Jack and Lija Romence
The Jack and Lija Romence Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Established in January 1994, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is classified as a non-operating foundation. The foundation makes charitable contributions to preselected organizations.
Key facts about Jack and Lija Romence
- EIN
- 38-3147551
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $117,040
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- Average grant
- $3,547
- Median grant
- $500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (9 of 33, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only and does not accept unsolicited applications. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jack and Lija Romence funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Jack and Lija Romence's 33 itemized 2024 grants were Michigan (93%). The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (17 grants) and Atlanta, GA (2 grants). None of its 33 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (30 grants) and "Educational" (3 grants).
Is Jack and Lija Romence open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 33 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $283; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $200 first-time, $1K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Jack and Lija Romence
- How to evaluate Jack and Lija Romence as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$117K
+42.9% YoY
Grant Count
33
+6.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+34.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Jack and Lija Romence?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Michigan, Massachusetts, and Tennessee, which account for 65% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 19 states, with concentrated focus in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 33 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income:
- Total assets: $1,925,956 (2024)
- Total assets: $1,580,000 (2023)
- Annual income: $783,000
- Revenue: $433,000 (2023)
- Expenses: $83,500 (2023)
- Total liabilities: $0 (2023)
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $16,000 in 2011 to $1,600,000 in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
171 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Da Blodgett St Johns ($20,300), Calvin University ($20,000), Cure International Childres Hospita ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DA BLODGETT ST JOHNS Grand Rapids, MI | CHARITABLE | $20,300 |
| CALVIN UNIVERSITY Grand Rapids, MI | EDUCATIONAL | $20,000 |
| CURE INTERNATIONAL CHILDRES HOSPITA Grand Rapids, MI | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| POTTERS HOUSE Grand Rapids, MI | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| HOSPICE OF MICHIGAN Ada, MI | CHARITABLE | $10,500 |
| VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE Grand Rapids, MI | CHARITABLE | $7,900 |
| FIRST HAND FOUNDATION Kansas City, MO | CHARITABLE | $2,180 |
| GRAND VALLEY SCHOOL OF NURSING Allendale, MI | EDUCATIONAL | $2,000 |
| MAP INTERNATIONAL Brunswick, GA | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
| ST JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL Memphis, TN | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Jack L Romence
The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack L Romence | Director | — | — |
| Lija K Romence | Director | — | — |
| Kristina a Romence | Director | — | — |
Contact Information
Phone: (616) 949-8304
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jack and Lija Romence fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Jack and Lija Romence?
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only and does not accept unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Jack and Lija Romence make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Michigan, Massachusetts, and Tennessee, which account for 65% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 19 states, with concentrated focus in Michigan.
What size grants does Jack and Lija Romence award?
In 2024, Jack and Lija Romence awarded 33 grants totaling $117K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Jack and Lija Romence's EIN?
Jack and Lija Romence's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3147551. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Jack and Lija Romence accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.