The Leppien Foundation
The Leppien Foundation is a private foundation based in Alma, Michigan. Its 2024 filing reports grants to preselected charitable organizations, including religious organizations and an educational institution.
The Leppien Foundation at a glance
In short: The Leppien Foundation gave $1.1M across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $97K), mostly in Michigan. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,072,200
- -23.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -26.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $97,473
- +4.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $101,389
- +36.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (70% 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 The Leppien 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. The filing lists forms and materials, deadlines, and restrictions on awards as N/A.
- Contact
Mailing address: 815 N State St, Alma, MI 48801
Phone: (989) 463-2786
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Leppien Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Northern Christian Radio ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 33 grants of 64 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan (70%), Indiana (14%), Texas (7%), Arizona (5%), and North Carolina (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Leppien Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $250K; repeat grants $82K. How we count
Medians: $250K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 45% 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 $742K (2021) to $1.4M (2023). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Christian Radio Gaylord, MI | Religious | $250,000 |
| 3xM Holland, MI | Religious | $200,000 |
| Keys for Kids Ministries Grand Rapids, MI | Religious | $167,200 |
| Global Compassion Valparaiso, IN | Religious | $100,000 |
| Central MI YFC Alma, MI | Religious | $80,000 |
| Anderson University Anderson, IN | Education | $50,000 |
| Family Life Radio Tuscon, AZ | Religious | $50,000 |
| Need Him Global Dallas, TX | Religious | $50,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Religious | $50,000 |
| Youth Haven Ranches Rives Junction, MI | Religious | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Leppien Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $101,389 | $1,101,656 | $1,074,385 | $1,072,200 | 11 | $1,072,200 | $5,660 |
| 2023 | $74,118 | $1,401,159 | $1,399,370 | $1,397,200 | 15 | $1,397,200 | $7,570 |
| 2022 | $72,329 | $800,325 | $864,095 | $862,000 | 12 | $862,000 | $10,084 |
| 2021 | $136,099 | $800,172 | $744,037 | $742,000 | 12 | $742,000 | $8,913 |
| 2020 | $79,964 | $601,884 | $881,935 | $880,000 | 14 | — | $11,479 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Leppien Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions describe Christian religious and media work, as well as education. For example, Northern Christian Radio says its mission is to be a Christ-centered media ministry serving northern Michigan and Ontario; Keys for Kids Ministries says it seeks to ignite a passion for Christ in children, teens, and families; and Anderson University says its mission is to educate for a life of faith and service in the church and society.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $1,072,200. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $250,000, with a median of $50,000. Its largest grants were $250,000 to Northern Christian Radio, $200,000 to 3xM, and $167,200 to Keys for Kids Ministries. Other grants included $100,000 to Global Compassion and $80,000 to Central MI YFC.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John C Leppien as President, Cleo M Leppien as Sec./Treas., and Jeffrey C Leppien and Stephanie E Leppien as Vice Presidents.
The Leppien Foundation is led by John C Leppien, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John C Leppien
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cleo M Leppien
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey C Leppien
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie E Leppien
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Frequently asked questions about The Leppien Foundation
How much does The Leppien Foundation give each year?
The Leppien Foundation gave $1.1M across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 15 grants.
What is The Leppien Foundation's typical grant size?
The Leppien Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $97,473, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Leppien Foundation that year got $250K on average.
Where does The Leppien Foundation give grants?
The Leppien Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Indiana (14%) and Texas (7%).
Does The Leppien Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Leppien Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Religious" (10 grants).
Who are The Leppien Foundation's largest grantees?
The Leppien Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Northern Christian Radio ($250,000), 3xM ($200,000) and Keys for Kids Ministries ($167,200), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Leppien Foundation?
The Leppien Foundation reported $101K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Leppien Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions describe Christian religious and media work, as well as education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Leppien Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Leppien Foundation's EIN?
The Leppien Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2692343. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Leppien 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.
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). The Leppien Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-leppien-foundation-morg_f85ad76cf3e74f6991b9d55b65f6ecd0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382692343_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Leppien Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-leppien-foundation-morg_f85ad76cf3e74f6991b9d55b65f6ecd0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 The Leppien 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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