The Harry Vermeer Family Foundation concentrates its funding on Christian education and faith-based service organizations, with major support for local and denominational schools and seminaries as well as a mission-focused medical charity. Grants are targeted to a small set of recurring beneficiaries, reflecting a preference for sustaining theological training, Christian secondary education in Pella-area institutions, and faith-driven global health work.
Concentrated giving with multiple, sizable repeat grants to a handful of core grantees rather than many small one-off awards; funds primarily flow to education and faith-based service organizations.
Three annual $50,000 grants to Luke Society from 2023 through 2025 show the Harry Vermeer Family Foundation’s clearest pattern: repeated support for faith-based medical missions. That same recurring style appears in its education grantmaking, where Trinity Christian College received $34,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary each appeared multiple times in the recent-grants list. The foundation’s giving centers on Christian education and denominational institutions, with awards reaching seminaries, liberal arts colleges, a local Christian high school, and Christian elementary education in Pella. It also supports charitable organizations tied to Christian service, including World Renew, Hope Ministries, and Degage Ministries. The recent grants suggest a funder that backs a small set of familiar grantees year after year rather than spreading support widely across many organizations. Pella Christian High School received multiple grants as well, reinforcing the foundation’s connection to Christian schooling in its local community. Across the listed grants, the foundation’s pattern is consistent: education and faith-driven service organizations receive most of the attention, often through repeated awards to the same institutions.
In higher education, the foundation gave $34,000 to Trinity Christian College in 2025 for educational support, and it also supported Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, each of which appears multiple times in the recent grants list. Those grants point to sustained backing for Reformed and Calvinist postsecondary institutions. In local K-12 education, Pella Christian High School received $31,000 in 2025 and also received $17,000 grants in 2024 and 2023; Pella Christian Grade School received $12,000 in both 2024 and 2023. The foundation also funded Dordt University with $10,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. On the charitable side, it supported World Renew with $13,000 grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Hope Ministries with $10,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Typical grants cluster at a modest level: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are $5,000, $5,000, and $13,000. The recent record also shows a smaller number of larger, recurring awards, including $34,000 and $50,000 grants. Many recipients appear across multiple years, which indicates repeat support rather than one-time funding. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its pattern is best described as institutional grantmaking with steady renewals to a small set of recipients.
$314K
$9.6M
$372K
$471K
Most grants fall between $5K and $13K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$13K
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Notable grantees: Luke Society, Trinity Christian College, Calvin University, Calvin Theological Seminary, Pella Christian High School
The foundation gives regionally, with 100% of grants in the United States and 43% of grants to recipients in Iowa, the HQ state. Illinois is the top state by grant count for recipients, reflecting the out-of-state concentration nearby. Recipient cities that recur include Grand Rapids, MI; Pella, IA; Sioux Falls, SD; Palos Heights, IL; Sioux Center, IA; and Des Moines, IA. The grant map is dominated by Midwestern institutions, especially in Iowa, Michigan, and Illinois.
Its recent grants go mainly to Christian education and faith-based service organizations. Named recipients include Trinity Christian College, Calvin University, Calvin Theological Seminary, Pella Christian High School, Luke Society, and World Renew, showing a mix of schools, seminaries, and charitable ministries.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Luke Society with $50,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Trinity Christian College with $34,000 in each of those years; and Pella Christian High School, Calvin University, and Calvin Theological Seminary with repeated awards as well.
The grant-size distribution is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile and median are both $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $13,000. The recent list also includes larger recurring grants of $30,000, $34,000, and $50,000.
Recipients in Illinois appear most often by state, while 43% of grants go to recipients in Iowa, the foundation’s HQ state. Recent recipients are concentrated in Midwestern cities such as Grand Rapids, Pella, Sioux Falls, Palos Heights, Sioux Center, and Des Moines.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $56,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| LUKE SOCIETY | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| PELLA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS | PELLA, IA | $42,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CALVIN UNIVERSITY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $30,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PELLA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER | PELLA, IA | $22,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| WORLD RENEW | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $13,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| RAISE UP GLOBAL MINISTRIES NKA RESONATE LEARNING PROGRAMS | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| HOPE MINISTRIES | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| DORDT UNIVERSITY | SIOUX CENTER, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PELLA FOOD SHELF | PELLA, IA | $7,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| FOOD BANK OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $7,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| PELLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | PELLA, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DEGAGE MINISTRIES | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CENTRAL COLLEGE | PELLA, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SCHOK & AWE INC | PELLA, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | CLYDE HILL, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CARY CHRISTIAN CENTER | CARY, MS | $5,000 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS |
| REHOBOTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | REHOBOTH, NM | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| GILBERT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | GILBERT, AZ | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| THE WELL | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| YOUNG LIFE | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| FAMILIES FIRST OF PELLA | PELLA, IA | $4,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| PELLA DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS | PELLA, IA | $2,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| LUKE SOCIETY | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | PALOS HEIGHTS, IL | $34,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PELLA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL | PELLA, IA | $31,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CALVIN UNIVERSITY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| WORLD RENEW | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $13,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HOPE MINISTRIES | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TIMOTHY LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DORDT UNIVERSITY | SIOUX CENTER, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CARY CHRISTIAN CENTER | CARY, MS | $5,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| GILBERT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | GILBERT, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FOOD BANK OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PELLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | PELLA, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| THE WELL | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| YOUNG LIFE | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | CLYDE HILL, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CENTRAL COLLEGE | PELLA, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DEGAGE MINISTRIES | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| REHOBOTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | REHOBOTH, NM | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PELLA FOOD SHELF | PELLA, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FAMILIES FIRST OF PELLA | PELLA, IA | $4,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PELLA DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS | PELLA, IA | $2,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| LUKE SOCIETY | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | PALOS HEIGHTS, IL | $34,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CALVIN UNIVERSITY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PELLA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL | PELLA, IA | $17,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
PELLA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
$42,000EDUCATIONAL
PELLA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER
$22,000CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE
RAISE UP GLOBAL MINISTRIES NKA RESONATE LEARNING PROGRAMS
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
DORDT UNIVERSITY
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
PELLA FOOD SHELF
$7,500CHARITABLE
PELLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
CENTRAL COLLEGE
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
SCHOK & AWE INC
$5,000CHARITABLE
CARY CHRISTIAN CENTER
$5,000RELIGIOUS
GILBERT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
THE WELL
$5,000CHARITABLE
FAMILIES FIRST OF PELLA
$4,000CHARITABLE
PELLA DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS
$2,000EDUCATIONAL
TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
$34,000EDUCATIONAL
PELLA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
$31,000EDUCATIONAL
TIMOTHY LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
DORDT UNIVERSITY
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
CARY CHRISTIAN CENTER
$5,000RELIGIOUS
GILBERT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
PELLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
THE WELL
$5,000CHARITABLE
CENTRAL COLLEGE
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
REHOBOTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
PELLA FOOD SHELF
$5,000CHARITABLE
FAMILIES FIRST OF PELLA
$4,000CHARITABLE
PELLA DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS
$2,000EDUCATIONAL
TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
$34,000EDUCATIONAL
PELLA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
$17,000EDUCATIONAL