Dragonfly Fund

The Dragonfly Fund is a private family foundation established in 2020 as the personal giving vehicle of Liesel Litzenburger Meijer — wife of Hendrik (Hank) Meijer, Chairman of Meijer Inc., one of the Midwest's largest retail chains. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan (PO Box 150499), the foundation reflects Liesel's distinct philanthropic identity, which is rooted in Northern Michigan conservation, West Michigan arts and education, and national civic institutions.

The foundation's giving philosophy centers on three intersecting themes: (1) Northern Michigan conservation and land preservation, anchored by Liesel's personal history in the Petoskey and Harbor Springs area where her father co-founded the Little Traverse Conservancy; (2) arts, culture, and literacy in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area; and (3) civic and constitutional institutions of national significance, including presidential foundations and legal history organizations.

The most critical fact for any prospective grantee: Dragonfly Fund does not accept unsolicited applications. The IRS filing shows no application instructions, no grants page URL, and no public portal. The foundation's database profile flags it as preselected-only. All 75+ grants on record were made through the foundation's own proactive identification process. This mirrors the operating model of many private family foundations at this asset level.

First-time organizations should focus entirely on relationship-building rather than proposal submission. The operational contacts are President Susanne Veeneman (who replaced founding President Stacie Behler) and Program Manager David Hooker (who replaced Cara Jones). A secondary staff member, Beth Snyder, earned $13,976 in 2024, suggesting a more active day-to-day program management role. The foundation's sole public contact point is (616) 888-3350.

Repeat grantees define the portfolio: Little Traverse Conservancy (3+ grants, $1.37M+ total), Diatribe Inc. (4 grants), Grand Valley State University (3 grants, $150,000), and National Constitution Center (3 grants, $125,000) all reflect the foundation's preference for sustained institutional partnerships. For organizations hoping to enter Dragonfly Fund's orbit, the most effective approach is demonstrating authentic, specific alignment in one of the three core areas — then cultivating connections through the broader West Michigan philanthropic ecosystem, including The Meijer Foundation, Frey Foundation, and Wege Foundation.

The Dragonfly Fund grew from a nascent vehicle distributing $21,401 in its inaugural year (2021) to a major philanthropic force disbursing $11.5 million in fiscal year 2024. Understanding this trajectory is essential for sizing any outreach.

Year-by-year giving: - 2020: $0 (inception year, $1 in total assets) - 2021: $21,401 total giving; $0 in grants paid - 2022: $471,530 total giving; $391,000 in grants paid - 2023: $1,052,192 total giving; $991,500 in grants paid - 2024: $11,505,765 charitable disbursements (tenfold increase)

The 2022-2023 IRS records — documenting 75 individual grants totaling $1,773,500 — provide the clearest window into the foundation's early grantmaking norms. The average grant in this period was $23,647, ranging from $3,000 (Harbor Springs Area Historical Society) to a cumulative $370,000 to Little Traverse Conservancy across three grants.

Grant tiers (2022-2023 data): - Anchor/flagship: $100,000–$370,000 — Little Traverse Conservancy ($370K cumulative), Grand Valley State University ($150K), National Constitution Center ($125K), Lyric Theatre ($100K), Children's Healing Center ($100K) - Mid-tier: $25,000–$85,000 — Writers Series of Traverse City ($85K), Nature Conservancy Michigan ($50K), Grand Rapids Ballet ($50K), Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation ($50K) - Core community: $5,000–$25,000 — the majority of awards, including historical societies, literacy programs, and local nonprofits - Micro: $3,000–$8,500 — Harbor Springs Historical Society, Friends of Boyne District Library, Boyne City Public Schools

In 2024, the scale shifted fundamentally: a $10 million grant to the Chicago Community Foundation and $1 million to Little Traverse Conservancy now define the foundation's flagship category. The remaining 2024 grants likely fall in the $25,000–$200,000 range based on total disbursements.

Geographic breakdown: 73% Michigan (55 of 75 grants), concentrated in Grand Rapids/West Michigan and Northern Michigan (Boyne City, Harbor Springs, Petoskey). Washington, D.C. organizations received 4 grants (National Constitution Center, Gerald Ford School of Public Policy, Center for US Global Leadership, National Archives Foundation). Vermont, New Mexico, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia each received 1-3 grants.

Purpose types: approximately 60% general operating support, 35% program support, and 5% capital campaigns. The foundation has also funded scholarships (Harvard Kennedy School, $5,000). Annual contributions received from the Meijer family average $11.7 million per year across 2021-2024.

