Past Grants
December 2011
- South West Area Neigbors, Area Specific Plan, received $10,000 for area specific planning along Fulton Street and Seward Avenue corridors.Economic Prosperity
- Arbor Circle Corporation, Perspective 21, received $100,000 to provide school and home based intervention for families with risk factors for child abuse or neglect.Healthy People
- Bethany Christian Services received $80,000 to fund two years of start up work with medical providers and newly arrived refugees to bring about sustainable change in the medical treatment of refugees living in the Greater Grand Rapids Area.Healthy People
- Friends of Grand Rapids Parks received $253,825 to significantly increase public engagement in support of the City's urban forest through a citizen inventory, web resource center and public events to achieve a 40% tree canopy goal.Healthy Ecosystems
- Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, Inc. received $100,000 to help former prisoners transition into their new lives first with workplace training and a meaningful paid work experience; and ultimately with job placement and follow up.Economic Prosperity
- Grand Valley State University received $50,000 for mini-grants averaging $500 to be provided to eligible congregations and faith-based organizations to encourage them to participate in the 2012 Year of Interfaith Understanding.Social Enrichment
- West Michigan Sports Commission received $150,000 to construct a high quality, 12-field youth baseball and softball complex that will open the door to hundreds of youth and amateur competitions in the coming years.Economic Prosperity
October 2011
- First Steps Kent, Sustaining the Children's Healthcare Access Program, received $125,000 to support the expansion of the Children's Healthcare Access Program (CHAP) to improve the health outcomes of publicly insured children and the quality and coordination of healthcare services.Healthy People
- Grand Action Foundation, Grand Rapids Urban Market, received $500,000 to support construction of the Grand Rapids Urban Market.Economic Prosperity
- Steepletown Neighborhood Services, Plaza Comunitaria, received $20,000 To enable Spanish-speaking adults to complete their academic credentials and increase their opportunities for employment.Economic Prosperity
September 2011
- The Salvation Army, Adolescent Obesity Education Program, received $7,500 for a 10-week adolescent obesity education program.Healthy People
August 2011
- Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, ArtPrize's ArtCation Education Days, received $10,000 to support ARTcation Days during ArtPrizeSocial Enrichment
- ArtServe Michigan, Inc., Online Data System, received $10,000 to develop an online data system for arts and cultural organizations and position data to demonstrate economic impact of the sector.Social Enrichment
- Guiding Light Ministries, Workforce Development Manager for Heartside, received $5,000 to hire a Workforce Development Manager for the Heartside area.Economic Prosperity
- City of Grand Rapids, Police and Fire Transformation Study, received $50,000 to identify efficiencies in police/fire services in three communities that could be implemented by each department and to develop a model for sharing services across the communities.Social Enrichment
- Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, City's Tree Canopy, received $27,500 to develop recommendations for updating City tree ordinances, policies and regulations to support attainment of the City's tree canopy goals set forth in the Green Grand Rapids plan.Healthy Ecosystems
- John Ball Zoological Society, Restore the Roar, received $150,000 toward its $12 million fundraising effort to expand Zoo exhibits, including a funicular to transport guests, exhibit space for Amur Tigers and Grizzly Bears and a new “treehouse” building that will be available for special events. Community Foundation dollars will fund educational and enrichment aspects of the two animal exhibits, such as the development of educational curricula for field trips and other youth and community programs.Social Enrichment
- Steepletown Neighborhood Services, Kent County Renter's Alliance, received $42,000 to forge a collaborative effort that seeks to engage tenants as building blocks to larger, systemic, housing advocacy work.Social Enrichment
July 2011
- ArtPrize, ArtPrize's ArtCation Education Days, received $10,000 to provide students the opportunity to experience ArtPrize through ArtCation.Social Enrichment
- West Michigan Strategic Alliance, Nonprofit Internship Initiative, received $10,000 for targeted outreach to nonprofit organizations in West Michigan to assist them in the development of internship programs and opportunities.Economic Prosperity
June 2011
- American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan, Western Michigan Civic Engagement Project, received $30,000 to engage local leaders and policy-makers on civil rights issues.Social Enrichment
- Grand Rapids Public Schools, Harrison Park Partnership, received $250,000 for year-one support of a Partnership Pipeline at Harrison Park School that will ensure a Pre-K-12 school culture that promotes post-secondary learning for all students.Academic Achievement
- Grand Valley State University, Hispanic Business Service Initiative, received $85,500 to bring a full spectrum of business resources to the under-served Hispanic business community in West Michigan.Economic Prosperity
- Kent County Land Bank Authority, Property Acquisition and Renovation/Rehabilitation, received $80,000 to acquire and dispose of vacant and abandoned property in order to prevent urban sprawl and preserve neighborhoods.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Kent County Parks Department, M-6 Trail Bridgelink, received $100,000 to construct a bridge across Division Ave to provide a needed, safe central link between the east and west segments of the M-6 Trail.Healthy Ecosystems
- Project C.O.O.L., Summer Internship Program for Youth, received $75,000 to provide young people with job training experiences to develop skills in selecting and maintaining a career.Economic Prosperity
- Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited, Coldwater Inventory and Strategic Plan, received $84,000 to produce a coldwater inventory and strategic plan for Kent County and clean up and restore a public access portion of Cedar Creek.Healthy Ecosystems
