← Back to US Funders Directory

Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$24.2M
Grant Range
Up to $0.6M
Decision Time
3mo

Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $24,180,887 (most recent fiscal year)
  • Total Assets: $486 million
  • Decision Time: Minimum 90 days from pre-application to final decision
  • Available Funding: ~$2.25M (Fund for Community Good) + ~$1.24M (field of interest funds) annually
  • Geographic Focus: Kent County, Michigan
  • Founded: 1922 (Michigan's first community foundation)

Contact Details

Address: 185 Oakes St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: 616-454-1751
Email: grfound@grfoundation.org
Website: www.grfoundation.org

Key Contacts for Grant Applicants:

Overview

Founded in 1922, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation is Michigan's first community foundation and has awarded over $245 million in grants since its inception. With total assets of $486 million, the foundation awarded $24.18 million in grants and scholarships in its most recent fiscal year. The foundation's mission is to build and manage the community's permanent endowment and lead the community to strengthen the lives of its people. Under new leadership as of February 2024, President and CEO LaSandra Gaddy guides the foundation's commitment to being "actively anti-racist" and advancing equity and justice in Kent County. The foundation's funding priorities center race while also considering how other aspects of identity intersect to shape unique experiences, investing in partners who share their commitment to systemic change and community-led solutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants through two main funding streams:

  • Fund for Community Good (unrestricted funds): ~$2.25M available annually for initiatives across all priority areas
  • Field of Interest Funds: ~$1.24M available annually for specific focus areas determined by donors
  • Multi-year funding: The foundation welcomes multi-year funding requests and encourages applicants to include the length of time and total amount requested in their pre-application

Priority Areas

The foundation provides financial support across six main areas:

  1. Education: Supporting academic achievement and learning opportunities
  2. Health: Investing in healthy people and health equity
  3. Neighborhoods: Building vibrant neighborhoods and community infrastructure
  4. Social Engagement: Fostering arts, culture, and social enrichment
  5. Economic Prosperity: Supporting workforce development for living wage jobs and increasing access to capital for historically under-resourced entrepreneurs
  6. Environment: Promoting healthy ecosystems

Recent Grant Examples (2024-2025)

  • aqume Foundation: $600,000 to provide tools, access and financial investment in organizations led by people of color
  • United Methodist Community House: Support to expand senior programming and develop a new state-of-the-art senior center
  • Family Outreach Center: Funding to hire diverse clinicians, increasing access to culturally responsive behavioral health services
  • African Collaborative Network: Support to equip African immigrants with skills for living-wage jobs
  • Better Wiser Stronger: Funding to empower young men through education, mentoring, and leadership development
  • Puertas Abiertas: Support for culturally specific mental health support for Latinx women who are survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and/or sexual abuse
  • Project GREEN: Funding to advance program participants' financial capabilities through financial and credit workshops
  • Immigrant Assistance Center: General operating support led by organization founded by a woman of color
  • Young Money Finances: General operating support to empower youth and families with financial literacy

What They Look For in Partners

The foundation seeks organizations that:

  • Seek to change systemic inequities
  • Address intersections of racial, social, and economic justice
  • Engage most-affected communities in decision-making
  • Have diverse staff and leadership
  • Amplify community voices
  • Leverage additional resources beyond the foundation's grant

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not explicitly listed in public materials. Interested applicants should contact program staff for clarification on funding restrictions.

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

LaSandra "Sandra" Gaddy, President and CEO (assumed role February 5, 2024)
LaSandra has decades of nonprofit and corporate leadership experience in West Michigan. She previously served as CEO of Women's Resource Center and spent 15 years in banking in various vice president roles. She brings extensive expertise in team development, strategic planning, forming collaborative partnerships, and fundraising. She succeeded Diana R. Sieger, who led the organization for 35 years since 1987.

