James and Shirley Balk Foundation
The James and Shirley Balk Foundation is a family foundation established in 1984 and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Michigan, with particular emphasis on the Grand Rapids area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.5M
+12.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$147K
+2.2% YoY
Grant Count
15
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+22.6% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Christian education and Christian organizations
- Arts and culture
- Human services
- Health, including hospitals
- Children and youth
- Botanical gardens
- Churches
Grantmaking
The foundation provides support through:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Michigan, with emphasis on the Grand Rapids area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,489,421 | $6,661,567 | $7,908,054 |
| Revenue | $1,030,497 | $-1,090,069 | $-902,913 |
| Expenses | $202,643 | $156,418 | $1,819,425 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $148,839 | $145,089 | $1,774,350 |
| Net Investment Income | $756,693 | $149,274 | $108,108 |
| Distributable Amount | $261,668 | $253,550 | $387,971 |
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
99 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Corewell - Helen Devos Chidlren's Hospital Foundation ($60,000), Hospice of Michigan ($32,500), Van Andel Institute ($14,200).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COREWELL - HELEN DEVOS CHIDLREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| GILDA'S CLUB GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| HOSPICE OF MICHIGAN ADA, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $32,500 |
| KIWANIS OF MICHIGAN MASON, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $14,200 |
| YOUNGLIFE GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,500 |
| CASA OF KENT COUNTY INC GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES BALK II | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| SHIRLEY BALK | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| JAMES H BALK | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MARTIN A BALK | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| STEVEN J BALK | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1230 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-4620
Telephone: 616-458-1414
EIN: 38-2556356
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James and Shirley Balk Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Christian education and Christian organizations • Arts and culture • Human services • Health, including hospitals • Children and youth • Botanical gardens • Churches
How do I apply for a grant from James and Shirley Balk Foundation?
The foundation provides support through: • Project support • General operating support
Where does James and Shirley Balk Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Michigan, with emphasis on the Grand Rapids area.
What size grants does James and Shirley Balk Foundation award?
In 2024, James and Shirley Balk Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $147K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James and Shirley Balk Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James and Shirley Balk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $262K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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