May 2011
- Meijer Good Schools received $120,000 to recognize three Grand Rapids Public elementary schools by the Meijer Good Schools for Grand Rapids Program, which highlights area elementary schools demonstrating measurable success. Burton Elementary, Coit Creative Arts Academy and Shawmut Hills Elementary each received $40,000.Academic Achievement
- Creston Neighborhood Association, Corridor Improvement District Designation, received $10,000 Creation of a Corridor Improvement District and approval by the Grand Rapids City Commission, leading to an increase in new businesses in the District.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Summer in the City/STEPS, received $3,000 to offer an eight-day urban day camp program designed to teach independence, transition and life skills to youth with visual impairment ages 14 – 18 years old through practical experience, mentoring and peer support.Social Enrichment
- Baxter Community Center, 3.0 Gets to Go, received $3,500 to provide the opportunity for students with a 3.0 or higher to participate in summer trips to Canada.Social Enrichment
- Calvin College, Engaging Minority Youth in the Sciences, received $3,500 to engage minority youth in a series of chemistry experiences at Calvin College that will help enhance scientific enthusiasm and competency, reduce anxiety toward science, and plant the seed that college is a desirable and attainable goal.Academic Achievement
- Certification of the Incarceration, Helping-At-Risks-Youth (H.A.R.T.), received $3,500 to provide troubled teens/ youth from the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center with skills to change a negative beginning to a positive reentry back into society.Social Enrichment
- Comprehensive Therapy Center, Creating Teen Champions - Therapy and Fun, received $3,805 to build community stewards at Therapy and Fun by providing more training and program improvements for teen volunteers so they are better able to help children with disabilities in their jobs as therapy aides.Social Enrichment
- Grand Rapids Track Club Summer Youth Program, GRTC/GRPS Elementary Track and Cross Country, received $4,000 to provide mileage clubs, cross country and track and field programs for the kids in the elementary schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools system.Healthy People
- Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association, GRWSA's JR. Wheelchair Sports Camp, received $5,000 to purchase equipment (sports wheelchairs, handcycles, hockey sleds) for the Jr. Wheelchair Sports Camp which serves 60+ kids with physical disabilities to explore their opportunities to participate in a variety of sports as their able-bodied peers do.Healthy People
- Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities, Exploring Our World - Summer Arts Program, received $6,000 to sponsor summer arts programming that would include dance, theater, visual arts (including clay), and music instruction for youth in the Grandville Avenue neighborhood.Social Enrichment
- Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, Supporting Our Leaders (SOL) - Cuidate, received $5,000 to compare the effectiveness of Cuídate (Spanish for "Take Care of Yourself") and "Cuídate Plus" culturally based curricula to reduce HIV sexual risk behaviors and increase high school completion rates among local Latino youth.Healthy People
- Kids' Food Basket, Kids Helping Kids, received $5,000 to allow children receiving sack suppers from Kids' Food Basket to actively participate in the process, while fostering life skills with students from the Hispanic Center and Upward Bound programs who will facilitate the sessions.Healthy People
- Metro Health Hospital Foundation, Family Bonds: Stronger than Cancer!, received $3,000 to provide emotional support to children and youth struggling with stress, fear, and behavioral issues due to a family member battling cancer.Social Enrichment
- Other Way Ministries, Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S.) Program, received $3,000 to support the employment of 12 teens and 1 teen assistant supervisor over the summer, and provide them with valuable work experience as well as life-skills training empowering them for a brighter future.Economic Prosperity
- Wedgwood Christian Services, Summer Camping and Youth Activity Program, received $1,500 to support camping experiences and summer recreational/wellness activities for approximately 100 young people from Wedgwood's Residential Programs in the summer of 2011.Social Enrichment
April 2011
- Kendall College of Art & Design of Ferris State University received $200,000 to renovate the historic Federal Building to provide exhibition areas, classrooms, faculty offices, and administrative space for the Kendall College of Art and Design.Social Enrichment
- Midtown Neighborhood Association received $150,000 to improve and expand the infrastructure of the Fulton Street Farmer's Market, a major source of fresh, locally-produced and -sourced food in a low-moderate income neighborhood in the center of Grand Rapids.Economic Prosperity
- Kent County received $25,000 to conduct a multi-jurisdictional study of the park and recreational systems and identify, evaluate, and propose new models to maintain these services.Social Enrichment
February 2011
- Corporation for Supportive Housing, Supportive Housing for Chronic Homeless Population, received $127,000 to develop a permanent supportive housing facility specifically designed to serve our community's most vulnerable chronically homeless population.Healthy People
- Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes Inc. received $35,000 to add live video feeds so that residents with disabilities or mobility issues can view activities on their in-room television, and feel more connected to the Veterans Home community.Social Enrichment
- Access Camps received $125,000 to provide Good Growth Experiences to young people in Grand Rapids. We awarded $125,000 this year in Access Camps Grants to area summer camps to provide scholarships and transportation.Academic Achievement
January 2011
- West Grand Neighborhood Organization, Area Specific Plan, received $10,000 to develop an Area Specific Plan for the Leonard Street Corridor in the West Grand Neighborhood of Grand Rapids.Vibrant Neighborhoods
December 2010
