Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The LeBel Foundation

The LeBel Foundation is a US private foundation, recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization, created in September 2021 by Steve and Marge LeBel to expand and systematize their charitable giving. Based in Muskegon, Michigan, the foundation focuses its grantmaking on animal rescues, animal shelters and related organizations, with a geographic emphasis on Western Michigan and the broader state when appropriate. It also supports a wider range of qualified charities on a case‑by‑case basis through its general and donor‑designated funds.

The foundation operates an annual, competitive grant cycle primarily for animal shelters and rescue organizations. Each year it sends grant invitations to organizations with which it has prior contact and also considers unsolicited proposals from eligible Michigan organizations. Funding priorities are clearly defined: purchasable goods and equipment, veterinary services such as spay/neuter, and building repairs or code‑compliance work related to sanitation, safety and environmental conditions. Requests for routine pet supplies are explicitly a low priority, and salaries are not eligible.

Typical grants are capped at a preferred maximum of about 2,000 USD, with a stated preference for projects where the foundation can cover most of the need rather than a small portion of a larger campaign. All recipients must be qualified 501(c)(3) charities or public entities and must provide a narrative explaining the importance of the request, their mission and service area, and full organizational contact details including EIN for verification.

The LeBel Foundation’s structured funding cycle aims to send invitations by mid‑September, receive applications by the end of October, and issue funding decisions and awards by the end of November. Time‑sensitive proposals outside this cycle can still be discussed directly with the foundation. Following a 2024 board decision, all grantees are required to submit documentation—receipts, photos or other evidence—showing that funds were used as intended. Failure to report can make organizations ineligible for at least two years, reinforcing accountability and impact tracking.

Several funds underpin the foundation’s grantmaking. The General Fund supports a broad range of charitable causes, including animal welfare in Michigan. The Jeff Stibitz Fund emphasizes animal rescue, shelter needs and local libraries. The Steve and Marge LeBel Fund, linked with the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, supports diverse charities in the Muskegon area. The Larry LeBel Fund, a donor‑designated fund, targets unmet needs of veterans, law‑enforcement personnel and their families in Michigan. Together, these vehicles allow the foundation to address animal welfare, community services, veterans’ support and other local priorities.

Beyond financial grants, The LeBel Foundation offers free consulting to community organizations to help them become more strategic, financially stable and effective in service delivery. The foundation publishes reports, including annual funding summaries and donation history, to document its activities. Its long‑term goal is to build sufficient assets and strategies so the foundation can continue providing meaningful, well‑targeted grants long after the lifetimes of its founders.