Pennies from Heaven Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Muskegon, MI EIN: 46-1452896

Pennies From Heaven Foundation is a public charity based in Muskegon, Michigan. Formed in 2012 as a supporting organization of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, it is committed to furthering that organization’s philanthropic activities.

Pennies from Heaven Foundation at a glance

In short: Pennies from Heaven Foundation gave $729K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $61K), mostly in Michigan. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$728,522
+0.4% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
12
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$60,710
+0.4% vs 2024
Median grant
$40,000
Total assets
$23,813,826
+7.5% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Michigan (73% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Pennies from Heaven Foundation

Contact

Mailing address: 425 W Western Ave 200, Muskegon, MI 49440
Phone: (231) 722-4538

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Pennies from Heaven Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Evolution One: $200KEvolution One$200KUnited Way of the West Shore: $165KUnited Way of the West Shore$165KOaktree Academy: $130KOaktree Academy$130KHelp Ministry: $50KHelp Ministry$50KMuskegon Christian School: $50KMuskegon Christian School$50KSingle Momm: $50KSingle Momm$50KBlue Hat Ministries: $30KBlue Hat Ministries$30KWest Shore Educational Service District: $19KWest Shore Educational ServiceDistrict$19KArmory Youth Project: $10KArmory Youth Project$10KCove: $10KCove$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was Evolution One ($200K). Together the top 10 received $714K.

Grant Size Distribution

57 grants across all recorded years

29<$50K14$50–100K14$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 57 (51%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 27% to recipients in California. Listed Michigan recipients included organizations in Ludington, Muskegon, Manistee, Traverse, and Grand Rapids; the largest listed California grant went to Evolution One in San Rafael.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

LudingtonMuskegonGrand RapidsManisteeTraverseSan RafaelScottvilleCusterLansingScottsvilleSuttons BayTraverse CityWyoming

Is Pennies from Heaven Foundation open to new grantees?

42%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 5 of 12 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $80K; repeat grants $47K. How we count

Medians: $19K first-time, $50K repeat.

  • 42% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M12 grants2020 9 grants2021 14 grants2022 10 grants2023 12 grants2024 12 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $501K (2023) to $944K (2022). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $729K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Evolution One San Rafael, CAGeneral Operating Support$200,000
United Way of the West Shore Ludington, MIFacility Expenses$165,022
Oaktree Academy Ludington, MIFacility Renovations$130,000
Help Ministry Ludington, MIMatch Grant$50,000
Muskegon Christian School Muskegon, MIMatch Grant$50,000
Single Momm Traverse, MIGeneral Operating Support$50,000
Blue Hat Ministries Ludington, MIMatch Grant$30,000
West Shore Educational Service District Ludington, MI3p academy for summer 2026; support first robotics facility in ludington$18,500
Armory Youth Project Manistee, MIMatch Grant$10,000
Cove Ludington, MIMatch Grant$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$23,813,826$5,162,057$1,075,394$728,52212$5,005,056
2024$22,162,065$690,877$1,020,077$725,65212$553,866
2023$21,463,251$563,290$856,813$501,45710$459,068
2022$20,193,280$467,879$1,230,661$943,96614$370,536
2021$24,059,860$1,068,613$1,031,636$717,4309$969,671
2020$23,090,749$570,208$918,832$643,59012$501,544

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated mission is to support the philanthropic activities of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. For example, Oaktree Academy describes its purpose as administering funds for educational purposes and operating a day care center; Muskegon Christian School says it equips minds and hearts to love, learn, and lead for Christ; and Armory Youth Project says it provides a safe environment for young people’s educational, emotional, physical, and Christian spiritual development. United Way of the West Shore describes its mission as raising funds to assist other nonprofit agencies.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $728,522. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $200,000, with a median of $40,000. Its largest listed grants included $200,000 to Evolution One for general operating support, $165,022 to United Way of the West Shore for facility expenses, and $130,000 to Oaktree Academy for facility renovations. Other listed grants included $50,000 each to Help Ministry, Muskegon Christian School, and Single MOMM.

No application process or information about unsolicited requests is stated for this foundation in the available materials.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists John Wilson as chairperson, Anita Wilson as vice chairperson, Janelle Mair as secretary/treasurer, Brandy Miller and Tara Autrey as directors, and Monica Jewell as executive director.

Pennies from Heaven Foundation is led by Monica Jewell, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Monica Jewell

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Wilson

    Chairperson

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brandy Miller

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tara Autrey

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anita Wilson

    Vice Chairperson

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Janelle Mair

    Secretary & Treasurer

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (5)
  • Former: Bob Chapla (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Heidi Systema (2020–2024) — Secretary & Treasurer
  • Former: Kathy Maclean (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Sue Henry (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Monica Schuyler (2020–2022) — Executive Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Pennies from Heaven Foundation

How much does Pennies from Heaven Foundation give each year?

Pennies from Heaven Foundation gave $729K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $726K across 12 grants.

What is Pennies from Heaven Foundation's typical grant size?

Pennies from Heaven Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $60,710, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pennies from Heaven Foundation that year got $80K on average.

Where does Pennies from Heaven Foundation give grants?

Pennies from Heaven Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ludington, MI (7 grants).

Does Pennies from Heaven Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 25% of Pennies from Heaven Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Match Grant" (5 grants).

Who are Pennies from Heaven Foundation's largest grantees?

Pennies from Heaven Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Evolution One ($200,000), United Way of the West Shore ($165,022) and Oaktree Academy ($130,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Pennies from Heaven Foundation?

Pennies from Heaven Foundation reported $23.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.2M.

What does Pennies from Heaven Foundation fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is to support the philanthropic activities of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Pennies from Heaven Foundation?

Pennies from Heaven Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Pennies from Heaven Foundation's EIN?

Pennies from Heaven Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1452896. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 28, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 19, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 11, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 19, 2026)

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Total Given

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Pennies from Heaven Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/pennies-from-heaven-foundation-morg_1879d304afb44e1db90651e00f70d5ef

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461452896_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Pennies from Heaven Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/pennies-from-heaven-foundation-morg_1879d304afb44e1db90651e00f70d5ef},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Pennies from Heaven 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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