The Brandsma Family Foundation
The Brandsma Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including schools, medical-care organizations, and organizations serving children and people with special needs.
Key facts about The Brandsma Family Foundation
In short: The Brandsma Family Foundation gave $584K across 289 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Illinois. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-4137431
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $584,339
- Grants made (2025)
- 289
- Average grant
- $2,022
- Median grant
- $500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (12 of 80, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,380,686
- Primary geography
- Illinois (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- 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. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
-25.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$584K
-36.5% YoY
Grant Count
289
+46.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-56.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brandsma Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $155K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Brandsma Family Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 80 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $731; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $660 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 60% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 390% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations whose stated missions include Christian education, international access to medical care, and services for people with special needs. For example, Timothy Christian Schools says it develops academically prepared Christian disciples; SOTA Convoys says it provides free and low-cost access to surgery, obstetrics, trauma care, and anesthesia internationally; and Elim Christian Services says it enables people with special needs to achieve their potential. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 289 grants totaling $584,339. Grants ranged from $50 to $50,000, with a median of $500. The largest listed grants included $50,000 each to SOTA Convoys for assistance with a surgical camp in Burundi and participation in a conference fund, and to Timothy Christian Schools for general and unrestricted support. Other listed awards included $35,000 to Children’s Hunger Fund for its Chicago Initiative, $28,500 to Love Without Boundaries Foundation for general and unrestricted support, and $25,000 to Daystar Education Association for its Financial Aid for Students fund.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with The Brandsma Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 17% to Arkansas, 9% to California, and 2% each to Michigan and Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 289 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $584K (2025) to $1.5M (2022). In 2025 it made 289 grants totaling $584K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Love Without Boundaries Foundation ($101K across 32 grants). Together the top 10 received $467K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
943 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 915 grants of 943 (97%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sota Convoys Chicago, IL | Assistance in Burundi surgical camp and participation in the COSECSA conference fund | $50,000 |
| Timothy Christian Schools Elmhurst, IL | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Childrens Hunger Fund Pasadena, CA | Chicago Initiative | $35,000 |
| Love Without Boundaries Foundation Lowell, AR | General & Unrestricted | $28,500 |
| Daystar Education Association Chicago, IL | Financial Aid for Students fund | $25,000 |
| Timothy Christian Schools Foundation Elmhurst, IL | For the Win fund | $20,000 |
| Elim Christian Services Crestwood, IL | Capital Campaign for 2024-2026 | $15,000 |
| Chicago West Side Christian School Association Chicago, IL | General & Unrestricted | $12,500 |
| Christ Church of Oak Brook Oak Brook, IL | General & Unrestricted | $12,500 |
| Timothy Christian Schools Elmhurst, IL | Charitable Event | $12,100 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,380,686 | $152,099 | $617,291 | $584,339 | 289 |
| 2024 | $1,845,878 | $1,184,293 | $957,745 | $920,868 | 198 |
| 2023 | $1,619,330 | $494,373 | $884,367 | $842,148 | 149 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,380,686 | $1,845,878 | $1,619,330 |
| Revenue | $152,099 | $1,184,293 | $494,373 |
| Expenses | $617,291 | $957,745 | $884,367 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $603,440 | $938,976 | $857,179 |
| Net Investment Income | $351,581 | $1,106,577 | $725,205 |
| Distributable Amount | $154,869 | $142,269 | $106,673 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Pamela Anne Brandsma as president and director; Lee Brandsma as secretary, treasurer, and director; and Joshua Brandsma, Ryan Brandsma, Kristen L Hagstrom, and Tessa Leggett as directors.
The Brandsma Family Foundation is led by Pamela Anne Brandsma, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Pamela Anne Brandsma
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Brandsma
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen L Hagstrom
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Brandsma
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Brandsma
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tessa Leggett
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Tessa Brandsma (2020–2022) — 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.
Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Frequently asked questions about The Brandsma Family Foundation
How much does The Brandsma Family Foundation give each year?
The Brandsma Family Foundation gave $584K across 289 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $921K across 198 grants.
What is The Brandsma Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Brandsma Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $2,022, across 289 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Brandsma Family Foundation that year got $731 on average.
Where does The Brandsma Family Foundation give grants?
The Brandsma Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arkansas (17%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (66 grants), Lowell, AR (32 grants), Washington, DC (18 grants) and Elmhurst, IL (17 grants).
Does The Brandsma Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 21% of The Brandsma Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (60 of 289) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Event" (6 grants) and "Triple the Impact fund" (4 grants).
Who are The Brandsma Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Brandsma Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Love Without Boundaries Foundation ($100,850 across 32 grants), Timothy Christian Schools ($96,808 across 14 grants) and Sota Convoys ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Brandsma Family Foundation?
The Brandsma Family Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $603K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $155K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Brandsma Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations whose stated missions include Christian education, international access to medical care, and services for people with special needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Brandsma Family 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 The Brandsma Family Foundation's EIN?
The Brandsma Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4137431. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Brandsma Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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.
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