Grants Awarded

Here Are Our Recent Grant Partnerships

All across Kent County, we are committed to creating a community that aggressively seeks to put an end to inequity. The grants listed below are awarded from our Fund for Community Good (unrestricted fund) and field of interest funds. Field of interest funds are funds established by a donor partner to address a specific issue. Where applicable, significant support from a field of interest fund has been noted.

2023-2024 Fiscal Year

Recipient

Amount

Date

Purpose

  • City of Rest

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2024

    City of Rest works to share resources and empowerment for sustained transformation. This grant supports their Grand Rapids Alternative Correctional Experience programming.

  • Family Outreach Center

    Amount Awarded: $330,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2024

    Family Outreach Center's mission is to build stronger families by providing high-quality behavioral health services, regardless of ability to pay, focusing on low-income, underinsured and uninsured families and children. This grant will allow Family Outreach Center to hire diverse clinicians, increasing access to culturally responsive behavioral health services for people of color and underserved populations.

  • Grand Rapids African American Health Institute

    Amount Awarded: $375,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2024

    Grand Rapids African American Health Institute works to eliminate racial and ethnic inequities at the health systems and community levels. The grant will allow them to reach and better serve African American communities, increase staff capacity, financial stability, and operational efficiency by adding a fund development director and human resource consultant.

  • Project GREEN

    Amount Awarded: $300,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2024

    Project GREEN (Grassroots Economic Empowerment Network) empowers financial capability in our community and implements advocacy initiatives that tear down systemic barriers to economic success. The grant partnership will support advancement of their program participants' financial capabilities through more financial and credit workshops. Project GREEN will also be able to add facilitators and increase the reach of their advocacy projects, including the Rent Reporting Initiative, Child Support Credit Building Initiative, Pay-It-Forward and Annual Economic Empowerment Conference.

  • West Michigan Chapter of Young Farmers

    Amount Awarded: $5,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2024

    West Michigan Chapter of Young Farmers supports farmers of color and youth of color to strengthen food access and urban agriculture in West Michigan.

  • West Michigan Urban League

    Amount Awarded: $500,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2024

    Urban League of West Michigan assists all people in achieving self-sufficiency and equality. The Urban League is an organization where everyone is empowered through economic independence. This grant supports the Urban League’s growing operational needs as they launch their Community Development Financial Institution and Center for Economic Development for Black-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs.

  • A Glimpse of Africa

    Amount Awarded: $110,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2024

    A Glimpse of Africa brings people together to showcase, educate, celebrate, and share the diverse African cultures. It fosters essential community programs that voice, advocate for and address African refugees' and immigrants' needs and disparities. This grant supports their participation in collaborative efforts and community engagement for the African community in West Michigan.

  • Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives

    Amount Awarded: $600,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2024

    Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives describes its mission as collecting and retelling the rich, colorful stories that compose the historic African American tapestry of living in Grand Rapids. This grant award supports their general operations as they acquire and move into a new building.

  • Our Mental Health Collective

    Amount Awarded: $300,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2024

    Our Mental Health Collective, previously known as Mental Health Clinicians of Color in Grand Rapids, connects individuals and families of color with culturally responsive and affirming mental health providers of color. This grant will help the organization grow, form a staff structure and expand their directory, community advocacy committee and programming for clinicians.

  • Urban Core Collective

    Amount Awarded: $555,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2024

    Urban Core Collective is a collective effort of local organizations to facilitate access to education, health and economic prosperity for our neighbors. This grant supports the self-determination and agency of historically marginalized communities by engaging in advocacy, community organizing, and leadership cultivation that transforms living conditions and the distribution of power in the greater Grand Rapids area.

  • Anishinaabe Circle

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2023

    Anishinaabe Circle’s mission is to provide and promote the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental welfare of Native American communities by coordinating and administering culturally relevant social services which increase self-sufficiency and promote Native American culture. This grant supports the development of a community-informed strategic framework for the future of the organization.

  • Urban Core Collective

    Amount Awarded: $360,000

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2023

    This grant supports UCCs work to support organizers, movement leaders and nonprofit organizations that are collectively working to ensure residents are actively engaged and informed throughout the 2024 election cycles.

  • American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $60,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan was established in 1959 to defend our civil liberties. This grant supports their ability to provide a unique training opportunity for new civil rights lawyers and develop a talent pipeline for attorneys of color.

  • AQUME Foundation

    Amount Awarded: $600,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    AQUME Foundation, established in 2021, provides tools, access, and financial investment in organizations led by people of color. This grant supports AQUME Foundation’s work to center economic justice and racial equity in philanthropy.

  • Baxter Community Center

    Amount Awarded: $450,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    Baxter Community Center offers a child development center, a holistic health center, a free food and clothing marketplace, dental care, and out-of-school time programming for elementary and middle school students. This grant supports Baxter’s transition into a workplace culture focused on helping employees thrive financially and professionally.

  • FitKids360

    Amount Awarded: $50,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    This grant is a continuation of support for FitKids360’s transition to becoming an independent nonprofit organization. FitKids360 is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children. This grant was made possible by the Elizabeth J. Steed Johnson Fund for Healthcare and Community Health and the William H. and Inetta P. Martindill Fund.

  • Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives describes its missions as collecting and retelling the rich, colorful stories that compose the historic African American tapestry of living in Grand Rapids. This grant supports their general operations and was made possible through funding provided by Consumers Energy Foundation.

  • Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities strives to provide an environment of care and belonging for children and adults living in the Grandville Avenue neighborhood and beyond. This grant supports their general operations and was made possible through funding provided by Consumers Energy Foundation.

  • Immigrant Assistance Center

    Amount Awarded: $125,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    Immigrant Assistance Center, one of the only nonprofit organizations providing immigration services led and founded by a woman of color, provides equal access to affordable legal services in Kent County. This grant supports their ability to offer reduced-fee immigration legal assistance.

  • Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund

    Amount Awarded: $100,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    This grant to the Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund invests in a collaborative program of local grantmakers to address the needs for consulting services and technical and organizational capacity needs in Kent County.

  • Education Trust - Midwest

    Amount Awarded: $15,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    This grant partnership supports the work of the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity, a statewide coalition of civil rights, social justice, civic and business leaders working to promote equitable education policy and resource allocation for all Michigan students. This partnership was made possible by the Challenge Scholars Fund.

  • Urban Core Collective

    Amount Awarded: $400,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2023

    This grant continues the Community Foundation’s support for the Urban Core Collective Education Justice Team’s organizing and base-building work. Over the grant period, the team will continue to advance a community-defined policy and budget agenda, further refine and strengthen the team’s organizing infrastructure, support community education around candidates for Boards of Education, and explore their role in organizing a potential state ballot initiative on education funding. This partnership was made possible by the Challenge Scholars Fund.

  • The Deborah House

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Sep. 2023

    The Deborah House is a safe haven for single, pregnant mothers and their children. They provide housing for young mothers while they receive encouragement, social support, and mentoring. This grant supports health equity, well-being, and stability for women and children, particularly women of color, in Greater Grand Rapids.

  • Our Community's Children

    Amount Awarded: $198,304

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2023

    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.

2022-2023 Fiscal Year

Recipient

Amount

Date

Purpose

  • Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $150,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2023

    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

    Amount Awarded: $375,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2023

    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.

  • Urban Core Collective

    Amount Awarded: $200,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2023

    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.

  • Urban League of West Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $300,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2023

    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.

  • Michigan Student Power Alliance

    Amount Awarded: $7,500

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2023

    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.

  • American Arab Intellectual Property Association

    Amount Awarded: $2,500

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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.

  • Anishinaabe Circle

    Amount Awarded: $50,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

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

  • Bike Scene Ride Series

    Amount Awarded: $25,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

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

  • Community Revitalization and Economic Development Center

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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

    Amount Awarded: $25,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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

    Amount Awarded: $20,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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

    Amount Awarded: $65,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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.

  • Grand Rapids Community Work

    Amount Awarded: $15,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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.

  • Justice For our Neighbors

    Amount Awarded: $120,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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

    Amount Awarded: $40,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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.

  • Our Kitchen Table

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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.

  • Power to the People 616

    Amount Awarded: $25,000

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

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

  • Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association

    Amount Awarded: $9,750

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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.

  • Various Partners

    Amount Awarded: $4,750

    Date Awarded: Mar. 2023

    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.

  • Kent County Welcome Plan

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2023

    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.

  • Justice for Our Neighbors

    Amount Awarded: $150,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2023

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

  • Kent School Services Network

    Amount Awarded: $300,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2023

    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.

  • Our Community's Children

    Amount Awarded: $40,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2023

    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.

