Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation supports youth, families and community in the Grand Rapids area of Michigan.
IP TAKE: This is an accessible Grand Rapids family funder that welcomes new ideas throughout the year in its three areas of focus. This foundation is affiliated, but independent of Betsy Devos’s giving. The foundation’s work offers faith-based grants that shew far right, so centrist and progressive organizations must look elsewhere.
PROFILE: Established in 1992, the Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is the family foundation of Doug and Maria DeVos, who are Grand Rapids natives. Doug DeVos is the former president of Amway and is involved with many civic and business organizations. Maria DeVos serves on several boards and is an advocate for children’s development, education, health and safety in Michigan. The foundation funds local efforts for youth, families and community.
The Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation’s youth funding supports literacy programs and music education for young children. Family-focused grants go towards helping women and children overcome domestic abuse. Meanwhile, community enrichment grants support safe and reliable housing and the path to homeownership. The foundation has Christian overtones, as the founders seek to follow “the example of servant-leadership established by Jesus Christ.”
Grants range anywhere between about $5,000 and $1 million. Grantmaking focuses on the Greater Grand Rapids area of Michigan. Past local grantees include Safe Haven Ministries, Mind Meets Music, and Habitat for Humanity of Kent County.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The funder considers new requests quarterly and allows organizations to submit requests at any time of the year. DeVos uses an online application for its grantmaking process. Direct general questions to the staff at 616-643-4700 or via online form.
PEOPLE:
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