Grant Application

Fund for Community Good Guidelines

With our Fund for Community Good (unrestricted) and field of interest fund assets, we seek out and respond to requests for resources from partners who share our commitment to becoming actively anti-racist.

Systemic and institutional racism is present in every issue our community faces. Thanks to the generosity of donor partners, we continue to provide financial support across a broad spectrum including education, the environment, health, the arts and social engagement, neighborhoods and economic prosperity.

In all instances, we continuously assess how we work and with whom we partner, in order to dismantle barriers to equity and justice.

Get Ready for Upcoming Changes

New Grant Application Portal this Summer

Grand Rapids Community Foundation will launch a new portal for grant applications in August 2024. As we transition away from the current platform, please note to be considered for a grant before mid-August, all pre-applications for our Fund for Community Good must be submitted by May 1, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (noon). We anticipate that grant applications will reopen for Fund for Community Good, Black Legacy Fund, Challenge Scholars Dream Fund, Lowell Area Community Fund, Hudsonville-Jenison, Wyoming, Sparta and Nonprofit Technical Assistance in mid-August.

Partnerships We're Looking For

Funding Priorities

We invite partnerships form 501 (c) (3) nonprofits, government entity, or those willing to attain a fiscal sponsor. Please note that the Community Foundation’s primary geographic focus is Kent County, Michigan. Previous recipients are eligible to apply.

  • Education

    We strive for equitable educational attainment when race, ethnicity, and first generation status are not predictive of post-secondary enrollment, persistence, and degree or credential attainment.

  • Health

    We invest in culturally effective solutions that lead to equitable health outcomes and well-being.

  • Neighborhoods

    We seek to create greater access to housing prosperity for all who call Kent County home. We invest in the production and preservation of equitable, stable, quality, affordable housing in historically under-resourced neighborhoods.

  • Arts + Culture Engagement

    We invest in opportunities that seek to sustain arts and cultural opportunities to advance equity and are led by or primarily reach communities of color. We also invest in leaders and networks that inspire, grow and connect movements aimed at advancing equity.

  • Economic Prosperity

    We invest in workforce development that results in sustainable, living wage jobs with competitive benefits. We also seek to increase access to capital and opportunities for historically under-resourced entrepreneurs.

  • Environment

    We invest in efforts led by those most affected by environmental injustice and that ensure equitable environmental benefit.

Process

Applying for Funding

  1. 1 Pre-Application

    Projects that meet the guidelines and fit a grantmaking priority area can submit a pre-application online. The application is brief and will collect basic information about the proposed project. You can view an application guide to help provide context to the questions by clicking here.

    Once a pre-application is submitted, you will receive initial feedback within 30 days and in most cases within 14 days. Projects that are not chosen to go on to step 2 will receive feedback about the decision.

  2. 2 Full Application + Site Visit

    Projects with a strong potential for investment by the Community Foundation will be asked to submit a full proposal, and a site visit will be conducted. Our volunteer Fund for Community Good Advisory Committee will meet after the site visit to consider the partnership and determine the details of their recommendation.

  3. 3 Approval + Disbursement

    Once approved, the grant recipient will receive instructions to access their funding. Any contingencies and reporting requirements will be explained at that time.

    We ask that you allow a minimum of 90 days from submission of pre-application until a final decision is made.

Apply Now

Interested in Partnering with Us?

Applications for our Fund for Community Good are available online. The Community Foundation will launch a new portal for grant applications in August 2024. As we transition away from the current platform, please note to be considered for a grant before mid-August, all pre-applications for our Fund for Community Good must be submitted by May 1, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

Get Started

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

  • Recognizing that efforts which align with our values and funding priorities far outweigh our financial resources, we will prioritize partners that:

    • Seek to change systems by shifting the social conditions that perpetuate inequity
    • Address the intersections of racial, social and economic justice
    • Engage those most affected in defining community problems, research, planning, ongoing improvement and co-creation of strategies to shift power and resources
    • Have staff at all levels that reflect the people most impacted by our community’s disparities
    • Have a board that reflects the people most impacted by our community's disparities and that intentionally equips staff to be successful both personally and professionally
    • Focus on amplifying community voice and building power within communities experiencing inequities
    • Leverage additional financial and in-kind resources, including partnerships and community supports needed to ensure long term success
    • Commit to sharing the learning and stories that results from our partnership.

    You can view a guide to our pre-application with more context about what we are looking for by clicking here.

  • Our funding priorities center race while also looking into how other aspects of identity such as age, ability, economic circumstance, education, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, spiritual beliefs, marital status, national origin, or veteran status further shape unique experiences of racism.

  • In our 2023 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023), approximately $2.25M in Fund for Community Good and $1.24M in various field of interest funds is available.

  • Yes. If you would like us to consider multiple years of support we ask that you include the length of time and total amount requested in your pre-application.

  • We typically do not consider support of one-time, special or annual events, ongoing annual operating funds or expenses for previously established programs, endowments or capital campaigns.

  • You can see a preview of the pre-application and full application questions here.

    Click here to view a guide to our pre-application questions.

  • After submitting a pre-application, you will receive initial feedback within 30 days and in most cases less than 14 days.

    The Community Foundation will launch a new portal for grant applications in August 2024. As we transition away from the current platform, please note to be considered for a grant before mid-August, all pre-applications for our Fund for Community Good must be submitted by May 1, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

  • We ask that you allow a minimum of 90 days from submission of pre-application until a final decision is made.

  • We invite partnerships from 501 (c) (3) nonprofits, government entity, or those willing to attain a fiscal sponsor. Please note that the Community Foundation’s primary geographic focus is Kent County, Michigan. Previous recipients are eligible to apply.

  • For help with questions you may have regarding our partnership interests, please contact Eugene Sueing, program director at esueing@grfoundation.org or 616.454.1751 x122. For technical assistance with the online application process, please contact Keri Jaynes, grants manager, at kjaynes@grfoundation.org or 616.454.1751 x111.

Questions? We're here to help