River City Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $2,852,763 (2024)
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies widely; median grant ~$101,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily Michigan, with emphasis on Grand Rapids area
Total Assets: $29,898,984

Contact Details

Address: 2287 Hillside Court, Dexter, MI 48130

Phone: Not publicly available

Email: Not publicly available

Website: None

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Contact information is not publicly listed as they work exclusively with preselected organizations.

Overview

River City Foundation is a private foundation established in April 1991 and based in Dexter, Michigan. With total assets of approximately $29.9 million and annual charitable distributions of $2.85 million (2024), the foundation focuses its grantmaking on healthcare, community development, and social services primarily in Michigan. The foundation made 13 grants in 2023, with a median grant size of $101,043. The foundation operates through a small volunteer board and does not maintain a website or public application process. Recent financial activity shows significant growth, with contributions of $24.2 million received in 2024, suggesting substantial donor support for the foundation's mission. The foundation's largest grants have supported major institutions including the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity of Kent County.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

River City Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. All grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors to preselected charitable organizations.

Recent Grant Recipients (2023):

Grand Rapids Community Foundation: $1,001,788
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation: $500,711
Habitat for Humanity of Kent County: $301,098

Grant Range: Based on 2023 data, grants ranged from smaller amounts to over $1 million, with a median of approximately $101,000.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns, the foundation appears to prioritize:

Healthcare and Rehabilitation: Significant support for medical facilities and rehabilitation services
Community Development: Support for community foundations and housing initiatives
Social Services: Grants to organizations addressing community needs

Geographic Focus

Primary focus: Michigan, particularly the Grand Rapids and Kent County area
Some grants to Illinois organizations

What They Don't Fund

As an invitation-only funder, the foundation does not publicly disclose exclusions. However, they:

Do not accept unsolicited applications
Do not fund organizations outside their preselected network
Do not provide grants to individuals

Governance and Leadership

The River City Foundation operates with a small volunteer board of directors, all serving without compensation:

Anne Kittendorf - President (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)

Thomas G. Kyros - Secretary/Treasurer (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)

Heidi Thornton - Director (0.25 hours/week, $0 compensation)

The foundation has no paid staff and relies entirely on volunteer leadership for governance and grantmaking decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The River City Foundation has explicitly indicated that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grantmaking decisions are made by the board of directors based on their own research and relationships with organizations.

Organizations cannot apply for funding through any formal application portal, letter of inquiry, or other submission method.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation makes grants on its own initiative without a public application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as none are accepted.

In 2023, the foundation made 13 grants totaling approximately $2.9 million.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking to understand the foundation's priorities can observe:

Grantmaking Patterns:

Preference for established, well-known Michigan institutions
Support for organizations with significant community impact
Focus on healthcare, housing, and community development sectors
Willingness to make substantial grants (six-figure amounts) to key partners

Types of Organizations Funded:

Community foundations that can leverage and redistribute funds
Healthcare institutions providing rehabilitation and specialized services
Housing and community development organizations
Established nonprofits with strong track records

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation operates entirely on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited proposals
Significant Grantmaking Capacity: With $2.85 million in annual distributions and growing assets, this is a substantial funder for organizations in its network
Geographic Focus: Strong preference for Michigan organizations, particularly in the Grand Rapids/Kent County area
Healthcare Priority: Recent grants show significant support for medical and rehabilitation services
Large Grant Sizes: The foundation is capable of making six-figure grants to priority partners (median ~$101,000)
Community Foundation Strategy: Large grants to Grand Rapids Community Foundation suggest interest in leveraging community infrastructure
Housing and Social Services: Consistent support for organizations addressing housing insecurity and community needs

References

Grantmakers.io - River City Foundation Profile (EIN 38-2966996), accessed January 6, 2026 https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/382966996-river-city-foundation/
CauseIQ - River City Foundation, Dexter, MI, accessed January 6, 2026 https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/river-city-foundation,382966996/
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - River City Foundation (EIN 38-2966996), accessed January 6, 2026 https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/382966996
IRS Form 990-PF filings for River City Foundation (tax years 2021-2024)