Dragonfly Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $11,448,000 (2024); $991,500 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (no open application process)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Grant Range: $1,500 - $10,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Michigan; also District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia
• Total Assets: $39,765,763 (2024)
• EIN: 85-4119407

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Contact Details

• No public website
• No public contact details available
• IRS/990 Data: Available via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer at https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/854119407
• Registered Address: Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Overview

The Dragonfly Fund is a private grant-making foundation established in 2021 by Hendrik ("Hank") Meijer, co-chairman and CEO of Meijer Inc., and his wife Liesel Litzenburger Meijer, a novelist, writing educator, and sixth-generation Northern Michigander. The foundation grew rapidly after formation, reaching total assets of approximately $39.8 million by 2024, with charitable disbursements of over $11.4 million that year. The fund reflects the personal philanthropic interests of the Meijer family rather than a corporate or institutional giving program, with a particular emphasis on areas where the founders have deep personal and civic connections: land conservation in Northern Michigan, constitutional and civic education, arts and culture, and broader education. Grantmaking spans a wide geographic footprint across multiple states, though Michigan remains a core focus. The foundation has no public profile, website, or open application process, with grants awarded entirely at the discretion of the founders and their advisors. It files Form 990-PF annually with the IRS, providing the primary public record of its activities.

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Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Dragonfly Fund does not operate named grant programs. All grants are made at trustee discretion. Based on 990-PF data and public information, giving has included:

• Conservation/Environment: Grants to land trusts and nature conservancies, notably including Little Traverse Conservancy ($100,000+ confirmed) and matching campaign contributions to support land protection in Northern Michigan
• Constitutional and Civic Education: Grants to institutions focused on American democracy and civics, including the National Constitution Center ($75,000 confirmed)
• Arts and Culture: Grants to performing arts and literary organizations, including Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre ($100,000 confirmed)
• Education: Grants to colleges, universities, and educational initiatives across multiple states
• Philanthropy/Grantmaking Infrastructure: A portion of grantmaking supports philanthropic intermediaries

Award range varies significantly: from as low as $1,500 to as high as $10,000,000 for individual grants.

Priority Areas

Based on the founders' documented personal interests and known grantees:

• Land conservation and environmental protection, particularly in Northern Michigan
• Constitutional education and American civic institutions
• Arts and cultural organizations, especially literary and performing arts
• Higher education institutions with which the founders have personal connections
• Organizations where the founders hold board positions or have longstanding relationships

What They Don't Fund

• No unsolicited grant applications are accepted
• No support for single individuals
• No support for organizations outside their areas of demonstrated interest
• The foundation does not fund internationally (all known grantees are US-based)

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Governance and Leadership

Hendrik ("Hank") Meijer – Chair Co-chairman and CEO of Meijer Inc., one of America's largest family-owned retail companies. Hank Meijer is an author, historian, and philanthropist who graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in literature and previously worked as a journalist. He serves on the boards of: The National Constitution Center, The Henry Ford, The Kettering Foundation, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation (Vice Chair), Grand Valley University Foundation, Business Leaders for Michigan, and the Food Marketing Institute. He is also a Hauenstein Fellow at Grand Valley State University's Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. His board memberships closely mirror documented Dragonfly Fund grant recipients. Compensation: $0.

Liesel Litzenburger Meijer – Treasurer and Secretary A novelist (author of Now You Love Me and The Widower, published by Random House) and writing educator who has taught at the University of Michigan, Interlochen Arts Academy, and New College. A sixth-generation Northern Michigander born in Petoskey, her father Seberon "Boo" Litzenburger was one of the seven founders of the Little Traverse Conservancy (LTC). She has a deep personal commitment to conservation in Northern Michigan and the arts. Her documented quote from the LTC Dragonfly Fund Match announcement: "I see my generation as the bridge between the past and the future, between our ancestors and our children and grandchildren who will inherit this place, these lands." Compensation: $0.

Susanne Veeneman – President President of the Dragonfly Fund. Also serves as an officer at The Meijer Foundation (the broader Meijer family philanthropic vehicle). Compensation: $0.

Beth Snyder – Program Manager Manages program activities for the fund. Compensation: $13,976 per year.

David Hooker – Program Manager Also serves as Interim Executive Director of The Meijer Foundation. Compensation: $618 per year from the Dragonfly Fund.

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Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Dragonfly Fund does not have a public application process. This is a private family foundation operating entirely at trustee discretion. There is no website, no application portal, no published guidelines, and no mechanism for unsolicited grant applications. Grants are initiated by the founders based on their personal interests, board relationships, and existing connections with nonprofit organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on specific, documented patterns from this funder:

• Board relationships are the primary pathway: Hank Meijer's board memberships directly correlate with confirmed grant recipients. The National Constitution Center (where he is a trustee) received $75,000. Organizations connected to his civic roles are the most likely beneficiaries. Grant seekers should identify whether any of their board members or senior staff have relationships with Hank Meijer through his known board positions (National Constitution Center, The Henry Ford, Kettering Foundation, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Grand Valley University Foundation).

• Northern Michigan conservation organisations have a particular pathway through Liesel Litzenburger Meijer's deep roots in the Little Traverse Conservancy community. Organizations working in the Little Traverse Bay region of Northern Michigan (Emmet County, Charlevoix County) and engaged in land protection may be discoverable through the LTC network.

• Literary and arts institutions with ties to Northern Michigan, the University of Michigan, or the Interlochen Arts Academy community may be discoverable through Liesel's professional networks as a writer and educator.

