This grant supports a partnership between our Challenge Scholars program and the T2C Studio to provide high school and college students with an ongoing series of activities to aid post-secondary decision-making, reduce summer melt among graduating seniors, and support post-secondary persistence. This partnership was made possible by the Challenge Scholars Fund.

Michigan Justice Fund is a funding collaborative designed to advance effective and equitable justice policy, practices, and funding in Michigan. This grant will be combined with resources from other funders working together to support nonprofits across the state. Grand Rapids Community Foundation is a participatory member in the grantmaking and learning collaborative.

Diatribe’s mission is to use restorative art to disrupt historical systems of oppression by reimagining education, holistically honoring the community through our approach to our work, and creating an unapologetic vision for liberation that is accessible to all. This grant will help them purchase the Emory Arts and Culture Hub in Garfield Neighborhood, support their expanded staffing plan to increase capacity for after-school programming, and provide a mixed-use space for artists, entrepreneurs, and community gatherings.

UCC is serving as the fiduciary for a collaborative effort to strengthen the ecosystem of community-led advocacy in Kent County. Through this grant, UCC will invest in the community and support proactive initiatives expanding the infrastructure and access to support for organizers and movement leaders.

This grant will support their ability to purchase an adjacent property and expand their current facility. More space will allow Urban League of West Michigan more opportunity to fulfill their goal to improve the overall quality of life for Black students and families by increasing education supports and reaching more youth. The Urban League is the city’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering Blacks/African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream.

This grant supports a People of Color Caucus Fellow based in Grand Rapids to support the work, relationships, and community-building efforts to address racial inequalities through community organizing.

The grant is a partnership with the work of the American Arab Intellectual Property Association as they support the revival of traditional knowledge of Arab culture, including traditional food, customs, traditions and crafts.

This grant will support Anishinaabe Circle in building meaningful relationships, bolstering organizational capacity, and outreach to Native American communities.

This grant supports Bike Scene Ride Series by creating a summer bike ride series specific to Black and brown neighborhoods in Grand Rapids.

This grant supports the Community Revitalization and Economic Development Center through a contract with a strategic planning organization to construct and fully deliver on plan goals and objectives that increase its impact on youth-serving programs.

DisArt is a production company and arts and cultural organization that creates public art events that cultivate and communicate a disability culture. This grant will support expanding community engagement and conversations around the intersections of race and disability to advance equity and inclusion. Made possible by Arthur H. Holmes Fund and George M. and Lucinda Ann Edison Memorial Trust Fund.

Ebony Road Players is a Grand Rapids theatre company that inspires, educates and engages cultures of the community with high-quality theatre productions focused on the Black experience. This grant will help grow the capacity for organizational operations, theater productions, and increasing education programs.

Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives collects and retells the rich, colorful stories that compose the historic African American tapestry of living in Grand Rapids. This grant will help GRAAMA digitize collections, upgrade artifact preservation equipment, and perform technical training updates.

The goal of Grand Rapids Community Work Men’s Breakfast and Family Engagement is to provide safe spaces for Black men in West Michigan to grow strong mentally while increasing support systems through fellowship and being celebrated.

This grant supports Justice For Our Neighbors, one of the few providers of free or low-cost immigration legal services in Michigan. The Grand Rapids office annually provides pro bono immigration legal services to more than 150 low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers living in Kent County.

Meaning In Colors provides resources and services for individuals struggling with personal, academic, and professional growth. This grant supports its housing program, which focuses on helping individuals gain the skills and resources needed to secure safe, permanent, and affordable housing. Made possible by Martin and Eileen Shedleshi Family Fund and Homeless Prevention Endowment Fund.

Mental Health Clinicians of Color in Grand Rapids helps our community by providing space to belong through BIPOC therapists and providers. This grant will help improve the user experience of individuals seeking culturally competent mental health services, and expand memberships to health professionals, students and provider networks. Made possible by Bruce Alexis Cornelius Memorial Fund for Mental Health Agencies; Emma Sherwood Evans Disbursing Account; Fund for Health; Elizabeth Steed Johnson Fund for Healthcare and Community Health.

Michigan Women Veterans Empowerment helps identify, connect, educate, advocate, and empower all military veterans, service members, their family members, and the youth in the eight dimensions of wellness. This grant supports Dirt Therapy, an innovative program led by military veterans that educates and empowers school-aged children in agriculture and agribusiness. Made possible by The J. Leslie Livingston Memorial Fund.

Osofomaame`s mission is to empower Black youth and families through access to culturally competent and equitable educational support, programming, and resources through serving youth and families in local grand rapids communities, Kent County, and Ghana West Africa. This grant supports Osofomaame’s ability to formally establish a technical and organizational structure, capacity, and operational needs that usually occur during a nonprofit’s start-up phase.

This grant will help support Our Kitchen Table, promote social justice and empower our neighbors to improve their health and environment through information, community organizing, and advocacy. The organization works with low-income Black families to improve health outcomes and reduce food insecurity by teaching them about nutrition and home gardening techniques. Made possible by Gordon and Janet Moeller Food Security Fund.

Providing support to a collective of women of color to facilitate healing in our community through curated programming that centers radical rest and joy.

