The Zondervan Foundation
The Zondervan Foundation is a private foundation based in Rockford, Michigan. Its 2025 filing reports 12 grants totaling $351,655, supporting organizations including a theological seminary, community-service organizations, and programs serving children and adults.
The Zondervan Foundation at a glance
In short: The Zondervan Foundation gave $352K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Michigan. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $351,655
- +6.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $29,305
- +32.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $2,327,095
- -8.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Zondervan Foundation
- How to Apply
The foundation’s 2024 filing says to contact Andrew Raser and submit a letter explaining the charitable purpose, detailed project information, and a completed grant request form, available upon request from the contact…
The foundation’s 2024 filing says to contact Andrew Raser and submit a letter explaining the charitable purpose, detailed project information, and a completed grant request form, available upon request from the contact listed in the filing. The request must be consistent with the foundation’s mission statement. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that requests are reviewed in February and October each year.
- Deadline
- The filing states that requests are reviewed in February and October each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Andrew Raser
Mailing address: 26 Course Brook Road, Sherborn, MA 01770
Phone: (919) 816-6082
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Zondervan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Calvin Theological Seminary ($145K). Together the top 10 received $327K.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 72 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to Michigan recipients, 4% to Vermont recipients, and 3% to Florida recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Zondervan Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) 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 $21K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 42% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 111% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $201K (2020) to $352K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $352K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Calvin Theological Seminary Grand Rapids, MI | College Seminary PHD Chair | $144,513 |
| David's House Wyoming, MI | Resident Transport Vehicle | $25,000 |
| Potter's House Grand Rapids, MI | String Music Program & Robotics | $22,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Ingham and Ea Lansing, MI | Warehouse Equipment & Shelving | $21,500 |
| Servants Center Grand Rapids, MI | Funds for Tech Improvements | $20,000 |
| Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MI | Playground Equipment | $20,000 |
| Grace's Table Grand Rapids, MI | Playground Equipment & Storage | $20,000 |
| HAND2HAND Jenison, MI | Barrier-Free Access Enhancements | $20,000 |
| Love in Action Grand Haven, MI | Equipment for New Warehouse | $18,219 |
| Acts Honduras Norwich, VT | Classroom Fixtures & Equipment | $15,423 |
Ready to take the next step with The Zondervan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,327,095 | $195,893 | $412,646 | $351,655 | 12 | $367,051 | $150,297 | $329,717 |
| 2024 | $2,543,857 | $1,057,408 | $380,525 | $330,863 | 15 | $342,340 | $1,019,222 | $301,861 |
| 2023 | $1,866,972 | $229,128 | $346,041 | $296,278 | 16 | $314,606 | $197,693 | $278,242 |
| 2022 | $1,983,920 | $134,170 | $337,606 | $286,945 | 14 | $302,400 | $98,964 | $288,208 |
| 2021 | $2,187,372 | $295,778 | $352,246 | $314,535 | 15 | $325,229 | $268,761 | $296,585 |
| 2020 | $2,243,840 | $196,196 | $236,705 | $201,257 | 12 | — | $163,985 | $245,502 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Zondervan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $330K for 2025 — 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 available filing information does not state the foundation’s mission. Its 2025 grants included support for seminary scholarship, transportation and warehouse equipment, playgrounds, technology improvements, barrier-free access, classroom equipment, and a school meal program.
The supported organizations describe their own missions as follows: Calvin Theological Seminary prepares people for ministry and offers Reformed theological scholarship and counsel; David’s House provides care and supportive services for adults with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, or mental illness; Hand2Hand delivers weekend food to children through schools and churches; Grace’s Table supports teen mothers; and Servants Center provides street outreach and ongoing services to people experiencing homelessness and mental illness.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $351,655. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $144,513, with a median of $20,000.
The largest reported grant was $144,513 to Calvin Theological Seminary for a college seminary PhD chair. Other grants included $25,000 to David’s House for a resident transport vehicle; $22,000 to Potter’s House for its string music program and robotics; $21,500 to Catholic Charities of Ingham and EA for warehouse equipment and shelving; and $20,000 each to Servants Center for technology improvements, Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids for playground equipment, Grace’s Table for playground equipment and storage, and Hand2Hand for barrier-free access enhancements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dr. Robert Zondervan, Mary Beth Schouten, Thomas B. Kladder, Norman Pylman, Marilyn Faber, Leah Schouten-Kresser, Robert Zondervan Jr., and Andrew Raser as officers or directors. Mary Beth Schouten is listed as president, Thomas B. Kladder as treasurer, and Andrew Raser as secretary.
The Zondervan Foundation is led by Mary Beth Schouten, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); all 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Beth Schouten
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Marilyn Faber
Director
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Norman Pylman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Robert Zondervan
Director
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Leah Schouten-Kresser
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$2K (2023) → $2K (2025)
Robert Zondervan Jr.
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$1K (2023) → $2K (2025)
Thomas B. Kladder
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
$17K (2020) → $17K (2025)
Andrew Raser
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$2K (2024) → $4K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $17K, to Thomas B Kladder (Treasurer). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Zondervan Foundation
How much does The Zondervan Foundation give each year?
The Zondervan Foundation gave $352K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $331K across 15 grants.
What is The Zondervan Foundation's typical grant size?
The Zondervan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $29,305, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Zondervan Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does The Zondervan Foundation give grants?
The Zondervan Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (6 grants).
Does The Zondervan Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Zondervan Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Zondervan Foundation's largest grantees?
The Zondervan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Calvin Theological Seminary ($144,513), David's House ($25,000) and Potter's House ($22,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Zondervan Foundation?
The Zondervan Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $367K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $330K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Zondervan Foundation fund?
The available filing information does not state the foundation’s mission. Its 2025 grants included support for seminary scholarship, transportation and warehouse equipment, playgrounds, technology improvements, barrier-free access, classroom equipment, and a school meal program. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Zondervan Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says to contact Andrew Raser and submit a letter explaining the charitable purpose, detailed project information, and a completed grant request form, available upon request from the contact… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Zondervan Foundation's EIN?
The Zondervan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2411884. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Zondervan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-zondervan-foundation-morg_2fa7825b2b0044baae29d77cc395d133
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382411884_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Zondervan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-zondervan-foundation-morg_2fa7825b2b0044baae29d77cc395d133},
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 Zondervan 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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