- Disability Advocates of Kent County, Best-Highest-Use, received $100,000 for "Best-Highest-Use", a new program designed to support people with disabilities in obtaining employment that utilizes their full potential and skill set and to meet employer needs for candidates with these skills.Economic Prosperity
- Fair Food Network, Double Up Food Bucks, received $150,000 to encourage healthy food choices and support the local economy by providing incentives for families utilizing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase fresh produce at local farmers markets.Healthy People
- Kent Intermediate School District, Kent School Services Network, received $150,000 to coordinate school district resources, human service resources, and health resources in order to provide on-site support that can make sure students have the necessary emotional, social, and mental resources to reach their full potential.Academic Achievement
- Arbor Circle Corporation, Perspective 21 Prevention, received $100,000 to provide in-home, prevention services to families with children ages 18 and younger, who have been identified as at risk for child abuse and/or neglect.Healthy People
- Grand Valley State University, Community Research Institute, received $350,000 to support community-base research and data driven decisions by non-profit organizations in Kent County.Economic Prosperity
November 2010
- Good Classrooms Minigrants 2010-2011 received $129,850 . Click here to view a complete list of 2010-2012 Good Classrooms Minigrant winners.Academic Achievement
October 2010
- Gays in Faith Together (GIFT), GIFT Allies: Better Together, received $10,000 to convene a group of advocates and allies from churches, nonprofits, education, health and business and other professions to develop a consolidated, welcoming approach to increasing inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in greater Grand Rapids.Social Enrichment
August 2010
- Michigan Migrant Legal Assistance Project, Assisting migrant victims of domestic abuse, received $100,000 to support co-counsel program (immigration attorney and family law attorney) to assist migrant worker victims of domestic violence.Healthy People
- Women's Resource Center, Fresh Start Program, received $58,150 to provide career and life skill development, improve access to education, health care, and community-based services for unemployed and underemployed women.Economic Prosperity
- Literacy Center of West Michigan, Blueprint for Literacy, received $25,000 to increase the number of students served, offer technology based curriculum, provide more community topical literacy workshops and classes.Economic Prosperity
- The SOURCE, Health Field Collaborative, received $30,000 to create a collaborative relationship with health care employers that focuses on retention, training, and career advancement for lower-wage employees and family members.Economic Prosperity
June 2010
- Community Rebuilders, Housing Services Center, received $200,000 to support the organizational capacity and mission of a collaborative partnership between Community Rebuilders, The Salvation Army Booth Family Services, and The Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness.Healthy People
- Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids, Wealthy Heights Revitalization Project, received $150,000 to renovate four homes and construct six new affordable, energy-efficient homes as part of a collaborative revitalization effort in the Wealthy Heights neighborhood.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- First Steps Kent, Children's Healthcare Access Program Expansion, received $250,000 to support the expansion of the Children's Healthcare Access Program (CHAP) to improve the health outcomes of publicly insured children and the quality and coordination of healthcare services.Healthy People
- Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, Raise Awareness about the Arts in Grand Rapids, received $140,000 to raise awareness about arts and cultural offerings in Grand Rapids and West Michigan to increase attendance and participation.Social Enrichment
- Grand Rapids Community College Foundation, Health Careers Facility, received $375,000 to assist with the renovation of Cook Hall on the Grand Rapids Community College main campus to increase the number of students proficient in work skills related to health careers.Economic Prosperity
- Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, Community Foreclosure Coordination, received $55,000 to continue the work of a Community Foreclosure Coordinator to increase awareness of services available to homeowners facing foreclosure.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- The Salvation Army, Coalition Systems Change Phase III, received $100,000 to support the implementation of a communications plan, develop the next layer of infrastructure for systems change and support the development of 40-50 new Permanent Supportive Housing units for the greater Grand Rapids area.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Grand Action, Grand Rapids Urban Market Pre-development, received $150,000 to support pre-development activities for the Grand Rapids Urban Market, including architecture and engineering services, tax credit planning and syndication, legal fees, and project management.Economic Prosperity
- Kent County, South Division Green Redevelopment Plan, received $50,000 to create a green redevelopment plan along the proposed South Division Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor and to leverage federal resources available to area business owners in order to create new capital for businesses, building improvements and employment of sustainable business practices.Economic Prosperity
- Spectrum Health Foundation, Youth Tobacco Prevention Program, received $75,000 for continuation of school-based youth tobacco prevention programs which includes "NicoTEAM" and Teens Against Tobacco Use "TATU."Healthy People
- Van Andel Research Institute, Development of Anti-Cancer Drug, received $60,000 to identify additional research dollars to help develop anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer patients.Healthy People
May 2010
- Cannonsburg Challenged Ski Association, You Ski! I Ski! Bi-Ski!, received $3,500.00 to enable paraplegic/quadraplegic children to participate in a winter sport that would otherwise be unattainable.
