Somos Comunidad Fund

Centering community voice

Somos Comunidad Fund, led by community volunteers, was established to support Latinx focused and driven initiatives. Informed by Latinx communities in Kent County, the advisory committee strives to create an adaptable approach to balance support for immediate needs while addressing root causes of inequity. Support this cause today by contributing to Somos Comunidad Fund. Your gift will support the fund's endowment, as well as provide resources for immediate grantmaking. This ensures your giving will help now and in the future.

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2024 Grant Awards

Recipient

Amount

Date

Purpose

  • Cambiando Vidas Sedientas

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded:

    Supporting basketball programming for participants to develop physical abilities, learn the fundamentals of the game, and play in tournaments.

  • Code on Wheels

    Amount Awarded: $5,000

    Date Awarded:

    Code on Wheels Clubs at The Dock Ministries and Godwin Heights offer Latinx youth hands-on coding education, tech skills, and career exploration.

  • Diatribe

    Amount Awarded: $8,000

    Date Awarded:

    Facilitation of Writing to Right Wrongs program at Southwest Middle High School - Academia Bilingüe.

  • Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded:

    To build environments of curiosity and creativity with our neighbors to cultivate inclusion and justice with a focus on K-12 youth.

  • Immigrant Assistance Center of West Michigan

    Amount Awarded: $15,000

    Date Awarded:

    Pro bono services to clients who would not otherwise be able to afford legal services in the greater West Michigan Community.

  • Kent School Services Network

    Amount Awarded: $5,000

    Date Awarded:

    Establishing the Familia Fund to provide emergency support for families who are undocumented and face significant challenges when trying to access assistance programs.

  • Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded:

    Provide direct immigration legal services that will lead to immigration status for immigrants and farmworkers who are undocumented in Kent County.

  • Movimiento Cosecha GR

    Amount Awarded: $10,000

    Date Awarded:

    To continue supporting the fight for immigrant rights in our community.

  • No Surrender Running Club

    Amount Awarded: $8,000

    Date Awarded:

    Supporting equitable pay for Spanish-speaking coaches, who boost program access and provide safe, inclusive spaces for Latinx youth and families.

  • Reyna's Gallery Latino Cultural Art

    Amount Awarded: $11,000

    Date Awarded:

    Arte, Cultura y Discapacidad GR is an advocacy and arts program designed for Latinx parents with children who have physical and/or intellectual disabilities.

  • Roosevelt Park Ministries

    Amount Awarded: $8,000

    Date Awarded:

    Providing quality, multi-level, in-person, ESL literacy training for Latinx communities in Grand Rapids and neighboring communities.

2024 Grantmaking Timeline

Somos Comunidad Fund

Grant Applications 2024
September 9

Grant Applications Opened

Somos Comunidad Fund grant round application portal opened on September 9, 2024.  Grant Guidelines can be found here. Guidelines in Spanish found here. 

October 7

Informational Session About Grant Application

On October 7 we hosted an informational session about the grant application and how community listening informed our current grantmaking process, you can view those sessions below. Viewing the session is not a requirement to apply.

Info Session in English

Info Session in Spanish

Oct 28 at 5 pm

Grant Applications Closed

Somos Comunidad Fund grant applications closed on October 28, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

November 4 - 19

Advisory Committee Reviews Applications

Somos Comunidad Fund's advisory committee reviewed all grant applications and may have requested additional information from applicants while they made decisions about grant awards.

December 9 Week

Grant Awards Announced

All applicants were notified about funding decisions the week of December 9, 2024.

Grant Projects in Progress: 2024-2025 Grant Round Debrief
Jan 13, 2025

Community Gathering for Feedback

In this virtual session, we shared more about our latest grantmaking decision process, grant award recipients and provided an opportunity for your feedback to inform future grantmaking and how we can best show up in community.

view here
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A photo of Carlos Sanchez

I am looking forward to two to three decades from now, when people will look at this as the beginning of a different way of doing philanthropy.

Carlos Sanchez, former Somos Comunidad Advisory Committee chairperson

Somos Comunidad Fund Donors July 1st, 2022-June 30th, 2023

  • Anonymous (2)
  • Mr. David A. Baker
  • Amanda Berry
  • Ms. Bonnie L. Blandford
  • Brett Bradshaw
  • Kaylee Moreno Burke
  • Milinda Ysasi Castanon and Rafael Castanon
  • Soyla Castillo
  • Tom C. Clinton
  • Huey G. and Mary Copeland
  • Evelyn Esparza-Gonzalez
  • Giuliana and Aaron Estrada
  • Frey Foundation
  • Terry Gates
  • Mike and Rachel Goorhouse
  • Megan Grimaldi
  • Kevin and Laura Harmelink
  • David Hill and Elizabeth Kidd
  • Win and Kyle Irwin
  • Matthew and Keri Jaynes
  • Sharnita Johnson
  • Marta Johnson-Ebels
  • Lucy Dyer Joswick and Scott Joswick
  • Marlene Kowalski-Braun
  • Mr. and Mrs. William J. Lawrence III
  • Lettie Lundman
  • Janis Lunquist and Michael May
  • El Granjero Mexican Grill
  • Mark Miller and Patsy Allen
  • Mr. Marc Mitchell and Dr. Brandy Lovelady Mitchell
  • Ciciley and Louis Moore
  • Juan and Mary Olivarez
  • Terry McGovern and Carol Paine-McGovern
  • Cynthia Pimm and Vicki Poleni Pimm
  • Claudia and Joe Pohlen
  • John and Ann Puckett
  • Ms. Lupe Ramos-Montigny
  • Alexis and Brandon Reame
  • Laci Reséndiz
  • Rogelio Rodriguez
  • Leslee Rohs
  • Elizabeth Rosario Law, PLC
  • Celeste Sanchez-Lloyd and Robert Lloyd
  • Mary Scanlan and Alain Gadeau
  • Shaun and Ruth Shira
  • Ryan and Emily Slusarzyk
  • Lisa Sostecke DDS
  • Ms. Stacy Stout
  • Jan Strait
  • Jenine and Jose Torres
  • Betsaida Valdivia
  • Erika VanDyke
  • Andy and Tracy Van Solkema
  • Danielle Veldman
  • Lynn Verdusco
  • Larry and Lee Nelson Weber
  • Michael and Mary Alice Williams
  • Marilyn and Garrett Zack
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