Grand Rapids Community Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Grand Rapids Community Foundation supports education, health, neighborhoods, engagement, prosperity and environment in Western Michigan.
IP TAKE: Nonprofits that contact this community funder for program support should know that it has very specific interests within each of its grantmaking categories.
PROFILE: Established in 1922, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) is a community foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The foundation began with a donation and the bold vision of local entrepreneur Lee Hutchins and made its first grant in 1930. The foundation aims to "meet West Michigan's changing needs now and for generations to come.” GRCF funds local efforts for education, health, neighborhoods, engagement, prosperity and environment.
The Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s education grantmaking focuses on helping first-generation and low-income students achieve post-secondary success. Health grants focus on chronic disease prevention and health disparities among underserved populations. Neighborhood grants target affordable quality housing options in urban areas. GRCF’s engagement grantmaking program is all about inclusion, equity and cultural opportunities. The prosperity grantmaking category targets careers, financial stability and sustainable living wages. Finally, GRCF’s environmental grantmaking extends to the preservation of trees, rivers and land. The community foundation makes additional funds available for nonprofit capacity building, summer camps for kids and various youth needs. It also has regional affiliates and makes impact investments in the forms of loans and repayable capital investments. The foundation does not provide funding for annual operating support or one-time or special events.
Grants range between about $10,000 and $200,000. Grantmaking focuses on Kent County and Western Michigan Past local grantees include Grand Rapids Public Schools, the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan and Community Rebuilders. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the grants awarded page of the funder’s website.
This foundation accepts unsolicited pre-applications from nonprofits and responds with a decision within four weeks. The funder invites full applications from selected nonprofits and can take up to 90 days for the full grantmaking process. Direct general questions to the staff at 616-454-1751 or via online form.
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