Pennies From Heaven Foundation is a regional, place-based funder focused on strengthening families and children in Muskegon/Mason County area through direct service, capacity/capital support, and match-funding. Their giving favors youth development, school and after‑school supports, family stability programs (including single-parent supports), and local civic/faith organizations, often funding facility projects, startup/seed efforts, and matching campaigns.
Pennies From Heaven Foundation shows a clear pattern of backing place-based family and youth infrastructure in Muskegon and Mason counties. One of its largest recent commitments was $225,671 to United Way of Mason County for Family Link and LRN building expenses, followed by repeated support for local schools, youth programs, and community facilities. The foundation also made a $200,000 grant to Oaktree Academy for facility renovations, pointing to a willingness to fund capital needs alongside operating support. The foundation’s recent grants include major awards to Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore for youth development and to Single Momm for general operating support. In Ludington, its support has extended to school, ministry, and civic projects, including match grants and local development efforts. Across the portfolio, the emphasis is on children, families, and institutions serving the local community, with recurring attention to building costs, renovation work, and sustained program operations. Recent giving also includes support for early childhood literacy, advocacy services, and arts programming.
Family stability is a recurring theme. Pennies From Heaven Foundation gave $225,671 to United Way of Mason County for Family Link and LRN building expenses, and later awarded $150,000 and $50,000 to Single Momm for general operating support. Those grants sit alongside support for services aimed at families with young children and local community needs. In youth development, the foundation gave $200,000 to Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore for youth development. It also supported Ludington Youth Sailing School with $18,475 in general operating support and funded Talent First twice, with grants of $25,000 in 2023 and 2024. Facility and capital support is another clear thread. Pennies From Heaven Foundation gave $200,000 to Oaktree Academy for facility renovations and $30,000 to Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center for opening a Mason County location. It also backed local school and civic projects through match grants and sponsorships.
Typical grant size clusters around a median of $43,564, with the 25th percentile at $17,606 and the 75th percentile at $50,000. The recent grants list shows a mix of one-time awards and repeated support to some recipients across multiple years, including United Way of Mason County, Single Momm, Talent First, Help Ministry, Blue Hat Ministries, and Ludington Area Schools. The foundation’s giving also includes operating support, match grants, sponsorships, and facility-related awards. Its active grant programs are administered through the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and scholarship portals, and several programs accept unsolicited applications.
$726K
$22.2M
$691K
$1M
Most grants fall between $18K and $50K, with a median of $44K.
25th Percentile
$18K
Median
$44K
75th Percentile
$50K
TODD JACOBS
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Concentrated, place-based giving with a mix of large multi-thousand dollar awards and repeat grants; the foundation favors a small set of core local partners and frequently provides match funding, capital/renovation support, and seed grants rather than broad national giving.
Notable grantees: United Way of Mason County, Single Momm, Oaktree Academy, Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore, Lakeshore Children's Advocacy Center
Grantmaking is concentrated in Michigan, with 97% of grants going to recipients in the headquarters state. The strongest cluster is in West Michigan communities such as Ludington and Muskegon. Recent awards landed in Ludington through United Way of Mason County, Oaktree Academy, Ludington Area Schools, Help Ministry, and the City of Ludington Downtown Development Authority. Muskegon recipients include Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore, Muskegon Christian School, and Yac Lake Jump Fund. Outside Michigan, the recent grants list also includes San Rafael, California, through Ascension One Collective.
The foundation supports organizations serving children, families, schools, and local community needs. Recent grants include youth development, family stability, early childhood literacy, child advocacy, arts programming, and facility or capital projects for local schools and nonprofits in Muskegon and Mason counties.
The foundation’s grant sizes cluster around a median of $43,564. The 25th percentile is $17,606 and the 75th percentile is $50,000, which shows many awards fall in the mid-five-figure range.
Yes. Recent grants show repeat support for several recipients across multiple years, including United Way of Mason County, Single Momm, Talent First, Help Ministry, Blue Hat Ministries, and Ludington Area Schools. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards alone.
Several active programs are open to applicants through the Community Foundation for Muskegon County or the foundation’s scholarship portal. The Community Foundation grant opportunities use an Application of Intent or Letter of Intent first, and if there is a fit, applicants are invited to submit a full application.
Its grantmaking is overwhelmingly Michigan-based, with 97% of grants going to recipients in the headquarters state. The recent grant list is especially concentrated in Ludington, Muskegon, and other West Michigan locations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Pennies From Heaven Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects or programs aligned with the fund's environmental priorities; supports public accessibility to green space and land conservation in specified areas.
Deadline: Fall round 2026: LOI due September 10, 2026; full application due September 24, 2026.
Who can apply: Project must fit the Community Foundation’s stated priorities and guidelines. Applicants submit an Application of Intent first; staff review for alignment with community foundation values and may invite a full application.
