The Bellis Foundation channels the majority of its assets into a handful of donor-directed/charitable endowment vehicles (the Lawrence Bellis Gift Funds) while making targeted grants to health, disability, faith-based, outdoor recreation, and animal welfare causes. Outside its large internal funds, it funds medical research and treatment (notably pediatric and cancer-related), disability/family support, Catholic seminary training, and recreational/animal-welfare nonprofits, with a modest geographic spread including Michigan and Colorado.
The Bellis Foundation C/o Johnston & Associates Cpa Pc makes its largest recent grants to donor-directed charitable endowment vehicles: four 2025 awards of roughly $8.0 million each to the Lawrence Bellis Gift Fund A, B, C, and D in St. Petersburg, Florida. That pattern sets the tone for the foundation’s grantmaking, which also includes targeted support for medical research and treatment, disability and family services, Catholic formation and education, and animal-related nonprofits. Outside the internal gift-fund structure, the foundation has backed St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for child cancer research and treatment, Easterseals Michigan for family assistance, and the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation for mitochondrial disease research. Its more specialized awards extend into seminary training, suicide prevention, autism services, Holocaust education, and recreational organizations. The overall picture is a funder that combines very large endowment-style transfers with smaller, restricted grants to a mix of health, faith-based, and community-serving organizations. Recent recipients include Joanne’s Mark in Lenox Township, Michigan; Kevin’s Song in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; and The Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Health-related giving appears across several named grants. In 2024, the foundation gave $85,000 to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital for child cancer research and treatment, and in 2025 it gave $50,000 to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation for research into mitochondrial diseases. Family and disability support is another thread: Easterseals Michigan received $65,000 in 2024 and $40,000 in 2023 for family assistance. The Bellis Foundation C/o Johnston & Associates Cpa Pc also supports faith formation, including $40,000 in 2024 and $20,000 in 2023 to Most Holy Trinity Seminary for training Roman Catholic priests. Community-oriented grants reach into Michigan through $15,000 to Concert of Colors for free events and $10,000 to Kevin’s Song for suicide prevention programs.
Typical grants cluster in the $10,000 to $40,000 range, with a median of $20,000 and a 75th percentile of $40,000. The distribution is shaped by a few very large donor-directed endowment transfers and a much larger set of smaller operating and project grants. Recipients do repeat across years: Easterseals Michigan, Colorado Mountain Bike Association, Most Holy Trinity Seminary, United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, Interregnum Foundation Inc, and others appear in multiple grant years. The foundation appears to give through a private foundation structure rather than individual grants to people, and it does not make program-related investments.
$32.5M
$597K
$20.4M
$32.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $40K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$40K
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Concentrated asset allocation into internal endowed gift funds combined with a small number of modest-to-mid size external grants; several repeat grantees appear and grants are targeted rather than broadly distributed.
Notable grantees: Lawrence Bellis Gift Funds (A, B, C, D), Easterseals Michigan, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Colorado Mountain Bike Association, Most Holy Trinity Seminary
The grant list is entirely U.S.-based. Michigan is the top state by grant count, and several awards land in the Detroit-area and nearby cities, including Auburn Hills, Farmington Hills, Fraser, Warren, Northville, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Lenox Township. Other frequent recipient locations include St. Petersburg, Florida; Reading, Pennsylvania; Denver and Lakewood, Colorado; and Memphis, Tennessee. The largest grants are directed to St. Petersburg, while the smaller project grants are spread across Michigan and a few other states.
The middle of the distribution sits at $20,000. The 25th percentile is $10,000 and the 75th percentile is $40,000, so many awards are in that smaller restricted-grant range even though the foundation also makes very large endowment transfers.
Its grants reach health research and treatment, disability and family services, Catholic priestly formation, suicide prevention, autism services, museum and education support, outdoor recreation, and animal rescue. Named recipients include St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Easterseals Michigan, Most Holy Trinity Seminary, Kevin’s Song, and Heart Dogs Rescue.
Yes. Easterseals Michigan appears in 2023 and 2024, Colorado Mountain Bike Association appears in 2023 and 2024, Most Holy Trinity Seminary appears in 2023 and 2024, United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation appears in 2024 and 2025, and Interregnum Foundation Inc appears in 2023 and 2024.