Comparing Dragonfly Fund to similar Michigan family foundations calibrates grant size expectations and informs outreach strategy.

The Dragonfly Fund sits squarely within the cohort of prominent West Michigan family foundations built on concentrated family business wealth. Like The Meijer Foundation (a distinct entity led by other Meijer family members) and Wege Foundation, Dragonfly operates without a public application cycle — a consistent pattern across Michigan's largest family foundations.

At $39.8 million in assets after just four years, Dragonfly is growing faster than any of its peers did at a comparable stage. Its 2024 payout rate (approximately 30% of assets) is unusually high — most foundations target 5-8% — suggesting either a planned front-loaded distribution phase or unusually active grantmaking in the foundation's growth years. Organizations already funded by Frey or Wege are strategically positioned to request introductions to Dragonfly Fund staff, as these foundations share overlapping donor networks and a common Grand Rapids philanthropic culture.

The most significant recent development was the announcement on August 5, 2025 of a transformational gift to the Little Traverse Conservancy (LTC), revealed at the LTC Annual Meeting in Northern Michigan. The gift was made by Liesel Litzenburger Meijer — whose father, Seberon 'Boo' Litzenburger, was a founding figure of LTC approximately 50 years earlier. Executive Director Kieran Fleming declined to disclose the total amount publicly, but IRS 990 data shows approximately $1 million in 2024 LTC grants from Dragonfly Fund. The multi-year nature of the commitment and Meijer's language about supporting LTC 'over the next fifty years and beyond' suggests the total pledge may be substantially larger.

In the same fiscal year, the foundation made a $10 million grant to the Chicago Community Foundation for general operating support — an unusual departure from its Michigan-centric history and the largest single grant in the foundation's existence. This suggests the foundation may be using community foundations as pass-through vehicles to reach organizations beyond its direct relationship network.

A leadership transition was completed by 2024: Susanne Veeneman replaced Stacie Behler as President, and David Hooker replaced Cara Jones as Program Manager. Beth Snyder ($13,976 compensation) appears as a more active day-to-day staff member in the most recent 990-PF. The foundation's total assets grew from $9.98 million (2021) to $39.8 million (2024), with the Meijer family contributing between $10 million and $13.4 million annually — a pace that will sustain continued grantmaking expansion.

Because Dragonfly Fund operates exclusively through invitation-based grantmaking, the following tips address relationship development rather than formal proposal mechanics — which is the only effective strategy for this funder.

Do not submit unsolicited proposals. There is no application portal, no stated deadline, and no public RFP. The foundation is listed as preselected-only in IRS databases. Sending unsolicited materials without prior relationship contact will not result in a grant and may preclude future consideration.

Make first contact through (616) 888-3350. This is the foundation's only publicly available contact. Ask to speak with Program Manager David Hooker or Beth Snyder. A brief, professional introductory call — explaining your organization's mission and why it aligns with the foundation's interests — is the correct first step. Keep it concise; Hooker's 2024 compensation of $618 indicates a very limited-hours role.

Lead with Northern Michigan or Grand Rapids alignment. Liesel Meijer's philanthropic identity is rooted in Northern Michigan conservation (her family's deep connection to the Harbor Springs and Boyne City area) and Grand Rapids arts and education. Organizations in these geographies or sectors have the highest historical funding rate. The Little Traverse Conservancy, Writers Series of Traverse City, Lyric Theatre, and Grand Valley State University are the clearest funded archetypes.

Emphasize civic, constitutional, and literary themes. The National Constitution Center ($125,000 over 3 grants), Gerald R. Ford Foundation, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, American Writers Museum, and Biographers International Organization Foundation reflect a clear intellectual and civic sensibility. Proposals that connect program work to democratic institutions, constitutional history, or literary arts will resonate.

Position for multi-year partnership. The foundation's most-supported organizations have received 3-4 grants each. Frame your organization as a long-term institutional partner, not a one-time grantee. Mention your track record of longevity and impact.

Leverage peer foundation relationships. If your organization has existing relationships with Frey Foundation, Wege Foundation, or The Meijer Foundation — all Grand Rapids peers with overlapping donor networks — request a warm introduction to Dragonfly Fund staff. Relational context dramatically improves the odds of first contact being productive.

Save capital campaign asks for established relationships. The foundation has funded capital campaigns (Children's Healing Center, Grand Rapids Ballet, NW Michigan Habitat for Humanity), but these appear to reflect established relationships. First outreach should focus on program or general operating support.