- Certification of the Incarceration, Helping At-Risk Teens (H.A.R.T), received $3,000 to provide teens with necessary skills to change a negative beginning to a positive future.
- Child and Family Resource Council, Resources Against Violent Encounters (RAVE), received $3,000 to continue to build RAVE's infrastructure and increase program capacity to provide relationship violence prevention programming to youth aged 12-18 in Kent County, Michigan.
- Children's Assessment Center, KIDZ Have Rights Body-safety Program, received $5,000 to teach body safety and sexual-abuse prevention to children in Kent County, seeking to reduce the number of children who are victims of sexual abuse and increase the number of children who report current and past sexual abuse.
- Eastown Community Association, Beyond the Corner, received $3,000 to target 'at risk' youth, ages 6-12, who live in an area of frequent crime and gang activity, and to engage these children in healthy, positive activities to get them off of the streets and create a safer neighborhood.
- Girls Choral Academy, Grandville Avenue Girls Choirs, received $2,000 to support the Grandville Avenue Girls Choirs program, a choir program in urban southwest Grand Rapids for at risk, underserved girls.
- Grand Rapids Public Schools, Academic Games Summer Program, received $1,800 to establish a creative summer program to enrich the knowledge of middle and high school students in the areas of mathematics, set theory, language arts, history, and propaganda.
- Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, 8th Grade Gang Prevention Transition Project, received $5,000 to lead interactive gang prevention workshops with 8th graders transitioning into high school to assist them in overcoming fear, resisting gang influence and helping them to achieve personal and academic success.
- Holy Name of Jesus Parish, High School Youth Group, received $500 to provide workshops for our teens on “real life” issues such as Gang Prevention, as well as social and recreational events aimed at fostering a sense of community and providing constructive activities for area teens.
- Kent / Michigan State University Extension, Exploration Days Pre-College Summer Program, received $1,575 to enable youth who participate in the Mizizi Maji Mentoring Program of Baxter Community Center to attend a summer pre-college program.
- Kids' Food Basket, Kids Helping Kids, received $3,000 to allow children receiving sack suppers from Kids' Food Basket to actively participate in the process, while fostering life skills with students from GRPS Upward Bound program who will facilitate the sessions.
- Oakdale Neighbors, Read-it book club 2010, received $3,100 to improve recreational reading for youth 3rd grade through 12th grade.
- Other Way Ministries, Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S.), received $2,500 to support the employment of 12 teens and 1 teen assistant supervisor for this coming summer, and provide them with valuable work experience as well as life-skills training empowering them for a brighter future.
- Rescue Youth, Rescue Youth 2010-2011 Program, received $3,000 to operate a firefighter mentorship program for another year, accepting additional 6th graders to the program.
- Specialized Language Development Center, Language Links, received $5,000 to target at- risk 1st-3rd grade free or reduced lunch students who are significantly below grade level in reading, writing and spelling but do not qualify for special education services.
- United Methodist Community House, The Youth Connection Project, received $5,000 to motivate low-income inner-city youths to explore the possibilities of higher education, by providing them with the skills and resources to plan for their future.
