Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation
The Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation is a private foundation based in Holland, Michigan. Its 2025 filing reports 10 grants totaling $186,250, all to Michigan recipients. Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 21 grants totaling $495,900.
Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation at a glance
In short: Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation gave $496K across 21 grants in 2026 (avg $24K), mostly in Michigan. 43% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $495,900
- +166.3% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 21
- +110.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $23,614
- +26.8% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,359,341
- +2.3% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (9 of 21, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (83% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1979, Holland, MI 49422-1979
Phone: (616) 396-6521
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids ($160K). Together the top 10 received $435K.
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 84 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Michigan. The listed grants went to organizations in Grand Rapids, Holland, Allendale, and Lansing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 9 of 21 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 38% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 96% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 147% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $186K (2025) to $496K (2026). In 2026 it made 21 grants totaling $496K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MI | Program Service | $160,000 |
| ODC Network Holland, MI | Program Service | $50,000 |
| American Friends of Soroka Medical Center Inc Scarsdale, NY | Program Service | $50,000 |
| Secure Communities Network Inc Chicago, IL | Program Service | $36,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan Detroit, MI | Program Service | $36,000 |
| Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids Inc Grand Rapids, MI | Program Service | $25,000 |
| Community Action House Holland, MI | Program Service | $25,000 |
| Ready for School Holland, MI | Program Service | $20,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of West Michigan Grand Rapids, MI | Program Service | $20,000 |
| Saugatuck Center for the Arts Inc Saugatuck, MI | Program Service | $12,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $5,359,341 | $570,589 | $550,847 | $495,900 | 21 | $495,900 | $591,320 | $337,877 |
| 2025 | $5,239,504 | $369,443 | $230,442 | $186,250 | 10 | $186,250 | $331,326 | $312,632 |
| 2024 | $5,002,757 | $461,447 | $283,978 | $244,500 | 15 | $244,500 | $152,828 | $292,050 |
| 2023 | $5,211,834 | $51,228 | $289,185 | $252,833 | 15 | $252,833 | $9,128 | $279,322 |
| 2022 | $5,472,702 | $394,141 | $356,030 | $309,478 | 23 | $309,478 | $502,254 | $309,045 |
| 2021 | $5,564,597 | $390,175 | $246,953 | $205,200 | 15 | — | $450,281 | $307,646 |
| 2020 | $5,058,778 | $223,827 | $313,082 | $269,500 | 14 | — | $247,451 | $306,000 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation reported a distributable amount of $338K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions span community services, arts, mental wellbeing, and Jewish community needs. For example, the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids says it strengthens and unifies the Jewish community and provides for cultural, social, and financial needs; Arbor Circle says it advances mental wellbeing through counseling and supportive services; the Grand Rapids Art Museum describes its work as connecting people through art, creativity, and design; and Community Action House says it provides food, clothing, shelter, and skills-building opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $186,250. Grant amounts ranged from $1,250 to $80,000, with a median grant of $6,875. The largest grants were $80,000 to the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids, $50,000 to the Community Foundation of Holland-Zeeland, $20,000 to Planned Parenthood of West Michigan, $10,000 to Arbor Circle, and $7,500 to the Grand Rapids Art Museum. All were listed with the purpose “PROGRAM SERVICE.” Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 21 grants totaling $495,900.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jeffrey S. Padnos as president and trustee; Mitchell W. Padnos as treasurer and trustee; Shelley E. Padnos as secretary and trustee; and Douglas B. Padnos, Daniel P. Padnos, William R. Padnos, and Cynthia B. Padnos as trustees.
Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation is led by Jeffrey S. Padnos, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Jeffrey S. Padnos
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia B. Padnos
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel P. Padnos
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas B. Padnos
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mitchell W. Padnos
Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley E. Padnos
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William R. Padnos
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation
How much does Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation give each year?
Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation gave $496K across 21 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $186K across 10 grants.
What is Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation's typical grant size?
Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $10,000, and its average grant was $23,614, across 21 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation that year got $24K on average.
Where does Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation give grants?
Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (10%) and Illinois (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (7 grants) and Holland, MI (7 grants).
Does Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Service" (21 grants).
Who are Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation's largest grantees?
Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids ($160,000), ODC Network ($50,000) and American Friends of Soroka Medical Center Inc ($50,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation?
Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $496K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $338K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions span community services, arts, mental wellbeing, and Jewish community needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation's EIN?
Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3476218. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Does Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS September 18, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 9, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/louis-and-helen-padnos-foundation-morg_a9e5ac04acde43bbbca2d4320285546a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383476218_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/louis-and-helen-padnos-foundation-morg_a9e5ac04acde43bbbca2d4320285546a},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-04. 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 Louis and Helen Padnos 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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