United Way of the Lakeshore
United Way of the Lakeshore is a public charity based in Muskegon, Michigan, serving Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties. It brings together community resources and partners to address local needs, support human-service programs, and build thriving communities.
United Way of the Lakeshore at a glance
In short: United Way of the Lakeshore gave $941K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Michigan. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $941,331
- -21.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- -23.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,148
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,905
- Total assets
- $3,271,227
- -5.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (6 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (80% 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 United Way of the Lakeshore
- Review Cycle
- The 2027–2029 Community Investment Grant application deadlines have passed. The Lakeshore Hunger Relief Grants are listed as rolling, and the Senior Millage Hunger Relief Fund is listed as active.
- Deadline
- The 2027–2029 Community Investment Grant application deadlines have passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 207, Muskegon, MI 49443-0207
Phone: (231) 722-3134
Website: https://unitedwaylakeshore.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from United Way of the Lakeshore
Lakeshore Hunger Relief Grants
United Way of the Lakeshore
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Muskegon County Senior Millage Hunger Relief Fund
United Way of the Lakeshore
Amount
$75,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
United Response Fund
United Way of the Lakeshore
Amount
Up to $10,000 match available
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who United Way of the Lakeshore funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dolly Parton Imagination Library ($188K). Together the top 10 received $655K.
Grant Size Distribution
228 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 188 grants of 228 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United Way of the Lakeshore identifies Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties as its service area. Its 2025 filing reports that 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 20% to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Is United Way of the Lakeshore open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 36 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $11K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $941K (2025) to $1.7M (2020). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $941K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dolly Parton Imagination Library Pigeon Forge, TN | Library Book Mailing | $187,699 |
| Every Womans Place Inc Muskegon, MI | Domestic Violence | $85,349 |
| Acset Michigan Works Grand Rapids, MI | Summer Youth Program | $75,000 |
| True North Community Services Fremont, MI | General Support | $70,652 |
| Youth Solutions Benton Harbor, MI | Summer Youth Program | $70,000 |
| Mission for Area People Muskegon Heights, MI | General Support | $36,269 |
| Child Abuse Council Muskegon, MI | Prevention/Treatment | $35,091 |
| Legal Aid of Western MI Muskegon, MI | Civil Legal Services | $34,550 |
| Read Muskegon Muskegon, MI | Literacy Support SVS | $32,000 |
| Mediation and Restorative Services Muskegon, MI | Dispute Resolution | $28,618 |
Ready to take the next step with United Way of the Lakeshore?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports 36 grants; the 2024 and 2023 filings each report 47.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,271,227 | $2,396,334 | $2,272,351 | $941,331 | 36 | $368,889 |
| 2024 | $3,476,811 | $3,448,789 | $3,698,022 | $1,202,163 | 47 | $96,263 |
| 2023 | $3,314,381 | $2,449,448 | $2,980,140 | $1,280,413 | 47 | $28,372 |
| 2022 | $3,704,368 | $3,452,874 | $3,550,532 | $1,420,066 | 56 | $33,180 |
| 2021 | $3,996,514 | $2,826,099 | $2,863,469 | $1,322,267 | 42 | $126,775 |
| 2020 | $4,156,776 | $3,051,420 | $3,244,766 | $1,652,055 | 58 | $159,422 |
| 2019 | $4,241,896 | $2,671,474 | $2,851,848 | $1,371,013 | 39 | $37,483 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission is “Uniting to inspire change and build thriving communities.” Its website describes priorities that include childhood and youth success, economic mobility, and healthy families. For its 2027–2029 Community Investment Grant cycle, it identified childcare, early literacy, and housing as funding priorities.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Every Woman’s Place says it provides shelter, counseling, and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. The Child Abuse Council of Muskegon says it works to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect through education, child advocacy, and community collaboration. Read Muskegon says its mission is to improve quality of life in Muskegon County through literacy, while Mediation & Restorative Services describes its work as providing conflict resolution through facilitation, mediation, and training.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, United Way of the Lakeshore reported 36 grants totaling $941,331. The grants ranged from $5,454 to $187,699, with a median of $10,904. Among the largest awards were $187,699 to Dolly Parton Imagination Library for library book mailing, $85,349 to Every Woman’s Place for domestic violence services, $75,000 to ACSET Michigan Works for a summer youth program, and $70,652 to TrueNorth Community Services for general support.
