James and Lynelle Holden Fund
The James and Lynelle Holden Fund is a private foundation based in Northville, Michigan. It reported 25 grants totaling $187,000 in 2025, supporting organizations that include Michigan nonprofits and educational and cultural institutions.
James and Lynelle Holden Fund at a glance
In short: James and Lynelle Holden Fund gave $187K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Michigan. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $187,000
- +9.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- -3.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,480
- +13.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,093,144
- -3.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (3 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to James and Lynelle Holden Fund
- How to Apply
-
The fund’s filing says applicants should submit a letter or proposal specifying the proposed use of grant funds and the benefit to be derived. It identifies Daniel T Lis, President, as the contact. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists deadlines as N/A.
- Deadline
- The filing lists deadlines as N/A.
- Contact
Application contact: Daniel T Lis President
Mailing address: 44943 Oak Forest Drive, Northville, MI 48168
Phone: (248) 798-7406
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James and Lynelle Holden Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Michigan ($30K). Together the top 10 received $117K.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 118 grants of 118 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 3% to recipients in New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is James and Lynelle Holden Fund open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 25 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 280% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $165K (2021) to $187K (2025). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $187K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Investigative Research Fund | $30,000 |
| Detroit Zoological Society Royal Oak, MI | Fund for Education | $25,000 |
| St Vincent De Paul Society Detroit, MI | General Operations | $18,500 |
| A Journey for Housing Canton, MI | General Operations | $10,000 |
| Scouting America Detroit, MI | General Operations | $5,500 |
| Capuchin Soup Kitchen Detroit, MI | General Operations | $5,500 |
| Cots Detroit, MI | General Operations | $5,500 |
| Forgotten Harvest Oak Park, MI | General Operations | $5,500 |
| Girl Scouts of America Detroit, MI | General Operations | $5,500 |
| Gleaners Community Food Bank Detroit, MI | General Operations | $5,500 |
Ready to take the next step with James and Lynelle Holden Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,093,144 | $131,573 | $237,207 | $187,000 | 25 | $205,445 | $101,570 | $73,298 |
| 2024 | $1,137,408 | $137,824 | $220,791 | $171,000 | 26 | $189,200 | $107,730 | $75,951 |
| 2023 | $1,220,098 | $115,102 | $218,073 | $169,500 | 21 | $187,562 | $85,781 | $77,644 |
| 2022 | $1,323,066 | $181,591 | $216,891 | $168,000 | 22 | $185,840 | $152,665 | $90,172 |
| 2021 | $1,360,484 | $284,184 | $212,650 | $164,600 | 24 | — | $255,875 | $97,022 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James and Lynelle Holden Fund reported a distributable amount of $73K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes, including university research, zoo education, general operations, food assistance, housing, and youth services.
The grantees describe their work in varied ways: the Detroit Zoological Society says it connects people, animals, and the natural world; COTS says it empowers families in poverty; and Gleaners Community Food Bank says it works to provide households with nutritious food and related resources. Vista Maria describes its work as providing care, treatment, and education for vulnerable youth and families.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the fund made 25 grants totaling $187,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $30,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest awards included $30,000 to the University of Michigan for an investigative research fund and $25,000 to the Detroit Zoological Society for its Fund for Education. Other grants included $18,500 to the St Vincent de Paul Society for general operations and $10,000 to A Journey for Housing for general operations. The fund also gave $5,500 each to Scouting America, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, COTS, Forgotten Harvest, Girl Scouts of America, Gleaners Community Food Bank, and Vista Maria, all for general operations. Learning Ally and the Detroit Historical Society each received $5,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Daniel T Lis as President, Treasurer, and Trustee; Ingrid O Vernier as Secretary; and William Buckley as Vice President and Trustee.
James and Lynelle Holden Fund is led by Daniel T. Lis, President, Treasurer & Trustee on every filing since 2021; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel T. Lis
President, Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2021
7 hrs/week
$12K (2021) → $12K (2025)
William Buckley
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$12K (2021) → $12K (2025)
Ingrid O. Vernier
Secretary
On filings since 2021
13 hrs/week
$14K (2021) → $12K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $12K, to Daniel T Lis (President/Treasurer/Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about James and Lynelle Holden Fund
How much does James and Lynelle Holden Fund give each year?
James and Lynelle Holden Fund gave $187K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $171K across 26 grants.
What is James and Lynelle Holden Fund's typical grant size?
James and Lynelle Holden Fund's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,480, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James and Lynelle Holden Fund that year got $7K on average.
Where does James and Lynelle Holden Fund give grants?
James and Lynelle Holden Fund gives mostly in Michigan: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (10 grants), Oak Park, MI (2 grants) and Pontiac, MI (2 grants).
Does James and Lynelle Holden Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of James and Lynelle Holden Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James and Lynelle Holden Fund's largest grantees?
James and Lynelle Holden Fund's largest 2025 grantees include University of Michigan ($30,000), Detroit Zoological Society ($25,000) and St Vincent De Paul Society ($18,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James and Lynelle Holden Fund?
James and Lynelle Holden Fund reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $205K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $73K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James and Lynelle Holden Fund fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes, including university research, zoo education, general operations, food assistance, housing, and youth services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James and Lynelle Holden Fund?
The fund’s filing says applicants should submit a letter or proposal specifying the proposed use of grant funds and the benefit to be derived. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James and Lynelle Holden Fund's EIN?
James and Lynelle Holden Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6052154. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). James and Lynelle Holden Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-lynelle-holden-fund-morg_ba333043d38945919a3dc68986069ffc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_386052154_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James and Lynelle Holden Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-lynelle-holden-fund-morg_ba333043d38945919a3dc68986069ffc},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-11. 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 James and Lynelle Holden Fund'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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