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Lion Rock Charitable Trust at a glance

· Private foundation

Lion Rock Charitable Trust

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$329k
Granted FY2025still arriving
20
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$200k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0189% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2025.

Education$401kHuman Services$119kInternational$107kYouth Development$73kEmployment$45kReligion$30kCivil Rights$21kCommunity Improvement$19kOther$0
02FY2025 · 20 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k11 grants · $26k
  • $10k–50k8 grants · $103k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $200k
$6,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$1.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Individual grant recipient$200,000
THE POTTER'S HOUSE$22,500
EVERBLOOM MONTESSORI COOPERATIVE$15,000
LITERACY CENTER OF WEST MICHIGAN$12,500
WEDGWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICES$12,500
THE SOURCE$10,000
UNITED WAY OF METRO CHICAGO$10,000
WORKLIFE PARTNERSHIP$10,000
SCHOOLS FOR SIERRA LEONE$10,000
SECOM RESOURCE CENTER$6,000
GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS$5,000
LIFEQUEST$4,500
FAMILY NETWORK OF WYOMING$3,000
PINE REST FOUNDATION$2,500
Individual grant recipient$2,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY19–25, $73k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 93% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%Grant Me Hope: $5k → 10%SECOM RESOURCE CENTER: $7k → 11%SECOM RESOURCE CENTER: $6k → 11%SECOM RESOURCE CENTER: $3k → 11%SECOM Resource Center: $3k → 11%Treetops Collective: $3k → 11%SECOM RESOURCE CENTER: $2k → 11%WEDGWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $13k → 11%WEDGWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $10k → 11%Wedgwood Christian Services: $5k → 11%WEDGEWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $5k → 11%Wedgwood Christian Services: $5k → 11%WEDGEWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $3k → 11%WEDGWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $3k → 11%Grand Rapids Urban League: $4k → 11%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

86%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$964k · 26 repeat orgs$153k to everyone else

26 repeat relationships: 13 still active in FY2025, 13 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

26
33

Total granted

$964k
$119k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+75%

Still filing today

54%
48%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 90% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $34k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesEducationArts & CultureAnimalsFood & NutritionPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • GR
    GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
    5× · 2020–2025 · $175k · revenue +43%
  • TP
    The Potters House
    7× · 2019–2025 · $98k · revenue +72%
  • LC
    Literacy Center of West Michigan
    7× · 2019–2025 · $86k · revenue +85%

Funded once

  • I
    ICCF
    one grant, 2024 · $21k
  • UM
    UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY HOUSE
    one grant, 2024 · $15k · revenue +3%
  • AI
    Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
    one grant, 2024 · $15k · revenue 0%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Michigan Family Resources

Michigan Family Resources mission is to deliver holistic family-centered services to children that promote their well-being and development.

Education
2
Movement West Michigan

Uniting christian faith leaders to serve with humility and love for the flourishing of all in our community.

Religion
3
West Michigan Christian Foundation

None

Religion
4
Family Outreach Center

Leading the way in promoting healthy family living by reaching out to underserved populations and those who are in our community.

—
5
African Resource Center of West Michigan

The African Resource Center informs connects and equips African immigrants in West Michigan with people and resources to foster a flourishing community in which recent African immigrants can prosper emotionally economically and socially.

Human Services
6
Mid Michigan Community Action Agency Inc

Mid michigan community action guides local residents on the path to self-sufficiency through empowerment, education and community enrichment.

—
7
United Way of Marquette County

Focusing community resources to meet community needs the United Way of Marquette County works to advance the common good by connecting people with health and human care issues they are concerned about and to provide the oversight the…

—
8
Broadway Grand Rapids

To present west michigan audiences with high quality broadway productions and to provide student arts education programs, enriching the community through professional performing arts, as well as to expand the diversity of theatre in the…

—
9
Michigan Christian Home

The michigan christian home dba beacon hill at eastgate, a not-for-profit corporation, provides housing and health services in a christian environment for older adults, thus enabling them to meet their ongoing physical, social and…

—
10
The Northern Michigan University Foundation

The nmu foundation will establish and foster relationships to generate resources that benefit the strategic goals of northern michigan university.

Education
11
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership

The mission of great lakes community action partnership is to create partnerships and opportunites to help individuals, families and communities thrive.