Michigan receives the most grants by count, and 17% of grants go to recipients in Michigan. The recipient list also includes Florida, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, and New York.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE BELLIS GIFT FUND A | ST PTERSBURG, FL | $8,159,937 | 2025 | CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT FUND |
| LAWRENCE BELLIS GIFT FUND C | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $8,101,627 | 2025 | CHARIBLE ENDOWMENT FUND |
| LAWRENCE BELLIS GIFT FUND D | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $8,097,597 | 2025 | CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT FUND |
| LAWRENCE BELLIS GIFT FUND B | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $8,007,566 | 2025 | CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT FUND |
| UNITED MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE FOUND | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASES |
| JOANNE'S MARK | LENOX TOWNSHIP, MI | $27,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR TERMINAL SICK KIDS |
| THE ZEKELMAN HOLOCAUST CENTER | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $17,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR THE HOLOCAUST MUSEM |
| CONCERT OF COLORS | DETROIT, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | ART ORGANZIATION OFFER FREE EVENTS |
| HEART DOGS RESCUE | WARREN, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | RESCUING AND FINDING HOMES FOR ANIMA |
| KEVIN'S SONG | GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR PREVENTION OF SUICIDE |
| BLUE GRASS CENTER FOR AUSTIM | JEFFERSONTOWN, KY | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR AUTISM CHILDREN |
| BEYOND BASICS | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPLIES FOR DETROIT SCHOOLS |
| KEEPER KITTIES RESCUE | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | ANIMAL RESCUE |
| LIVING AND LEARNING ENRICHMENT CTR | NORTHVILLE, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR AUSTIM PEOPLE |
| SOUTHWEST DETROIT BUSINESS ASSOCIAT | DETROIT, MI | $3,500 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR THE MUSIC PROGRAM |
| NEW DETROIT INC | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR DETROIT CITIZENS |
| THE BUTTERFLY COLLECTIVE | SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI | $2,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE SURVIORS |
| HOMELESS ACTION NEWTORK OF DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS |
| FACE ADDITION NOW | CLINTON TONWSHIP, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | DRUG ADDTION PROGRAMS |
| ALZHEIMR'S ASSOCIATION GREATER MI CHAPTER | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | FOR RESEARCH FOR ALZHEIMER |
| ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $85,000 | 2024 | CHILD CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT |
| EASTERSEALS MICHIGAN | AUBURN HILLS, MI | $65,000 | 2024 | FAMILY ASSISTANCE |
| ROCKEY MOUNTAIN FELINE RESCUE | DENVER, CO | $42,500 | 2024 | CARE FOR STRAKE FELINES |
| COLORADO MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION | LAKEWOOD, CO | $42,500 | 2024 | PROMOTING MOUNTAIN BIKING |
| MOST HOLY TRINITY SEMINARY | READING, PA | $40,000 | 2024 | TRAINING OF ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS |
| UNITED MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE FOUND | PITTSBURGH, PA | $20,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASES |
| INTERREGNUM FOUNDATION INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH |
| OUR LADY QUEEN OF MARTYRS | FRASER, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH |
| THE SISTER OF ST THOMAS AQUINAS | BROOKSVILLE, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH |
| WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE | NORWOOD, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPT CH |
| DAUGHTER OF MARY ST JOSEPH CHAPEL | ROUND TOP, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH |
| COLORADO MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION | LAKEWOOD, CO | $40,000 | 2023 | PROMOTING MOUNTAIN BIKING |
| EASTERSEALS MICHIGAN | AUBURN HILLS, MI | $40,000 | 2023 | FAMILY ASSISTANCE |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | ATLANTA, GA | $40,000 | 2023 | CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT |
| MOST HOLY TRINITY SEMINARY | READING, PA | $20,000 | 2023 | TRAINING OF ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS |
| INTERREGNUM FOUNDATION INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CH |
| WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE | NORWOOD, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPT CH |
| US CHARITABLE GIFT TRUST | INDIANPOLIS, IN | $5,000 | 2023 | EATON VANCE ADVISERY GIFT TRUST |
LAWRENCE BELLIS GIFT FUND A
$8,159,937CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT FUND
LAWRENCE BELLIS GIFT FUND C
$8,101,627CHARIBLE ENDOWMENT FUND
LAWRENCE BELLIS GIFT FUND D
$8,097,597CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT FUND
LAWRENCE BELLIS GIFT FUND B
$8,007,566CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT FUND
JOANNE'S MARK
$27,000PROGRAMS FOR TERMINAL SICK KIDS
THE ZEKELMAN HOLOCAUST CENTER
$17,000SUPPORT FOR THE HOLOCAUST MUSEM
CONCERT OF COLORS
$15,000ART ORGANZIATION OFFER FREE EVENTS
HEART DOGS RESCUE
$10,000RESCUING AND FINDING HOMES FOR ANIMA
KEVIN'S SONG
$10,000PROGRAMS FOR PREVENTION OF SUICIDE
BLUE GRASS CENTER FOR AUSTIM
$10,000PROGRAMS FOR AUTISM CHILDREN
KEEPER KITTIES RESCUE
$5,000ANIMAL RESCUE
THE BUTTERFLY COLLECTIVE
$2,000SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE SURVIORS
HOMELESS ACTION NEWTORK OF DETROIT
$1,000PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS
FACE ADDITION NOW
$1,000DRUG ADDTION PROGRAMS
ALZHEIMR'S ASSOCIATION GREATER MI CHAPTER
$1,000FOR RESEARCH FOR ALZHEIMER
EASTERSEALS MICHIGAN
$65,000FAMILY ASSISTANCE
ROCKEY MOUNTAIN FELINE RESCUE
$42,500CARE FOR STRAKE FELINES
COLORADO MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION
$42,500PROMOTING MOUNTAIN BIKING
MOST HOLY TRINITY SEMINARY
$40,000TRAINING OF ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS
INTERREGNUM FOUNDATION INC
$15,000SUPPORT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
OUR LADY QUEEN OF MARTYRS
$10,000SUPPORT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
THE SISTER OF ST THOMAS AQUINAS
$10,000SUPPORT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE
$5,000SUPPORT OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPT CH
DAUGHTER OF MARY ST JOSEPH CHAPEL
$5,000SUPPORT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
COLORADO MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION
$40,000PROMOTING MOUNTAIN BIKING
EASTERSEALS MICHIGAN
$40,000FAMILY ASSISTANCE
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$40,000CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
MOST HOLY TRINITY SEMINARY
$20,000TRAINING OF ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS
INTERREGNUM FOUNDATION INC
$10,000SUPPORT THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CH
WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE
$5,000SUPPORT OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPT CH
US CHARITABLE GIFT TRUST
$5,000EATON VANCE ADVISERY GIFT TRUST