This grant will help Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association maintain the neighborhood's integrity as a good place to live, work and do business by empowering neighbors to improve the community and prevent crime. It will help engage and organize neighbors to elevate environmental justice and community safety concerns related to heavy truck traffic on Grandville Avenue. Made possible by The J. Leslie Livingston Memorial Fund.

In alignment with our commitment to deepen relationships in communities of color (with an emphasis on Black communities), 19 nonprofit organizations each received $250 for providing information on their needs, gaps, and services.

This grant supports the Welcome Plan Coordinator as they work on core functions and focus areas to improve new Americans’ education outcomes, maximize economic potential and engage communities.

To provide pro bono immigration legal services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

This grant award aids in continuing the community school model, which benefits our Challenge Scholars cohorts at Union High School through strategies designed to increase student attendance and well-being. This partnership was made possible by the Challenge Scholars Fund.

To implement a series of activities to support post-secondary decision-making and reduce summer melt among graduating seniors in the 2023 Challenge Scholars cohort. This partnership was made possible by the Challenge Scholars Fund.

To empower youth and families with financial literacy through culturally responsive education.

This grant award supports AQUME Foundation’s work to establish and provide in-depth resources to communities of color to learn about and create intergenerational wealth. They do this through philanthropy, estate planning, hands-on educational workshops, networking, BIPOC leadership cultivation, and more. This partnership was made possible by the George M. Ames Fund, Fund for Economic Prosperity, and Social Venture Investors Fund.

Through educational events, the Coalition for Community Owned Safety raises awareness about the City of Grand Rapids’ collective public safety problems, the community’s story, and residents’ solutions for those problems. This partnership was made possible by the George M. Ames Fund.

This grant supports I Belong Strong, a new program from Grand Rapids African American Health Institute to provide resources supporting culturally competent mental health services to Black veterans in Kent County who are recovering from mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This partnership was made possible by the Cecilia Hoagland Fund for Local Veterans.

Has Heart Coffee Shop was awarded this grant to open and operate a coffee shop and creative studio for veterans at Veteran's Memorial Park. This partnership was made possible by the Cecilia Hoagland Fund for Local Veterans.

This grant provides operating support of their drop-in program for veterans, which provides mental health services, resource navigation, social engagements and fellowship, addiction resources, and sober self-help avenues. This partnership was made possible by the Cecilia Hoagland Fund for Local Veterans.

Puertas Abiertas provides culturally specific mental health support for Latinx women and their families, who are survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and/or sexual abuse.

General support. This partnership was made possible by the Arthur H. Holmes Handicap Fund.

Support for Our Neighbors. This partnership was made possible by support from the Fund for Neighborhoods.

In support of the State of Michigan Office of Foundation Liaison.

In support of efforts to raise money for the Lyoya family.

To support ongoing work of dismantling racial discrimination by building internal capacity, education strategies, and accelerating change in key areas including criminal justice, health care, education, climate, and the economy.

To support ongoing capacity to build a collective movement of public and private organizations aimed at ensuring all children in Kent County have an equitable path to economic prosperity through quality education, and family and community support.

Making Mexican History in West Michigan.

To provide culturally effective solutions for older adults experiencing depression, isolation, and chronic health care issues through programming, transportation, meals, health services, and enrichment activities. This partnership was made possible by the Lucy E. Barnett Trust for the Elderly.

To support youth experiencing homelessness through the Youth Stability Fund. This partnership was made possible by the Kathryn L. Adamson Fund for Children, Hydro-Chem Systems Fund for Children, Needy Children Field of Interest Fund, Homeless Prevention Endowment Fund, and Kenneth M. Sweers Fund for the Homeless.

Equipping boys and men of color with financial education, healthy behaviors, strong relationships, and reducing barriers to access and opportunity.

To support We Are Water, an environmental education course with an emphasis on the Grand Rapids area watershed in partnerships with Blandford Nature Center and LGROW. This partnership was made possible by the Charles Evenson Fund for the Environment.

To empower students to become advocates by fostering their voice through 1-1 and small group support, identifying opportunities, and creating space for students to use their voice to hold education systems accountable. This partnership was made possible by the Challenge Scholars Fund.

To support continued engagement in the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity, a statewide coalition of civil rights, social justice, civic, and business leaders working to promote educational equity for all Michigan students. This partnership was made possible by the Challenge Scholars Fund.

Juneteenth Community Blood Drive.

To support participants in Cure Violence, a program focused on violence interruption and reduction.

Support for three-year strategic priorities to empower the Hispanic community to achieve equity, self-sufficiency, and personalized prosperity.

To provide low-cost and pro-bono immigration legal services.

To support a revolving bail fund organized through a community collective.

To support technical assistance for the City of Grand Rapids participatory budgeting process. This partnership was made possible by the Kent County COVID-19 Recovery Fund.

To support the Kent County Education Justice Initiative, which will develop grassroots leaders and design structures that support those leaders in applying their gifts to hold education systems accountable to their constituencies. This partnership was made possible by the Challenge Scholars Fund.

To support growth to serve more women with increasingly diverse and enhanced services.