Economic Prosperity

Careers + Financial 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.

Recent Grants From This Area

Recipient

Amount

Date

Purpose

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Treetops Collective

    Amount Awarded: $100,000

    Date Awarded: Jun. 2021

    Supporting Concentric: Multiplying New American Leaders program, increasing the impact of New American leaders through training and mentorship while sustainably growing their holistic model of connecting women to resources and opportunities. 

  • Hispanic Center of Western Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $125,000

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2021

    To support, empower and advocate for Latinx communities in West Michigan by building internal capacity, strengthening their planning, and continuing their important work. 

  • Start Garden

    Amount Awarded: $250,000

    Date Awarded: Apr. 2021

    To support BIPOC entrepreneurs by increasing access to financial, social, and intellectual capital.

  • West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology

    Amount Awarded: $200,000

    Date Awarded: Dec. 2020

    To advance meaningful data collection, evaluation of adult workforce development programs and to support Community Catalysts cohorts.