The organization’s 2027–2029 Community Investment Grants are intended for programs serving residents of Muskegon, Newaygo, and/or Oceana Counties and aligned with childcare, early literacy, or housing. Eligible applicants may include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, government entities, and faith-based organizations providing community programs without requiring religious participation. The application sequence was a letter of intent followed by an invitation to submit a full application; the process also included agency training and volunteer-panel presentations. Those application deadlines and presentations occurred in 2026 and have passed; the funding cycle is scheduled to begin January 1, 2027.
The organization also lists active, rolling Lakeshore Hunger Relief Grants for food-insecurity relief in Muskegon County. The program is for nonprofits, churches, schools, and community partners providing food to people experiencing food insecurity. A separate active Muskegon County Senior Millage Hunger Relief Fund is for hunger relief for adults age 60 and older; the county allocated $75,000 for this fund, which is managed by the Muskegon County Senior Millage Advisory Committee.
The filing says grant funds are released after required documentation is received and reviewed. Grant agreements specify the award’s purpose and reporting requirements, and grantees provide interim and final narrative and financial reports.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Brad Hilleary as chair; Christine Robere as past president; Lisa Tyler as “President &”; Ryan Bennett as secretary; and Shawn Buckner as treasurer. It also lists Louis Deleguaradia, Jason Finch, John Foss, Poppy Hernandez, and DJ Hilson as members.
United Way of the Lakeshore is led by Lisa Tyler, President on every filing since 2024; 2 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Tyler
President
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$51K (2025)
Erin Kuhn
Executive Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
Chair → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Brad Hilleary
Chair
Member → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christine Robere
Past President
President → Past President, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$111K (2019) → $70K (2025)
Dj Hilson
Member
Director - Partial Year → Director, 2020
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Kathy Herman Moore
Member
Chairperson → Past Chair, 2023
Past Chair → Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Kay Williams
Member
Director → Director - Partial Year, 2022
Director - Partial Year → Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Poppy Sias Hernandez
Member
Director - Partial Year → Director, 2020
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Rich Houtterman
Member
Chair → Past Chair, 2024
Past Chair → Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Ryan Bennett
Secretary
Secretary → Member, 2023
Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Stacy Mellema
Member
Treasurer → Past Treasurer, 2024
Past Treasurer → Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jillian Meloche
Member
Director - Partial Year → Director, 2021
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jonathan Wilson
Member
Director - Partial Year → Director, 2021
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kim Suarez
Vice Chair
Director → Member, 2023
Member → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Shawn Buckner
Treasurer
Director → Member, 2023
Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jack Russell
Member
Director - Partial Year → Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Jason Olthoff
Member
Director - Partial Year → Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Jocelyn Hines
Member
Director - Partial Year → Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Shawntain Jenkins
Member
Director - Partial Year → Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Jason Finch
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
John Foss
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
John Selmon
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Matt Werksma
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Pete Klahorst
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Lori O'Brien
Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Louis Deleguaradia
Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Randy Lindquist
Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Suzanne Tanis
Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Tamica Savage
Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (42)
- Former: Lori Little (2019–2024) — Member
- Former: Pat Shafer (2019–2024) — Member
- Former: Steven Jackson (2019–2024) — Member
- Former: John Schaub (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: Jim Steffel (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Tamica Fox (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Paul Watson (2022–2024) — Member
- Former: Kris Vanderstelt (2024) — Member
- Former: Chris Wren (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Kris Collee (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Tamica Sain (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Erik Gentzkow (2019–2022) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Gary Nelund (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: John Severson (2019–2022) — Past Board Chair
- Former: Lisa Sabourin (2019–2022) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Walter Christophersen (2019–2022) — Secretary - Partial Year
- Former: Brenda K. Jacobs (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Martha Gabrielse (2020–2022) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Mike Reynolds (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Stacey Gomez (2021–2022) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Tom Schultz (2021–2022) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Matthew Werksma (2022) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Dakota Crow (2019–2021) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Ed Garner (2019–2021) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Fred Johnson (2019–2021) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Joshua Reece (2019–2021) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Laura Carpenter (2019–2021) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Mary Boyd (2019–2021) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Tyshon Massey (2019–2021) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Sherri Anderson-Patterson (2020–2021) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Bob Carter (2019–2020) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Greg Van Woerkom (2019–2020) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Jodi Nichols (2019–2020) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Kendra Olsen (2019–2020) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Mark Meyers (2019–2020) — Past Chair - Partial Year
- Former: Robert Ross (2019–2020) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Sherri Campbell (2019–2020) — Treasurer Finance Chair-Partial Year
- Former: Sheryl Callow (2019–2020) — Finance Director
- Former: Dwight Vines (2019) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Erik Jepsen (2019) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Kate Kesteloot Scarbough (2019) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Lucas McCotter (2019) — Director - Partial Year
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $70K, to Christine Robere (Past Presi). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about United Way of the Lakeshore
How much does United Way of the Lakeshore give each year?