April 2010
- Local First Educational Foundation, Building Regional Hub Capacity, received $10,000 to increase organizational capacity to serve as a local and regional hub for support of local businesses.Economic Prosperity
- Grand Rapids Community Media Center, Neighborhood News Bureaus, received $73,870 to continue the work and development of the "citizen journalism" project.Social Enrichment
- Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan, Perspective 21!, received $50,000 to reduce and prevent incidents of abuse and neglect by offering to families professional counseling services in their own homes.Healthy People
February 2010
- Catherine's Health Center, Opening Doors Capital Campaign, received $100,000 to increase the number of patients served by relocating the medical facility to a new space.Healthy People
- Kent/Michigan State University Extension, Preserving Kent County's Prime Farmland, received $300,000 to preserve 2,250 acres of prime and unique farmland in Kent County over the next three years.Healthy Ecosystems
- Kent Intermediate School District/Kent School Services Network, Kent School Services Network, received $150,000 to continue the work of a school-based program that will coordinate and deliver health and human services to students and their families.Academic Achievement
- Kent Intermediate School District, High School Study Relating to Michigan Merit Curriculum Requirements, received $50,000 to conduct a study of students defined as at-risk of not graduating from high school because of their failure to complete the requirements of the Michigan Merit Curriculum.Academic Achievement
- Midtown Neighborhood Association, Fulton Street Farmers Market Design, received $35,000 towards fees associated with design improvements to the Fulton Street Farmers Market layout.Economic Prosperity
December 2009
- City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Tree Inventory, received $9,000 to collect sample tree data to assist with the development of an urban forestry plan.Healthy Ecosystems
- Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, Community Research Institute, received $350,000 to support community-base research and data driven decisions by non-profit organizations in Kent County.Social Enrichment
- Grand Valley State University, SBTDC's Grand Rapids FastTrac Initiative, received $75,000 for an initiative that provides an opportunity for dislocated workers and others to obtain the knowledge and entrepreneurial skills needed to launch a successful small business.Economic Prosperity
- Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan, Integrated Pest Management for Asthma, received $54,595 to support a program that addresses environmental conditions that both cause and trigger asthma.Healthy People
- Kent County Department of Human Services, Earned Income Tax Credit, received $2,268 to extend access to DHS customers for tax guidance with a goal of leveraging Earned Income Tax Credit dollars for eligible Kent County residents.Economic Prosperity
- Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund, Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund, received $50,000 to support local nonprofits with technical assistance funds.Social Enrichment
- Project C.O.O.L., Youth Internship Job Program, received $75,000 to support a summer internship program for area youth in the Greater Grand Rapids Area.Economic Prosperity
- St. John's Home, Merger with D.A. Blodgett for Children., received $75,000 to support a merger of two private child welfare agencies in order to provide efficiences to whom they serve.Healthy People
November 2009
- Good Classrooms Minigrants 2009-2010 received $116,375 Click here to view a complete list of 2009-2010 Good Classrooms Minigrant winners.Academic Achievement
October 2009
- Arbor Circle Corporation, Prevention Services for At-risk Youth, received $50,000 to provide in-home, prevention services to families with children ages 18 and younger, who have been identified as at risk for child abuse and/or neglect.Healthy People
- Cherry Street Health Services, Physical and Behavioral Health Integrated Health Care Facility, received $250,000 to establish a fully integrated health care facility, providing both physical and behavioral health care services.Healthy People
- Kent County Michigan, Open Space & Agriculture/Farmland Preservation Perception Survey, received $8,350 to conduct a baseline survey of perceptions and attitudes about open space and agriculture/farmland preservation to assist in developing a long-term strategy for awareness and education.Healthy Ecosystems
- LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corp.), Rehabilitation of Commercial Businesses, received $50,000 to give incentives for the physical rehabilitation of targeted commercial geographies outside of downtown with interior build-outs and commercial technical assistance.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan, Connect Women Without Health Care Coverage to Plan First!, received $20,000 to increase its capacity to connect women without health care coverage to Plan First!, an untapped government fund in Michigan for reproductive health care.Healthy People
- Triangle Foundation, Toward a Culture of Inclusion, received $8,000 To improve our effectiveness at facilitating transformative change toward a culture of inclusion in West Michigan.Social Enrichment
August 2009
- Arts Marketing Strategy received $150,000 for a cross-marketing strategy to increase awareness, attendance and contributions for local arts institutions amid the recession.Social Enrichment
- Community Experience Partnership received $500,000 to engage experience adults in ending homelessness.Healthy People
- Grand Valley State University received $117,000 to operate and expand Community Research Institute capacity and, in partnership with the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, develop a community accountability system.Social Enrichment
June 2009
- Grand Rapids Christian Schools Foundation received $50,000 to increase and preserve the greenspace and renovation of Pontiac Park.Healthy Ecosystems
- Fair Housing Center of West Michigan received $52,400 to continue the work of a Community Foreclosure Coordinator to increase awareness of services available to homeowners facing foreclosure.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Family Outreach Center received $100,000 for placing children at risk of abuse and neglect with relatives, avoiding traditional foster care placement.Healthy People
- Hope Network received $75,000 to prepare and place disabled high school students in competitive employment where they will retain their jobs for at least one year.Economic Prosperity
- KISD received $75,000 for students to identify the next steps to implement their school action plan and to enhance diversity and tolerance in their school.Social Enrichment
May 2009
- Arbor Circle Corporation, Day Programming, received $4,000 to provide services to youth ages 12-20 who are not regularly attending school due to issues of homelessness, running away, suspension and/or expulsion with the goal of reconnecting these youth to educational goals such as high school or GED completion which is critical to support a successful transition into adulthood.
- Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Summer in the City/STEPS, received $3,000 to offer an eight day urban day camp program designed to teach independence, transition and life skills to youth with visual impairment ages 14 – 18 years old through practical experience, mentoring and peer support.
- Camp Fire USA West Michigan Council, Peer Proof, received $1,270 to deliver peer proof curriculum to 4th-8th grade youth in our summer program.
- Child and Family Resource Council, Resources Against Violent Encounters (RAVE), received $3,000 to determine the most efficient delivery methods for the RAVE program in its effort to provide relationship violence prevention programming to youth ages 12-18 in Kent County, Michigan.
- Christian Camps for Inner City Youth DBA: Camp Tall Turf, The Roosevelt Wave, received $2,750 to fund teens from three organizations to take part in a 4 week leadership and community development program in the Roosevelt Park Community on the southwest side of Grand Rapids.
- City of Kentwood, Scholarship Enhancement Fund, received $1,500 to enhance the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department scholarship program that assists youth who can't afford to participate in programs, activities or events.
- Comprehensive Therapy Center, Community Teens Collaborate at Therapy and Fun, received $3,660 to support a teen mentoring program at Therapy and Fun, where teen volunteers work along side professional therapists helping at-risk children with disabilities to walk, talk, learn and play.
- Grand Rapids Children's Museum, Connor’s Friends: An Evening for Children with Autism, received $2,800 to partner with the Autism Society of Kent County, the Baldwin Foundation, and concerned community members to launch the Connor's Friends: An Evening for Children and Families Affected by Autism.
- Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities, Art in the Neighborhood, received $4,000 to sponsor art and pottery programs at the Cook Arts Center for children in the Grandville Avenue neighborhood.
- Living In Fulfillment Everyday Inc, Life Connect, received $5,000 to provide positive parenting skills, emotional support and to help build self esteem for young ladies ages 12-17. Also to provide love, support, and encouragement and to help equip them with the necessary life a skill to lead productive lives in their community.
- New City Neighbors, Breaktime Bakery, received $4,000 to purchase needed resources that will aid in the function of the bakery and the instruction of job-skills.
- Oakdale Neighbors, Read-it book club, received $3,100 to improve recreational reading for youth 3rd grade through 12th grade.
- Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan, Something to Say, received $4,800 to select, train, and mentor teen advocates who will be informed and articulate voices for comprehensive sexuality education at the local and state levels.
- Specialized Language Development Center, Language Links, received $3,500 to target 1st -3rd grade free or reduced lunch students who are significantly below grade level in reading, writing, and spelling but do not qualify for special education services.
- St. John's Home, Success in School, received $5,000 to help teenagers who were abused or neglected by their parents become more competent and confident students.
- Strategic Outreach Services, SOS Kids, received $2,000 to steer at-risk youth ages ten to fifteen away from gang involvement and criminal activity by using the art and discipline of dance, including ballet, hip-hop and jazz.
- United Methodist Community House, The Youth Connection Pilot Project, received $5,000 to motivate low-income inner-city youths to explore the possibilities of higher education, by providing them with the skills and resources to plan for their future.