• Susanne Veeneman and David Hooker also manage The Meijer Foundation, a larger and more established Meijer family philanthropic vehicle. Organizations that have existing relationships with The Meijer Foundation may be more likely to come to the Dragonfly Fund's attention.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. No public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Based on 990 data: 16 awards made in 2024, 35 awards in 2023, and 20 awards in 2022. Given the rapid increase in charitable disbursements from approximately $991,500 (2023) to $11.4M (2024), the foundation significantly expanded its giving scope in 2024.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. No formal application process.

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Application Success Factors

Given the absence of a public application process, success factors are relationship-based rather than procedural:

• Personal connection to the founders is the primary driver: The Dragonfly Fund reflects Hank and Liesel Meijer's personal philanthropic vision. Organisations with pre-existing relationships with either founder, or with institutions where they are involved (Little Traverse Conservancy, National Constitution Center, The Henry Ford, Kettering Foundation, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation), are most likely to receive support.

• Alignment with documented interests is essential: Conservation of natural land in Northern Michigan, constitutional education and American civic institutions, literary arts and performing arts, and higher education with ties to the founders' backgrounds are the clearest thematic matches evident from the grant record.

• General operating support appears to be the preferred grant type: Known grants to Little Traverse Conservancy and Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre were both designated as "general operating support," suggesting the foundation trusts grantees to determine use of funds rather than restricting grants to specific projects.

• Known grantees as examples: Little Traverse Conservancy (Northern Michigan land conservation), Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre (performing arts, Northern Michigan), National Constitution Center (Philadelphia, PA - constitutional education). All three reflect documented personal connections of the founders.

• Geographic spread is broad but Michigan-anchored: While grantees span multiple states, Michigan organisations - particularly those in Northern Michigan - have the strongest documented connection to the founders' interests.

• The significant increase in 2024 giving (from ~$991K to ~$11.4M disbursed) suggests the foundation is actively expanding its philanthropic footprint. Organisations that come to the founders' attention during this growth phase may benefit from this expanded capacity.

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Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application exists: This is a closed, private family foundation. Grant writers cannot apply directly; all engagement must be relationship-based.
• Hank Meijer's board memberships are the clearest indicator of grantee eligibility: Organisations connected to the National Constitution Center, The Henry Ford, Kettering Foundation, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, or Grand Valley State University ecosystems have the most documented pathway.
• Liesel Litzenburger Meijer's Northern Michigan conservation roots offer a secondary pathway: Land trusts, nature conservancies, and arts/literary organisations with ties to Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and the Little Traverse Bay region are well-positioned.
• The Meijer Foundation is a related and more accessible entity: Organisations seeking Meijer family philanthropy may find The Meijer Foundation (EIN: 38-6575227) a more appropriate and potentially more accessible starting point, as it has a more established philanthropic infrastructure under the same senior staff.
• General operating support is the documented grant type: The fund appears to trust its grantees with unrestricted support rather than requiring project-specific proposals.
• The foundation is young and growing rapidly: Founded in 2021 and disbursing $11.4M by 2024, this is an actively expanding philanthropic vehicle. The giving strategy may not yet be fully formalised.
• No direct contact route is publicly available: Outreach, if pursued, should be through mutual board members or professional relationships rather than cold contact.

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References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Dragonfly Fund (EIN: 85-4119407) URL: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/854119407 Accessed: 17 February 2026 Source of: financial data (revenue, assets, expenses, charitable disbursements), officer names and compensation, filing dates, tax-exempt status

2. Instrumentl 990 Report – Dragonfly Fund / Trust Fund Foundation URL: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/trust-fund-foundation Accessed: 17 February 2026 Source of: grant focus areas, geographic distribution of grantees (states), number of awards per year, asset totals, confirmed grant award range ($1,500–$10,000,000)

3. Cause IQ – Trust Fund Foundation (EIN: 85-4119407) URL: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/trust-fund-foundation,854119407/ Accessed: 17 February 2026 Source of: specific named grantees (Little Traverse Conservancy $100,000, Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre $100,000, National Constitution Center $75,000), grant type (general operating support), founding year (2021)

4. Little Traverse Conservancy – The Dragonfly Fund Gift URL: https://landtrust.org/dragonfly/ Accessed: 17 February 2026 Source of: Liesel Litzenburger Meijer's connection to the Dragonfly Fund, matching campaign details, direct quote from Liesel Meijer, her father's role as LTC co-founder

5. Crain's Grand Rapids Business – Hank Meijer Grand Rapids 200 (2023) URL: https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/hank-meijer-grand-rapids-200-2023/ Accessed: 17 February 2026 Source of: Hank Meijer's board memberships and civic roles

6. Grand Valley State University – Hank Meijer profile URL: https://www.gvsu.edu/giving/hank-meijer-170.htm Accessed: 17 February 2026 Source of: Hank Meijer's board memberships, Hauenstein Center role, biographical details

7. Wikipedia – Hank Meijer URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Meijer (accessed via search results) Accessed: 17 February 2026 Source of: biographical background, connection to Liesel Litzenburger, board roles

8. Liesel Litzenburger – Wikipedia / Ann Arbor Observer / Penguin Random House URLs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liesel_Litzenburger; https://annarborobserver.com/liesel-litzenburger/; https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/69763/liesel-litzenburger/ Accessed: 17 February 2026 Source of: Liesel's literary career, Northern Michigan background, conservation involvement, teaching history