Human Services
12
Housing Services of Mid Michigan

To assist people with low or moderate income to obtain safe and affordable housing

Housing & Shelter
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Grand Rapids Community Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Michigan Power Futbol Academy. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

35 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 35 of the 67 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
10
Early backer (in before they grew)
35/35
Grantees still filing
25/35
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Individual grant recipient: $202,500 · OtherIndividual grant recipientSCHOOLS FOR SIERRA LEONE: $85,000 · OtherSCHOOLS FOR SIERRA LEONEJunior Achievement: $60,001 · OtherJunior AchievementTHE SOURCE: $26,500 · OtherICCF: $20,800 · OtherGRAND RAPIDS JUNIOR ROBOTICS: $20,000 · Other+43 more: $176,019 · Other+43 moreGRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS: $175,000 · EducationGRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLSThe Potters House: $97,550 · EducationThe Potters HouseLiteracy Center of West Michigan: $86,000 · EducationLiteracy Center of West Michigan+2 more: $6,080 · EducationWEDGWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $42,500 · Human ServicesSOUTH END COMMUNITY OUTREACH MINISTRIES: $19,500 · Human ServicesGRANT ME HOPE: $5,000 · Human ServicesGRAND RAPIDS URBAN LEAGUE: $3,500 · Human Services+2 more: $5,000 · Human ServicesWORKLIFE PARTNERSHIP: $45,000 · EmploymentKIDS' FOOD BASKET INC: $12,500 · Food & NutritionFAMILY NETWORK: $3,000 · Food & NutritionActon Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty: $15,000 · Civil RightsUNITED WAY OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO INC: $10,000 · PhilanthropyGRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $3,000 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: $500 · Philanthropy
Other$590,820Education$364,630Human Services$75,500Employment$45,000Food & Nutrition$15,500Civil Rights$15,000Philanthropy$13,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetGRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS: $175,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetThe Potters House: $97,550 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetLiteracy Center of West Michigan: $86,000 over 7y, 1.0% of budgetWORKLIFE PARTNERSHIP: $45,000 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetWEDGWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $42,500 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetSOUTH END COMMUNITY OUTREACH MINISTRIES: $19,500 over 5y, 1.0% of budgetUNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY HOUSE: $15,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetActon Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAFFINITY MENTORING: $12,500 over 3y, 1.8% of budgetKIDS' FOOD BASKET INC: $12,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED WAY OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE RIGHT PLACE INC: $10,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGRAND RAPIDS INITIATIVE FOR LEADERS: $8,500 over 5y, 1.4% of budgetRonald McDonald House Global: $7,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetROOSEVELT PARK MINISTRIES INC: $6,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetDAVENPORT UNIVERSITY: $6,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMATTHEW 2540 HEARTSIDE INC: $5,500 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetGRANT ME HOPE: $5,000 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetRONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES WESTERN MICHIGAN: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetDA BLODGETT - ST JOHN'S: $4,425 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGRAND RAPIDS URBAN LEAGUE: $3,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCREATIVE ARTS REPERTOIRE ENSEMBLE: $3,100 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetGRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetPINE REST FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTreetops Collective: $2,500 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetHUMANE SOCIETY OF WEST MICHIGAN: $2,200 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetVETERANS RADIO AMERICA INC: $2,000 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetHARBOR HUMANE SOCIETY: $1,700 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFIGI JEZI: $1,500 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKENT SCHOOL SERVICES NETWORK: $80 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Grand Rapids Communit…Douglas & Maria Devos…Peter C & Emajean Coo…Frey FoundationThe Mercantile Bank F…Heart of West Michiga…Steelcase FoundationThe Meijer FoundationThe Wege FoundationWK Kellogg FoundationThe Community Foundat…Daniel & Pamella Devo…
Grand Rapids Community FoundationMI43.3× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Grand Rapids Community Foundation · Douglas & Maria Devos Foundation · Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation · Frey Foundation · The Mercantile Bank Foundation · Heart of West Michigan United Way · Steelcase Foundation · The Meijer Foundation · The Wege Foundation · WK Kellogg Foundation · The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area Inc · Daniel & Pamella Devos Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Lion Rock Charitable Trust funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Lion Rock Charitable Trust. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    11report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 67 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Lion Rock’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home