April 2009
- Brown-Hutcherson Ministries, Project COOL, received $75,000 to provide young people with job training experiences to develop skills in selecting and maintaining a career.Economic Prosperity
- Campus Elementary School - Meijer Good School received $47,000 for a strong three-year turnaround led by parents, teachers and students who shared a singular focus: “average is not the goal and failure is not an option”.Academic Achievement
- Clancy Street Ministries, NOBL Endeavor, received $10,000 to develop and enact a community-supported Neighborhood Area Specific Plan to guide and accelerate the redevelopment of the Belknap neighborhood.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Coit Creative Arts Academy - Meijer Good School received $23,000 for being a highly inclusive and creative community, with high expectations for learning.Academic Achievement
- Palmer Elementary School - Meijer Good School received $44,000 for demonstrating how the two cornerstones of character education and high expectations work together to create a supportive, cohesive and enriching learning environment.Academic Achievement
- Shawmut Hills Elementary School - Meijer Good School received $25,000 for its high levels of student achievement – consistently among the best in the district. The school is also recognized for its high degree of parental involvement.Academic Achievement
February 2009
- Community Media Center received $48,845 to establish a neighborhood "citizen journalism" bureau in four city locations, creating a technology framework for community distribution of local news.Social Enrichment
- Health Intervention Services received $40,000 to add an urgent care clinic two half days per week for community non-insured patients who have immediate medical needs.Healthy People
- Home Repair Services of Kent County received $25,000 to continue the support of the Foreclosure Intervention Program.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan received $50,000 to offer prevention services to families at risk of experiencing child abuse and neglect.Healthy People
- The Literacy Center of West Michigan received $50,000 to increase the number of students served, offer technology based curriculum, provide more community workshops and leadership to the literacy agenda of the community.Economic Prosperity
December 2008
- Arbor Circle received $50,000 to provide in-home, prevention services to families with children ages 18 and younger, who have been identified as at risk for child abuse and/or neglect.Healthy People
- Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids received $75,000 to help with the acquisition and rehabilitation of a residence changing it from transitional housing to permanent supportive housing for women who were victims of domestic violence.Healthy People
- Neighborhood Ventures received $10,000 to implement the plan created under a 2006 GRCF grant to establish a Corridor Improvement District and to develop a framework for a Business Improvement District in Uptown.Vibrant Neighborhoods
October 2008
- Disability Advocates of Kent County received $75,000 to expand the community's knowledge and support for public transportation options.Economic Prosperity
- Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Encore Program, Encore Program, received $250,000 to ensure that Kent County fully leverages the energy and talents of experienced adults in order to address critical community issues.Social Enrichment
- Heart of West Michigan United Way received $5,000 towards the Heartside Fund which provides financial assistance to downtown and Heartside residents for basic human needs for which there is no health or service program available.Healthy People
- KISD, Kent School Services Network, received $486,000 to continue the work of a school-based program that will coordinate and deliver health and human services to students and their families.Academic Achievement
- Mel Trotter Ministries received $5,000 towards the Public Inebriate Program which provides a safe alternative to the hospital emergency room for intoxicated individuals.Healthy People
- The Right Place received $500,000 to accelerate the commercialization of products, processes and services in West Michigan.Economic Prosperity
August 2008
- (NCCS) Camp Newaygo received $100,000 to transform camp into a year-round facility.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- GRACE (GR Area Center for Ecumenism) received $100,000 to support the community's effort to end homelessness and promote permanent housing.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities, Inc. received $30,000 towards the cost of constructing a library in the Grandville Avenue neighborhood.Social Enrichment
- Land Conservancy of West MI received $125,000 for permanent land protection and to increase the organization's long-term sustainability.Healthy Ecosystems
- Rogers Heights Christian Reformed Church received $25,000 to provide outreach and intervention services for at-risk youth in the City of Wyoming.Healthy People
- Wedgwood Christian Services received $150,000 to providing funding for construction of a new building for Lighthouse Academy in order to expand its program.Academic Achievement
June 2008
- Aberdeen Elementary School - Meijer Good School received $38,500 for the accepting atmosphere students feel when they enter the building.Academic Achievement
- Alexander Elementary School - Meijer Good School received $24,750 for generating improved test scores.Academic Achievement
- Brown-Hutcherson Ministries received $25,000 for a summer intern program for inner city youth.Economic Prosperity
- CASA of Kent County, Inc. received $40,000 for capacity building, including three components: Increase the number of volunteers, develop and staff a coordinator position, and strengthen nonprofit operations and communications.Social Enrichment
- Millbrook Christian Elementary School - Meijer Good School received $15,750 for providing a cutting-edge curriculum and promoting an environment of tolerance in spite of recent mergers with two local schools.Academic Achievement
- Safe Haven Ministries Inc received $75,000 for expanded emergency facility and services for women and children needing refuge from domestic violence situations.Healthy People
- Spectrum Health Hospitals received $96,000 for a 2 year school-based youth tobacco prevention program which includes “nico-TEAM” and “Teens Against Tobacco Use” (TATU).Healthy People
- Timberland Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. received $100,000 to continue the work of installing in stream woody debris structures for the purpose of improving trout and other aquatic species habitat.Healthy Ecosystems
- Timberland Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. received $27,000 to target high risk sediment yield areas for appropriate best management practices to protect and restore water quality and aquatic habitats using web based high impact targeting tools and assistance.Healthy Ecosystems
May 2008
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth, Kaboom Playground, received $5,000 to allow the Kaboom Playground Organization to build a playground at Camp O'Malley.
- Child & Family Resource Council, Resources Against Violent Encounters (RAVE), received $2,000 to provide relationship violence prevention programming to youth ages 12-18 in Kent County.