Kate Luckert Schmid, Vice President of Program
Jessica Hermann-Wilmarth, Vice President of Development
Danielle R. Brown, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ashley René Lee, Vice President of Strategic Communications

Board of Trustees

Reneé Williams, Board Chair - Senior Vice President of Community Development at Huntington Bank
Caitlin Townsend Lamb, Vice Chair - Flight Deck Leader at GE Aviation

Notable trustees include:

  • Kyle D. Caldwell: President & CEO of Council of Michigan Foundations
  • Daniel Williams: President of Steelcase Foundation
  • Ken Fawcett, MD: Retired health professional
  • Thomas Kyros: Partner at Varnum, LLP
  • Emily Loeks: Director of Community Affairs & Public Relations at Loeks Theatres, Inc.
  • Elaina Juarez: Youth Trustee

Leadership Philosophy

Former President Diana Sieger, who led the foundation for 35 years, articulated a leadership approach that continues to influence the organization: "I have never taken my role for granted. I say that to my leadership all the time; that I am there as their leader but also as the person who is their support, who listens, and wants to listen." Her stated "super power" was "Being able to articulate a vision and not give up," and her power lesson emphasized: "Develop great relationships with people, even those who disagree with you."

Sieger also emphasized: "The community foundation belongs to the community. Our community-led funds demonstrate that and are helping us build a more inclusive philanthropic culture and practice in Greater Grand Rapids."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation uses a three-stage application process:

Stage 1: Pre-Application

  • Submit a brief online application through their portal
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • Initial feedback provided within 30 days (typically within 14 days)
  • Projects not selected for full proposal will receive feedback

Stage 2: Full Application + Site Visit

  • Selected projects invited to submit full proposal
  • Volunteer advisory committee conducts site visit
  • Committee reviews application and makes recommendation to board

Stage 3: Approval + Disbursement

  • Approved recipients receive funding instructions
  • Foundation disburses funds according to agreement

Decision Timeline

Minimum 90 days from submission of pre-application to final decision. Applicants receive initial feedback on pre-applications within 30 days, and in most cases within 14 days.

Eligibility

  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
  • Government entities
  • Organizations willing to attain a fiscal sponsor
  • Primary geographic focus must be Kent County, Michigan
  • Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply

Reapplication Policy

Previous recipients can apply for additional funding. Specific policies for unsuccessful applicants to reapply are not publicly documented; contact program staff for guidance.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

The foundation explicitly states they look for partners who:

  1. Center Equity and Justice: Organizations committed to addressing systemic inequities and advancing racial, social, and economic justice
  2. Community Engagement: Programs that meaningfully engage the most-affected communities in decision-making and program design
  3. Diverse Leadership: Organizations with diverse staff and leadership that reflect the communities they serve
  4. Community Voice Amplification: Initiatives that amplify community voices rather than speaking for them
  5. Leverage Resources: Ability to attract and leverage additional resources beyond the foundation's grant
  6. Systemic Change: Focus on changing systems rather than just providing services

Strategic Positioning

The foundation's current strategic priority is making "Kent County a place where opportunity, prosperity and belonging are accessible to all." Applications that demonstrate how they contribute to this vision are well-positioned for funding.

Multi-Year Support

The foundation is open to multi-year funding relationships. If you seek multiple years of support, include the length of time and total amount requested in your pre-application to allow the foundation to consider the full scope of partnership.

Recent Funding Patterns

Review the foundation's recent grants (available on their website) to understand current priorities. Recent awards show strong support for:

  • Organizations led by people of color
  • General operating support (not just project funding)
  • Culturally specific programming
  • Financial capability and economic empowerment initiatives
  • Mental health and behavioral health services for underserved populations
  • Programs serving immigrant communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start with pre-application: The two-stage process means you'll receive feedback before investing significant time in a full proposal. Initial response typically comes within 14 days.
  • Emphasize equity and justice: The foundation explicitly centers race and equity in its grantmaking. Clearly articulate how your work addresses systemic inequities and engages affected communities.
  • Highlight diverse leadership: Demonstrate that your organization's staff and leadership reflect the communities you serve. Recent grants show strong support for organizations led by people of color.
  • Consider general operating support: Many recent grants provide general operating support rather than restricting funding to specific projects, particularly for organizations building capacity.
  • Think multi-year: Don't limit yourself to one-year requests. The foundation welcomes multi-year funding proposals.
  • Build relationships early: With a 90-day minimum timeline, plan ahead. Contact program staff (Eugene Sueing or Keri Jaynes) with questions before applying.
  • Show leverage: Demonstrate how foundation funding will help attract additional resources and create sustainable impact beyond the grant period.
  • Kent County focus: Ensure your primary geographic focus is Kent County, Michigan. This is a strict eligibility requirement.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory