Stewart and Lenore Kniff Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, and the filing gives no route beyond that, so a cold proposal is unlikely to succeed and a warm introduction is the realistic first step.
- Its recorded grants went to churches, Christian schools and ministries, social-service organisations, hospice and other health providers, an animal sanctuary and humane societies, but the filings describe every grant only as charitable, so no narrower field is stated.
- About 8 in 10 of its 60 grants to organisations fell between $5,000 and $60,000, with a median of $10,000, so that is a typical range rather than a ceiling, since its largest grant was $130,000.
- In its latest filing, 56% of grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in one of the two earlier filings, so a new organisation should not assume a first-time grant.
- Grants were concentrated in Michigan, but no geographic focus is stated, so an organisation elsewhere should not assume it is excluded; organisations that would apply without an invitation are the ones the foundation's stated method rules out.
Overview
Stewart and Lenore Kniff Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Sparta, MI.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Recorded grants went to a varied group of charitable organisations, including churches, Christian schools and ministries, social-service organisations, hospice and other health providers, an animal sanctuary, and humane societies. The filings describe every grant purpose only as charitable, so they do not establish a narrower stated funding field. Grants were concentrated in Michigan, with smaller amounts reaching organisations in other states. The filing says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; it gives no application route beyond preselection.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Michigan.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; the filing provides no further application instructions.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 56% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 60 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 56% of grant dollars went to organisations Stewart and Lenore Kniff Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 36 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Holland Home · Charitable$130,0002024 tax year
- Mission India · Charitable$85,0002024 tax year
- Lamont Christian School · Charitable$75,0002024 tax year
- Seventh Reformed Church · Charitable$75,0002024 tax year
- Alano Club of Kent County · Charitable$75,0002024 tax year
- DSC Great Lakes Regional Sporting Club · Charitable$50,0002024 tax year
- Hunt 2 Heal · Charitable$50,0002024 tax year
- Set Free Ministries · Charitable$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Thomas Littin — Treasurer
- Lynn Olree — Secretary
- C Andrew Edwards — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $39,667 | $30,000 | $480,342 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $311,267 | $263,500 | $8,381,218 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,641,984 | $1,000,000 | $19,996,885 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Stewart and Lenore Kniff Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Sparta, MI
Applying to Stewart and Lenore Kniff Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Sparta, MI