  • Young Money Finances

    Amount Awarded: $50,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2023

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

  • AQUME Foundation

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2022

    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.

  • Coalition for Community Owned Safety

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2022

    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.

  • Grand Rapids African American Health Institute

    Amount Awarded: $150,000

    Date Awarded: Nov. 2022

    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

    Amount Awarded: $150,000

    Date Awarded: Nov. 2022

    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.

  • Hero's Corner

    Amount Awarded: $175,000

    Date Awarded: Nov. 2022

    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

    Amount Awarded: $65,000

    Date Awarded: Nov. 2022

    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.

  • Aim to Inspire

    Amount Awarded: $5,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2022

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

  • Boston Square Neighborhood Association

    Amount Awarded: $1,500

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2022

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

  • Council of Michigan Foundations

    Amount Awarded: $7,500

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2022

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

  • Diatribe

    Amount Awarded: $500

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2022

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

  • Greater Grand Rapids NAACP

    Amount Awarded: $420,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2022

    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.

  • KConnect

    Amount Awarded: $375,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2022

    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.

  • Masa Center

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2022

    Making Mexican History in West Michigan.

  • United Methodist Community House

    Amount Awarded: $400,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2022

    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.

  • AYA Youth Collective

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

    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.

  • Better Wiser Stronger

    Amount Awarded: $135,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

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

  • Diatribe

    Amount Awarded: $5,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

    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.

  • Diatribe

    Amount Awarded: $106,929

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

    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.

  • Education Trust Midwest

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

    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.

  • Grand Rapids African American Health Institute

    Amount Awarded: $5,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

    Juneteenth Community Blood Drive.

  • Grand Rapids Urban League

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

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

  • Hispanic Center of Western Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $375,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

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

  • Immigrant Assistance Center of West Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $50,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

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

  • Michigan Solidarity Bail Fund

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

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

  • Urban Core Collective

    Amount Awarded: $100,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

    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.

  • Urban Core Collective

    Amount Awarded: $150,100

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

    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.

  • Women’s Resource Center

    Amount Awarded: $250,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2022

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

2021-2022 Fiscal Year

Recipient

Amount

Date

Purpose

  • City of Grand Rapids

    Amount Awarded: $175,000

    Date Awarded: Jun. 2022

    This grant supports the Participatory Budgeting process, ensuring residents determine how public funds are spent to improve their neighborhood. This partnership was made possible by the Kent County COVID-19 Recovery Fund.

  • Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives

    Amount Awarded: $50,000

    Date Awarded: Jun. 2022

    This grant supports the pre-development of a permanent location which will provide an opportunity for an expanded permanent exhibit dedicated to telling the story of African Americans, specifically hometown heroes, provide space for programming, and allow the organization to host pop-up and traveling exhibits.

  • Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities

    Amount Awarded: $300,000

    Date Awarded: Jun. 2022

    This grant supports organizational capacity and infrastructure as GAAH engages with neighbors through arts and humanities to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and trusting relationships in ways that validate them as they forge new pathways. They provide community art classes, after-school and summer tutoring and academic support, and teen leadership opportunities. This partnership was made possible by the Leonard and Eileen Newman Fund for the Arts and the Robert D. Mieras Fund for Dance and Music.

  • Hispanic Center of Western Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Jun. 2022

    This grant supports language interpretation services for mental health providers and clients.

  • Realism is Loyalty

    Amount Awarded: $300,000

    Date Awarded: Jun. 2022

    The Each One Teach One program is an intensive mentoring program focusing on parent engagement for youth returning to the community from residential placement, jail, or prison. This program supports youth with culturally appropriate mental health and mentoring services by pairing them with an adult advocate with similar lived experiences to help navigate their psychosocial development, economic realities, and self-discipline.

  • West Michigan Congolese Community

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: May. 2022

    Organizing Congolese community activities in support of the Lyoya family.

  • A Glimpse of Africa

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2022

    Support for African refugees and immigrants listening sessions and space for processing grief.

  • African Collaborative Network

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2022

    In support of the Lyoya family.

  • Mental Health Clinicians of Color Grand Rapids

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2022

    To offer additional community healing sessions for processing trauma and loss in collaboration with the Black Impact Collaborative.

  • African Resource Center of West Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $228,360

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2022

    To facilitate the discussion and awareness of trauma and its various symptoms and to provide human and material resources for families to address unresolved trauma.

