Grants Awarded
Here Are Our Recent Grants
All across Kent County, we're helping nonprofits do good things to make our community better. The grants listed below are awarded from our Fund for Community Good (unrestricted fund) and field of interest funds.
Other grants not listed below are awarded from our Donor Advised Funds. These grantmaking decisions are donor-directed.
This Fiscal Year
Recipient
Amount
Date
Purpose
-
Grand Rapids Public Schools
$500,000
Apr. 2016
To support Year Six of a Partnership Pipeline at Harrison Park, Westwood Middle School and Union High School that promotes post-secondary learning for all students.
-
Grand Valley University Foundation
$200,000
Aug. 2018
For the establishment of a Scholar in Residence for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
-
Habitat for Humanity of Kent County
$800,000
Aug. 2018
Investment in the Brighter Future Campaign for Roosevelt Park - a comprehensive market intervention strategy to increase home ownership and establish a sustainable land acquisition fund.
-
Michigan Nonprofit Association
$150,000
Aug. 2018
Supporting the Michigan Nonprofit Counts Campaign to mobilize organizations in Kent County, to encourage participation in the 2020 Census while building capacity to further advocacy issues in communities.
-
Spectrum Health Foundation
$40,000
Aug. 2018
For continuation of the Youth Tobacco Prevention Program, a classroom-based tobacco prevention education for K-12 students, including education, advocacy and refusal skill development.
-
The Right Place Foundation
$50,000
Aug. 2018
Support for participation in an Inclusive Development Lab where outreach and research exercises will lead to a compelling business case for inclusion.
Last Fiscal Year
Recipient
Amount
Date
Purpose
-
Senior Sing Along
$10,000
Jun. 2018
Arts enrichment programming at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.
-
Urban Core Collective
$300,000
Jun. 2018
To develop and support strategies that authentically engage and partner with communities of color to reduce the effects of systemic racism by shifting power and influence.
-
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts
$5,000
Jun. 2018
Grassroots and media outreach to invite and engage diverse audiences for the Transitions: New Photography from Bangladesh exhibit.
-
Health Net of West Michigan
$500,000
Apr. 2018
To assist clients in navigating between the formal healthcare system and community services that address health-related social needs, advocate for systems change, and leverage Medicaid Outreach match funds.
-
Immigrant Connection at City Life Church
$10,000
Apr. 2018
To train more individuals to become certified by the Department of Justice to provide legal education and counsel to more immigrants to legally attain permanent residency or citizenship.
-
Rende Progress Capital
$100,000
Apr. 2018
For small business lending to Excluded Entrepreneurs in the Grand Rapids/Wyoming area facing barriers to accessing traditional capital due to racial bias.
-
Ferris Foundation
$150,000
Feb. 2018
Supporting the Latino Business and Economic Development Center, which addresses issues of workforce development, economic disparity, civic engagement, and overall leadership development in the Latino community through entrepreneurial and leadership cohort initiatives.
-
Grand Rapids Nehemiah Project
$50,000
Feb. 2018
Rising Grinds Cafe, a locally owned social enterprise that provides employment and professional development for youth and other residents around Grand Rapids' Southtown District.
-
Hispanic Center of Western Michigan
$300,000
Feb. 2018
Development of economic opportunity pathways in the Latino community.
-
Michigan Dental Association Foundation
$5,000
Feb. 2018
Mission of Mercy program, which will provide dental care to over a thousand underserved individuals in West Michigan.
-
Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited
$10,000
Feb. 2018
Supporting the creation of a new strategic plan.
-
Urban Roots
$10,000
Feb. 2018
To support the development and creation of a Sharing Garden training program, which will support educational gardens and community building efforts throughout Grand Rapids.
-
Kent School Services Network
$500,000
Dec. 2017
To support KSSN's community school coordinators through 2019.
-
Kids' Food Basket
$100,000
Dec. 2017
To preserve historical farmland within Grand Rapids' urban core.
-
Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund
$40,000
Dec. 2017
For consulting services to help meet technical and organizational capacity needs.
-
Northern Great Lakes Initiatives
$25,000
Dec. 2017
Support for outreach and awareness building of the organization's ability to provide loans and business services to underserved and minority populations of Grand Rapids.
-
Opera Grand Rapids
$5,000
Dec. 2017
Supporting the I DREAM performance on Martin Luther King, Jr Day 2018.
-
Start Garden
$100,000
Dec. 2017
Supporting the "100 Ideas" initiative, which seeks to revitalize entrepreneurship in low to moderate income neighborhoods in Grand Rapids through access to financial capital and entrepreneurial supports.
-
City of Grand Rapids
$150,000
Oct. 2017
Supporting a three-year pilot program to establish the Grand Rapids Eviction Prevention Program within the 61st District Court.
-
Comprenew
$6,000
Oct. 2017
Supporting Comprenew Connect, computer literacy classes to bridge the digital divide among low-income populations.
-
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
$2,500
Oct. 2017
To support a low-sensory performance of Seussical The Musical for individuals on the autism spectrum or those with diverse sensory needs and their family members.
-
Family Outreach Center
$200,000
Aug. 2017
To provide culturally responsive mental and behavioral health services to uninsured or under insured children and adults.
-
Home Repair Services
$10,000
Aug. 2017
Helping Kent County homeowners identify and prioritize home maintenance and repair items, and connecting them with resources that promote safe and stable housing.