United Way of the Lakeshore gave $941K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 47 grants.
What is United Way of the Lakeshore's typical grant size?
United Way of the Lakeshore's median grant in 2025 was $10,905, and its average grant was $26,148, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Way of the Lakeshore that year got $10K on average.
Where does United Way of the Lakeshore give grants?
United Way of the Lakeshore gives mostly in Michigan: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Muskegon, MI (20 grants), Grand Rapids, MI (4 grants), Fremont, MI (3 grants) and Ludington, MI (2 grants).
Does United Way of the Lakeshore give general operating support?
Yes: 44% of United Way of the Lakeshore's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Summer Youth Program" (3 grants).
Who are United Way of the Lakeshore's largest grantees?
United Way of the Lakeshore's largest 2025 grantees include Dolly Parton Imagination Library ($187,699), Every Womans Place Inc ($85,349) and Acset Michigan Works ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of the Lakeshore?
United Way of the Lakeshore reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.4M.
What does United Way of the Lakeshore fund?
The organization’s mission is “Uniting to inspire change and build thriving communities.” Its website describes priorities that include childhood and youth success, economic mobility, and healthy families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of the Lakeshore?
United Way of the Lakeshore has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check unitedwaylakeshore.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is United Way of the Lakeshore's EIN?
United Way of the Lakeshore's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-1426895. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 27, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in United Way of the Lakeshore's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Community Foundation for Muskegon County
Muskegon, MI
The Community Foundation for Muskegon County funds education, health and human services, arts and culture, and community and economic development in Muskegon County, Michigan. Its 2024 median grant was about $16,754, though awards varied widely; it lists several specific grant programs with application information, but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$250.5M
Grants
202
Total Given
$12.4M
Muskegon Community Health Project
Muskegon, MI
We, mercy health and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities. Muskegon Community Health Project is a member of mercy health and trinity health.
Assets
$2.0M
Grants
8
Total Given
$150K
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Mercy Health Partners
Muskegon, MI
We, mercy health and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities.Mercy Health Partners is a member of mercy health and trinity health.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1
Total Given
$2.1M
Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Inc
Grand Haven, MI
The foundation funds arts and culture, health and human services, diversity and inclusion, education, economic and community betterment, and environmental projects serving Northwest Ottawa County or the wider West Michigan region. Its 2024 grants had a median award of about $19,900; organizations may submit a preliminary application for Community Impact grants at any time.
Assets
$192.9M
Grants
197
Total Given
$10.9M
Women's Division Chamber of Commerce
Muskegon, MI
The Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce funds community nonprofits and projects, including health and human services, neighborhood and cultural initiatives, and community events; it also offers student scholarships. Recent grants typically centered around $8,000, with 2025 awards ranging from about $5,000 to $42,500, in Muskegon County and surrounding areas. It accepts community-giving requests through its application form.
Assets
$236K
Grants
21
Total Given
$257K
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Way of the Lakeshore funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-the-lakeshore-morg_e805c3bbcec0447bb97123cd9a55cb73
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_381426895_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Way of the Lakeshore funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-the-lakeshore-morg_e805c3bbcec0447bb97123cd9a55cb73},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 United Way of the Lakeshore'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.
United Way of the Lakeshore down — hundreds of funders to go?