  • Grand Rapids Pride Center

    Amount Awarded: $300,000

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2022

    Support for the Therapy Assistance Fund, implementation of listening sessions to develop strategic goals and increasing staff capacity.

  • Project GREEN

    Amount Awarded: $100,000

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2022

    To support advocacy, education and convening of partners around fair lending and economic empowerment for low- to moderate-income households.

  • Rende Progress Capital

    Amount Awarded: $331,250

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2022

    To continue relief lending efforts for excluded entrepreneurs of color negatively impacted by COVID-19.

  • Grand Rapids Media & Film Incubator

    Amount Awarded: $25,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2022

    To support programming, coordination, designers, and brand ambassadors for an online Grand Rapids/West Michigan history map and digital application. This partnership was made possible by the Estate of Annette Richards.

  • Health Net of West Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $160,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2022

    Supporting FitKids360's transition to becoming an independent nonprofit organization, which will expand their programmatic and organizational capacity. This partnership was made possible by the Elizabeth J. Steed Johnson Fund for Healthcare and Community Health.

  • Kent School Services Network

    Amount Awarded: $200,000

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2022

    Ongoing support for the community school model in the 14 GRPS partner schools, with an emphasis on implementing new family engagement strategies and increasing student attendance. This partnership was made possible by the Healthy Youth & Healthy Seniors Fund, Cherry (Mrs. James) Carpenter Fund for Children, and George M. Ames Fund.

  • LINC Up

    Amount Awarded: $14,040

    Date Awarded: Feb. 2022

    To provide strategic executive leadership support.

  • Black Impact Collaborative

    Amount Awarded: $318,300

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2021

    To provide technology and training as well as end-of-life and estate planning for Black elders. Additionally, providing protection amidst pandemic conditions for incarcerated individuals and reintegration support for Black people who are incarcerated in Greater Grand Rapids. This partnership was made possible by the Lucy E. Barnett Trust for the Elderly and the Gordon and Mary Bowman Fund.

  • Council of Michigan Foundations

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2021

    To support the Statewide Equity Fund designed to advance equitable strategies to address systemic challenges laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership was made possible by the Kent County COVID-19 Recovery Fund.

  • Ferris Foundation

    Amount Awarded: $50,000

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2021

    Enhance Latino Business and Economic Development Center efforts to reduce economic disparity, increase civic engagement, and offer leadership development in the Latino community.

  • Housing Kent

    Amount Awarded: $300,000

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2021

    To support the launch and operations of Housing Kent, a community-led effort to drive equitable system change in housing. This backbone organization specifically focuses on addressing the disparate outcomes for Black and Latinx residents in our community.

  • Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund

    Amount Awarded: $80,000

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2021

    Investment in a collaborative program that provides grants for consulting services to meet technical and organizational capacity needs for nonprofits in Kent County. 

  • African Collaborative Network

    Amount Awarded: $150,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2021

    To uplift African voices in decision-making spaces by supporting advocacy and community organizing for better outcomes in health, economics, and education through programming, resource connection, and networking.  

  • Grand Rapids Public Schools

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2021

    To support expanded stakeholder engagement in Grand Rapids Public School's Strategic Planning process. This partnership was made possible by the William H. and Inetta P. Martindill Fund.

  • Seeds of Promise

    Amount Awarded: $200,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2021

    To support a place-based community improvement initiative that empowers those who live in the neighborhood to direct their own solutions.

  • The Diatribe

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Oct. 2021

    Capacity building to expand performing arts programming and services that empower youth to raise awareness of social issues. This partnership was made possible by the Fund for Arts and Social Engagement and the Leonard and Eileen Newman Fund for the Arts.

  • Camp Always Rising Youth Voices

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2021

    A free 3-day camp experience for up to 12 middle-school students that helps equip them for community organizing, activism and advocacy. 

  • Immigrant Assistance Center of West Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $25,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2021

    For program expansion to provide immigration legal services and education for low-income individuals.

  • Midwest Tech Project

    Amount Awarded: $150,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2021

    To support the continuing development of a gender and racially diverse technology talent pipeline in West Michigan that provides equitable onramps for skill building, employment and entrepreneurship.

  • Young Money Finances

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded: Aug. 2021

    To empower teens to take control of their finances through culturally responsive financial education. This partnership was made possible by the George M. Ames Fund.