's largest grantees?
Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer's largest 2024 grantees include Beautiful You ($1,000), Bluebird Cancer Retreats - SL ($1,000) and Emmanuel Hospice ($1,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 5% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer?
Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer reported $137K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $67K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to lend a hand to our community by providing intentional financial support to our cancer patients, their families and the organizations that support them in West Michigan.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer?
Submit the grant application and 501(c)(3) status form; the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer's EIN?
Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3452749. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hands-of-hope-the-foundation-of-cancer-morg_f59c70de4370441b83e72bebd9f69135
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_853452749_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hands-of-hope-the-foundation-of-cancer-morg_f59c70de4370441b83e72bebd9f69135},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Hands of Hope the Foundation of Cancer'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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