- Children's Assessment Center, KIDZ Have Rights-Body-Safety Program, received $5,000 to teach body safety and sexual-abuse prevention to children in Kent County in order to reduce the number of children who are victims of sexual abuse and increase the number of children who report current and past sexual abuse.
- City of Kentwood, REACH Operating Support, received $450 to help fund the REACH Program.
- GR Children's Museum, Summer Banner Project, received $5,000 to eliminate barriers that prohibit inner-city children from Museum experiences during summer months using an Artist in Residence model designed to engage children in the creation of banner art.
- Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanties, Crossing Cultures/Cruzando Culturas, received $2,000 to sponsor a Summer Arts Camp for children in the Grandville Avenue neighborhood.
- Humanity for Africa, Cross Cultural Afro Youth Program, received $5,000 to reach out to the African youth Immigrant community including school aged children, students up to college level, and any young-at-heart community members at risk of cultural crises, risk of school dropout and delinquent behavior.
- Millennium of Agape International Outreach, Inside/Out Youth Prevention & Intervention Program, received $5,000 to support the Inside/Out Youth Prevention & Intervention Program and the Nikeo Sports GR AAU Summer Program for high risk youth.
- Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Young Men's Activity and Support Program, received $2,300 to provide an alternative gathering place for young men who otherwise would stand on the church property or street corners and engage in gang and drug activity.
- New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, New Hope Youth Engaged in Action, received $4,000 to give Delaware Manor Elderly Housing Community two picnic tables through a service project by the Summer Youth Program.
- Oakdale Neighbors, Mars-Bros Chess Club, received $2,000 to develop a chess team among at-risk youth in southeast Grand Rapids that will improve decision making skills, math scores, and compete on local and national levels.
- Specialized Language Development Center, Language Links, received $4,000 to target 1st through 3rd grade free or reduced lunch students who are significantly below grade level in reading, writing, and spelling but do not qualify for special education services and who attend a GRPS.
- Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, ArtWorks Summer Job-Training Program, received $4,000 to maximize the number of students given the opportunity to improve and develop new technical skills, broaden their awareness of creative-class careers, and gain new levels of achievement by learning to be leaders, team-based problem solvers, community volunteers, and active in diverse neighborhood improvement projects.
- VSA Arts of Michigan- Grand Rapids, A Very Special Choir, received $5,000 to give students from three Kent ISD school districts a choral music experience to both express themselves creativity through voice as well as to come together and connect socially with their peers.
- YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, Visser Family YMCA Arts & Humanities Programs, received $1,000 to provide funding for the newly established Visser Family YMCA youth arts and humanities programs.
April 2008
- Arbor Circle Corporation received $50,000 to provide in-home, prevention services to families with children ages 18 and younger, who have been identified as at risk for child abuse and/or neglect.Healthy People
- Fair Housing Center of West Michigan received $50,000 to hire a Community Foreclosure Coordinator to increase awareness of services available to homeowners facing foreclosure.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Family Outreach Center received $100,000 to continue the funding of the Family & Community Compact program.Healthy People
- Grand Rapids Symphony received $30,000 to improve access to cultural, social and recreational opportunities that attract diverse populations.Social Enrichment
- KISD received $133,651 to provide diversity training for all ninth grade students in Kent County.Social Enrichment
- Legal Aid of Western Michigan received $50,000 to provide legal support to homeowners facing foreclosure through litigation, policy advocacy, community education and collaboration.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Lighthouse Communities Inc. received $150,000 to increase organizational capacity by relocating to a new facility.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Opera Grand Rapids received $100,000 to increase organizational capacity by relocating to a new facility.Social Enrichment
- Reentry Roundtable of Kent County, MI received $100,000 to continue the work of aligning employer expectations with the skills of ex-offenders using an employer designed certification.Economic Prosperity
- Senior Neighbors Inc. received $50,000 to renovate and construct a new Downtown Senior Neighbors Center.Social Enrichment
- St. Andrews Cathedral, KEYS: Latino Youth Photography Project, received $5,000 to bring a group of Latino youth together for photography training and to document their lives and community.
March 2008
- Degage Ministries received $10,000 to offer neighborhood engagement and security services to the patrons and surrounding businesses of the Heartside neighborhood.Vibrant Neighborhoods
- Women’s Leadership Fund, The White House Project, received $10,000 to provide nonpartisan political leadership training to women from unrepresented communities within the State of Michigan.Social Enrichment
February 2008
- Humanity for Africa, Inc. received $25,000 for technical assistance and to expand and intensify the current English as a Second Language classes for women.Economic Prosperity
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) received $90,000 to implement revitalization work plans in the Creston Business District and Madison Avenue corridor.Economic Prosperity
- Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) received $200,000 towards the organization’s capital campaign, which will include the construction of a new building on the corner of Fulton and Division Avenues.Social Enrichment