James and Shirley Balk Foundation
The James and Shirley Balk Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations including a children’s hospital foundation, a hospice provider, a research and education institute, a school, and a child advocacy organization.
James and Shirley Balk Foundation at a glance
In short: James and Shirley Balk Foundation gave $147K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Michigan. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $146,700
- +2.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- -16.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,780
- +22.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $7,489,421
- +12.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to James and Shirley Balk Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants should contact Shirley Balk by letter. The filing states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Shirley Balk
Mailing address: 1230 Monroe Ave Nw, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Phone: (616) 458-1414
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James and Shirley Balk Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Corewell - Helen Devos Chidlren's Hospital Foundation ($60K). Together the top 10 received $142K.
Grant Size Distribution
99 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 99 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 98% of grant dollars went to Michigan recipients and 2% to Pennsylvania recipients; New York is listed at 0%. Named Michigan recipients include organizations in Grand Rapids and other Michigan communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is James and Shirley Balk Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $4K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 57% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $129K (2021) to $1.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $147K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Corewell - Helen Devos Chidlren's Hospital Foundation Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $60,000 |
| Hospice of Michigan Ada, MI | General Support | $32,500 |
| Van Andel Institute Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $14,200 |
| Grand Rapids Christian School Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $10,000 |
| CASA of Kent County Inc Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $10,000 |
| Rockford High School Rockford, MI | General Support | $4,000 |
| Younglife Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $3,500 |
| San Juan Diego Academy Wyoming, MI | General Support | $3,000 |
| Gilda's Club Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $2,500 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,489,421 | $1,030,497 | $202,643 | $146,700 | 15 | $148,839 | $756,693 | $261,668 |
| 2023 | $6,661,567 | $-1,090,069 | $156,418 | $143,539 | 18 | $145,089 | $149,274 | $253,550 |
| 2022 | $7,908,054 | $-902,913 | $1,819,425 | $1,770,350 | 19 | $1,774,350 | $108,108 | $387,971 |
| 2021 | $10,630,392 | $1,783,156 | $139,129 | $128,845 | 18 | $131,345 | $866,135 | $391,480 |
| 2020 | $8,986,365 | $771,922 | $461,067 | $445,990 | 29 | — | $631,677 | $319,666 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James and Shirley Balk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $262K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including health, education, and children’s services. For example, CASA of Kent County describes its work as recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children in Kent County. Hospice of Michigan says it provides hospice expertise and support to patients and families.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $146,700. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $60,000, with a median of $3,000. Its largest reported grants were $60,000 to Corewell – Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation, $32,500 to Hospice of Michigan, and $14,200 to Van Andel Institute. Other listed recipients included Grand Rapids Christian School and CASA of Kent County, each receiving $10,000; Rockford High School ($4,000); Young Life ($3,500); and San Juan Diego Academy ($3,000). The filing lists general support as the purpose for these grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James Balk II, Shirley Balk, James H Balk, Martin A Balk, and Steven J Balk as trustees.
James and Shirley Balk Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James Balk II
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James H. Balk
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Martin A. Balk
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Shirley Balk
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Steven J. Balk
Trustee
On filings since 2020
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 James and Shirley Balk Foundation
How much does James and Shirley Balk Foundation give each year?
James and Shirley Balk Foundation gave $147K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $144K across 18 grants.
What is James and Shirley Balk Foundation's typical grant size?
James and Shirley Balk Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $9,780, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James and Shirley Balk Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does James and Shirley Balk Foundation give grants?
James and Shirley Balk Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (7 grants) and Grandville, MI (2 grants).
Does James and Shirley Balk Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of James and Shirley Balk Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James and Shirley Balk Foundation's largest grantees?
James and Shirley Balk Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Corewell - Helen Devos Chidlren's Hospital Foundation ($60,000), Hospice of Michigan ($32,500) and Van Andel Institute ($14,200), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is James and Shirley Balk Foundation?
James and Shirley Balk Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $149K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $262K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does James and Shirley Balk Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including health, education, and children’s services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James and Shirley Balk Foundation?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James and Shirley Balk Foundation's EIN?
James and Shirley Balk Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2556356. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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). James and Shirley Balk Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-shirley-balk-foundation-morg_072f96dd0b1c43039c94d97a3cd20d08
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382556356_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James and Shirley Balk Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-shirley-balk-foundation-morg_072f96dd0b1c43039c94d97a3cd20d08},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-05. 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 Shirley Balk 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.
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