Deadline: Spring grant deadline is typically in late February; fall deadline is typically in late September. Applications of intent are due two weeks prior to the grant deadline.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAKTREE ACADEMY | LUDINGTON, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATIONS |
| UNITED WAY OF MASON COUNTY | LUDINGTON, MI | $153,127 | 2025 | FAMILY LINK AND LRN BUILDING EXPENSES |
| SINGLE MOMM | TRAVERSE, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LUDINGTON AREA SCHOOLS | LUDINGTON, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | ORIOLE FOUNDATION DONATION |
| BLUE HAT MINISTRIES | LUDINGTON, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | MATCH GRANT |
| HELP MINISTRY | LUDINGTON, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | MATCH GRANT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MUSKEGON COUNTY | MUSKEGON, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MASON COUNTY |
| LAKESHORE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER | MANISTEE, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF ADVOCACY CENTER |
| STAIRCASE YOUTH SERVICES INC | LUDINGTON, MI | $10,025 | 2025 | MATCH GRANT |
| FRIENDS OF LUDINGTON POLICE K-9 | LUDINGTON, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ARMORY YOUTH PROJECT | MANISTEE, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | MATCH GRANT |
| LUDINGTON AREA CENTER FOR THE ARTS | LUDINGTON, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | YOUTH PROGRAMMING AND CAPACITY BUILDING |
| UNITED WAY OF MASON COUNTY | LUDINGTON, MI | $143,649 | 2024 | FAMILY LINK AND LRN BUILDING EXPENSES |
| BLUE HAT MINISTRIES | LUDINGTON, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | MATCH GRANT |
| LUDINGTON AREA SCHOOLS | LUDINGTON, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | MATCH GRANT |
| SINGLE MOMM | TRAVERSE, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MUSKEGON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | MUSKEGON, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HELP MINISTRY | LUDINGTON, MI | $47,808 | 2024 | MATCH GRANT |
| YAC LAKE JUMP FUND | MUSKEGON, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | MATCH GRANT TO MASON COUNTY'S YAC FOR YAC LAKE JUMP |
| LAKESHORE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER | MANISTEE, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR OPENING A MASON COUNTY LOCATION |
| LAKESHORE FOOD 4 KIDS FUND | MUSKEGON, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TALENT FIRST | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF MASON COUNTY | LUDINGTON, MI | $225,671 | 2023 | FAMILY LINK AND LRN BUILDING EXPENSES |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE MUSKEGON LAKESHORE | MUSKEGON, MI | $200,000 | 2023 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| ASCENSION ONE COLLECTIVE | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITY OF LUDINGTON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | LUDINGTON, MI | $50,000 | 2023 | LEGACY PLAZA SPONSORSHIP |
| POWER BOOK BAGS | SUTTONS BAY, MI | $50,000 | 2023 | EMPOWERING CHILDREN 0-5 WITH TOOLS FOR LITERACY |
| SCOTTVILLE OPTIMIST PARK & SCULPTURE FUND | MUSKEGON, MI | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HANDS EXTENDED LOVING PEOPLE (HELP) | LUDINGTON, MI | $39,320 | 2023 | MAD RIDE FUNDRAISER |
| SINGLE MOMM | TRAVERSE, MI | $36,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TALENT FIRST | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LUDINGTON YOUTH SAILING SCHOOL | LUDINGTON, MI | $18,475 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LUDINGTON AREA ARTS COUNCIL | LUDINGTON, MI | $15,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR SUMMER ARTS CAMPS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM |
| CHILDHOOD CANCER CAMPAIGN | LUDINGTON, MI | $15,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDHOOD CANCER CAMPAIGN |
| PERE MARQUETTE MEMORIAL CROSS FUND | MUSKEGON, MI | $10,000 | 2023 | SEED FUNDING FOR NEW FUND |
| MASON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LUDINGTON, MI | $9,500 | 2023 | MASON COUNTY CULTURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASKFORCE |
OAKTREE ACADEMY
$200,000FACILITY RENOVATIONS
LUDINGTON AREA SCHOOLS
$50,000ORIOLE FOUNDATION DONATION
BLUE HAT MINISTRIES
$50,000MATCH GRANT
HELP MINISTRY
$50,000MATCH GRANT
GRANT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MASON COUNTY
LAKESHORE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER
$15,000SUPPORT OF ADVOCACY CENTER
STAIRCASE YOUTH SERVICES INC
$10,025MATCH GRANT
FRIENDS OF LUDINGTON POLICE K-9
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ARMORY YOUTH PROJECT
$10,000MATCH GRANT
LUDINGTON AREA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$7,500YOUTH PROGRAMMING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
BLUE HAT MINISTRIES
$50,000MATCH GRANT
LUDINGTON AREA SCHOOLS
$50,000MATCH GRANT
HELP MINISTRY
$47,808MATCH GRANT
LAKESHORE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER
$30,000SUPPORT FOR OPENING A MASON COUNTY LOCATION
TALENT FIRST
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ASCENSION ONE COLLECTIVE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CITY OF LUDINGTON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
$50,000LEGACY PLAZA SPONSORSHIP
POWER BOOK BAGS
$50,000EMPOWERING CHILDREN 0-5 WITH TOOLS FOR LITERACY
SCOTTVILLE OPTIMIST PARK & SCULPTURE FUND
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HANDS EXTENDED LOVING PEOPLE (HELP)
$39,320MAD RIDE FUNDRAISER
TALENT FIRST
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LUDINGTON YOUTH SAILING SCHOOL
$18,475GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LUDINGTON AREA ARTS COUNCIL
$15,000SUPPORT FOR SUMMER ARTS CAMPS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
CHILDHOOD CANCER CAMPAIGN
$15,000SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDHOOD CANCER CAMPAIGN
PERE MARQUETTE MEMORIAL CROSS FUND
$10,000SEED FUNDING FOR NEW FUND
MASON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$9,500MASON COUNTY CULTURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASKFORCE
