The Steven and Kathryn Bandstra Foundation is a West Michigan-focused private foundation that concentrates its philanthropy on higher education and student support, chiefly through scholarship funding and institutional gifts to local universities. Its giving is dominated by multi-year, repeat support to two nearby public universities, with a smaller interest in community heritage/preservation projects. The foundation’s grants suggest a preference for measurable educational impact (scholarships and academic program support) and occasional civic or historical preservation investments within the region.
The Steven and Kathryn Bandstra Foundation’s most distinctive pattern is its repeated, six-figure support for the Steven and Kathryn Bandstra Scholarship Fund at Grand Valley State University, including $100,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That scholarship commitment sits alongside sustained gifts to Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, showing a clear preference for education-centered giving tied to local institutions. The foundation also extends smaller grants to community and cultural projects in West Michigan, including industrial heritage preservation and local nonprofit support. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to use a mix of large anchor gifts and smaller, recurring awards. The larger gifts cluster around higher education and student aid, while other grants reach community foundations, schools, and service organizations in Muskegon, Grand Haven, Traverse City, and surrounding areas. The pattern suggests a funder that prioritizes measurable support for students and regional institutions, with select investments in community life and preservation projects within the same geographic area.
Higher education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $100,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 to Grand Valley State University for the Steven and Kathryn Bandstra Scholarship Fund, and $50,000 in each of those same years to Michigan State University for the College of Human Medicine. The foundation also supports local student aid at the K-12 and college level. In Muskegon, it gave $10,000 in 2025 and $7,500 in 2024 to Muskegon Christian School for the Pearl Bandstra Scholarship Fund, plus $5,000 in 2023 for the same purpose. Beyond education, it has backed civic and heritage work, including $25,000 to the Western Michigan Society for Industrial Heritage for a rail car restoration project and $5,500 and $5,000 to Interlochen Center for the Arts for general support in 2024 and 2023.
The foundation’s typical grant size is small relative to its largest awards: the 25th percentile is $1,875, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $5,500. Its pattern is strongly repetitive, with the same recipients appearing across multiple years, including annual support for scholarship funds and institutional programs. It operates as a private foundation and also funds individuals. The grant list shows both major anchor gifts and a broad set of lower-dollar local awards, with no application process indicated in the data.
$245K
$3.7M
$930K
$285K
Most grants fall between $2K and $6K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Concentrated, relatively large grants with repeat multi-grant relationships—primarily to a small set of regional universities—plus occasional one-off community/cultural gifts.
Notable grantees: Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University (College of Human Medicine), Western Michigan Society for Industrial Heritage
Giving is concentrated in Michigan, which accounts for 98% of grants and is the top state by grant count. The largest recipient city is Allendale, home to Grand Valley State University. Other repeated recipient locations include East Lansing, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, Grand Haven, Traverse City, Spring Lake, Comstock Park, and Interlochen. The distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 64 grants to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants show a strong emphasis on higher education, especially scholarship support and medical education. It also funds local heritage preservation, community foundations, food access, schools, and nonprofit program support in West Michigan.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, Feeding America West Michigan, The People Center, and Muskegon Christian School. The repeated awards suggest ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts.
The distribution is modest: the 25th percentile is $1,875, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $5,500. The recent grants list also includes larger anchor gifts of $50,000 and $100,000 tied to higher education.
Its giving is overwhelmingly local and Michigan-based. Michigan accounts for 98% of grants, and the recipient cities in the recent list are all in the state, including Allendale, East Lansing, Muskegon, Grand Haven, Traverse City, and Spring Lake.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | ALLENDALE, MI | $100,000 | 2026 | STEVEN AND KATHRYN BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE |
| GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | ALLENDALE, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | ANNIS WATER RESOURCES INSTITUTE |
| FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN | COMSTOCK PARK, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MUSKEGON COUNTY | MUSKEGON, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GREATER MUSKEGON FUND |
| MUSKEGON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | MUSKEGON, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | PEARL BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | CORPORATE PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE PEOPLE CENTER | SPRING LAKE, MI | $3,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MOSAIC COUNSELING | GRAND HAVEN, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BRIDGE MICHIGAN | YPSILANTI, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LOVE INC OF THE TRI-CITIES | GRAND HAVEN, MI | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| KIDS' FOOD BASKET | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| REACH FOR RECOVERY | HOLLAND, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MOMENTUM CENTER - GRAND HAVEN | GRAND HAVEN, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| READ MUSKEGON | MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY- GRAND HAVEN | GRAND HAVEN, MI | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY- MUSKEGON | MUSKEGON, MI | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MONA LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION | MUSKEGON, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WOMEN'S DIVISION OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - MUSKEGON | MUSKEGON, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | LINDA SEYMOUR INITIATIVE |
| COREWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $800 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | ALLENDALE, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | STEVEN AND KATHRYN BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MUSKEGON COUNTY | MUSKEGON, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GREATER MUSKEGON FUND |
| MUSKEGON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | MUSKEGON, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | PEARL BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN | COMSTOCK PARK, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| READ MUSKEGON | MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PATHFINDERS | MUSKEGON HTS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE PEOPLE CENTER | SPRING LAKE, MI | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| LOVE INC OF THE TRI-CITIES | GRAND HAVEN, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MOSAIC COUNSELING | GRAND HAVEN, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BRIDGE MICHIGAN | YPSILANTI, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MOMENTUM CENTER - GRAND HAVEN | GRAND HAVEN, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| REACH FOR RECOVERY | HOLLAND, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $1,500 | 2025 | CORPORATE PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY- MUSKEGON | MUSKEGON, MI | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY- GRAND HAVEN | GRAND HAVEN, MI | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WOMEN'S DIVISION OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - MUSKEGON | MUSKEGON, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| COREWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $700 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MONA LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION | MUSKEGON, MI | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | ALLENDALE, MI | $100,000 | 2024 | STEVEN AND KATHRYN BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE |
| FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN | COMSTOCK PARK, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MUSKEGON COUNTY | MUSKEGON, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | GREATER MUSKEGON FUND |
| MUSKEGON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | MUSKEGON, MI | $7,500 | 2024 | PEARL BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS | INTERLOCHEN, MI | $5,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE FATHER FRED FOUNDATION | TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| GRAND HAVEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | GRANT HAVEN, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FOR SCHOOL |
| TART TRAILS | TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE PEOPLE CENTER | SPRING LAKE, MI | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$100,000STEVEN AND KATHRYN BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$50,000COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$25,000ANNIS WATER RESOURCES INSTITUTE
PEARL BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
THE PEOPLE CENTER
$3,500GENERAL
BRIDGE MICHIGAN
$3,000GENERAL
KIDS' FOOD BASKET
$2,500GENERAL
REACH FOR RECOVERY
$2,500GENERAL
MOMENTUM CENTER - GRAND HAVEN
$2,500GENERAL
READ MUSKEGON
$2,500GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY- GRAND HAVEN
$1,500GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY- MUSKEGON
$1,500GENERAL
MONA LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
$1,000GENERAL
WOMEN'S DIVISION OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - MUSKEGON
$1,000LINDA SEYMOUR INITIATIVE
COREWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION
$800GENERAL
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$100,000STEVEN AND KATHRYN BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$50,000COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE
FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN
$10,000GENERAL
READ MUSKEGON
$5,000GENERAL
PATHFINDERS
$5,000GENERAL
THE PEOPLE CENTER
$3,000GENERAL
BRIDGE MICHIGAN
$2,500GENERAL
MOMENTUM CENTER - GRAND HAVEN
$2,500GENERAL
REACH FOR RECOVERY
$2,500GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY- MUSKEGON
$1,500GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY- GRAND HAVEN
$1,500GENERAL
WOMEN'S DIVISION OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - MUSKEGON
$1,000GENERAL
COREWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION
$700GENERAL
MONA LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
$500GENERAL
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$100,000STEVEN AND KATHRYN BANDSTRA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$50,000COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE
TART TRAILS
$3,000GENERAL
THE PEOPLE CENTER
$3,000GENERAL