John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation
The John A. and Marlene L. Boll Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Created in the early 1980s by John A. and Marlene L. Boll, it provides charitable assistance to organizations that share the founders’ values and seek to make a difference in their communities.
John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation at a glance
In short: John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation gave $253K across 47 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Michigan. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $252,575
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 47
- +11.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,374
- -11.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $504,421
- -5.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (9 of 47, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (54% 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 John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from qualified tax-exempt organizations. Submit the requested proposal materials; scholarship candidates initially selected for consideration must provide letters of recommendation.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: John A Marlene L Boll Foundation
Mailing address: 100 Maple Park Blvd Suite 118, St Clair Shores, MI 48081
Phone: (586) 777-3968
Website: https://bollfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation
Who John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Project Dance Foundation ($25K). Together the top 10 received $150K.
Grant Size Distribution
242 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 238 grants of 242 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. In 2024, Michigan recipients received 54% of grant dollars, followed by Florida at 24%, North Carolina at 15%, Colorado at 3%, and Ohio at 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 47 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 82% 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 (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 $191K (2022) to $1.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 47 grants totaling $253K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Project Dance Foundation Boone, NC | To Positively Impact Culture Through Artistic Integrity | $25,000 |
| Baptist Health Coral Gables, FL | To Support Baptist Hospital of Miami - Helipad | $20,000 |
| The Helm Center at the Boll Life Center Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | To Support Healthy Independent Lives for Seniors | $20,000 |
| Grosse Pointe Memorial Church Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | To support & enrich the spiritual life of the community | $15,000 |
| JT Mestdagh Foundation St Clair Shores, MI | To provide access to programs & supplies for families with medical & educational challenges | $15,000 |
| Ocean Reef Community Foundation Key Largo, FL | To support charitable efforts throughout ocean reef and the surrounding area | $15,000 |
| Grosse Pointe Yacht Club Foundation Grosse Pointe Shores, MI | To Maintain, Restore and Preserve the Gpyc Clubhouse | $10,000 |
| High Point University High Point, NC | To Support Educational Programs | $10,000 |
| Gross Pointe Shores Improvement Gross Pointe Woods, MI | To Provide Funding for a School Playground | $10,000 |
| Grosse Pointe South Hockey Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | To help raise funds to improve the locker room | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation?
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 | $504,421 | $408,240 | $439,854 | $252,575 | 47 | $427,147 | $1,823 | $26,070 |
| 2023 | $536,035 | $463,598 | $440,130 | $253,840 | 42 | $428,364 | $411 | $23,226 |
| 2022 | $512,567 | $515,838 | $374,724 | $190,625 | 44 | $363,676 | $14,414 | $19,981 |
| 2021 | $371,453 | $1,566,364 | $1,574,085 | $1,390,748 | 55 | $1,563,484 | $31,325 | $16,604 |
| 2020 | $379,174 | $961,143 | $955,364 | $772,385 | 54 | — | $320 | $18,543 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26K 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 says it aims to strengthen and enrich communities and concentrates its resources on the encouragement of moral and spiritual values, the promotion of educational values, and community enrichment. It is inclined toward non-denominational, Christ-centered programs. Its community interests include medical research, health programs and facilities, and culture and the arts.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Project Dance Foundation describes its work as providing training, education, and performance opportunities to dancers seeking to make a positive impact in culture. High Point University describes its focus as equipping graduates through education and cultivating values, knowledge, mindsets, and skills. Michigan Parkinson Foundation says it supports people affected by Parkinson’s and related movement disorders, along with their care partners, families, and healthcare professionals. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 47 grants totaling $252,575. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $25,000, with a median of $4,000. Notable awards included $25,000 to Project Dance Foundation; $20,000 each to Baptist Health and The Helm Center at the Boll Life Center; and $15,000 each to Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, JT Mestdagh Foundation, and Ocean Reef Community Foundation.
The foundation’s website says its board meets quarterly to review proposals and that qualified tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) may submit proposals at any time. Proposal materials should include a cover letter stating the organization’s purpose and summarizing the proposed project or program, an IRS tax-exempt letter, and current financial statements including the annual operating budget. The 2024 filing separately states that educational scholarships are restricted to institutions with curricula based in part on Judeo-Christian traditions; it says there is no formal application form, and that letters of recommendation are required after a scholarship candidate is initially selected for consideration.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Marlene L. Boll as vice president and director; Kristine B. Mestdagh as president and director; James T. Mestdagh as director; James T. Mestdagh Jr. as secretary, treasurer, and director; and John A. Boll as director.
John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation is led by Kristine B. Mestdagh, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kristine B. Mestdagh
President & Director
Director → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $150K (2024)
James T. Mestdagh Jr.
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$15K (2022) → $15K (2024)
John A. Boll
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marlene L. Boll
Vice President & Director
Director → Vice President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James T. Mestdagh
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $150K, to Kristine B Mestdagh (President & Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation
How much does John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation give each year?
John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation gave $253K across 47 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $254K across 42 grants.
What is John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation's typical grant size?
John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,000, and its average grant was $5,374, across 47 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation give grants?
John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (24%) and North Carolina (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Key Largo, FL (7 grants), Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (6 grants), Detroit, MI (6 grants) and Grosse Pointe Shores, MI (3 grants).
Does John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 4% of John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 47) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation's largest grantees?
John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Project Dance Foundation ($25,000), Baptist Health ($20,000) and The Helm Center at the Boll Life Center ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation?
John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation reported $504K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $427K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $26K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation fund?
The foundation says it aims to strengthen and enrich communities and concentrates its resources on the encouragement of moral and spiritual values, the promotion of educational values, and community enrichment. It is inclined toward non-denominational, Christ-centered programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from qualified tax-exempt organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation's EIN?
John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2708121. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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). John a & Marlene L Boll Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-a-and-marlene-l-boll-foundation-morg_135dcbfb2fca424eaaf06d4992e3fa56
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382708121_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John a \& Marlene L Boll Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-a-and-marlene-l-boll-foundation-morg_135dcbfb2fca424eaaf06d4992e3fa56},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 John a & Marlene L Boll 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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