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Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Annual Giving
$13.0M
Grant Range
Up to $0.1M00
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13,037,510 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $119.8 million (2021 reporting)
  • Number of Grants: 209 awards (2023)
  • Decision Time: 8 weeks
  • Grant Range: Up to $40,000 (capital) / Up to $60,000 over 2 years (programmatic)
  • Geographic Focus: Holland/Zeeland area, Michigan

Contact Details

Address: 85 E 8th St, Suite 110, Holland, MI 49423

Phone: 616-396-6590

Website: cfhz.org

Director of Community Impact: Yadah V. Ramirez

Overview

Established in 1951, the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area (CFHZ) is a community foundation serving the greater Holland and Zeeland area in Michigan. With assets of approximately $120 million and annual grantmaking of over $13 million, CFHZ seeks to ensure the community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building the community's endowment to support high-impact charitable projects, helping donors achieve their charitable goals, and leading and partnering in community-level initiatives. The foundation has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 97%. Patrick Cisler serves as the foundation's fourth President/CEO, having assumed the role in May 2023, succeeding Mike Goorhouse. CFHZ operates with core values including "Excellence is the Standard," "Treat Others How They Would Like to Be Treated," and "Every Act is Stewardship."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Responsive Grants - Open funnel process investing across a broad range of issues

  • Capital Grants: Up to $40,000 one-time funding for property purchases, construction, facility remodeling/expansion, or major equipment
  • Programmatic Grants: Up to $60,000 over maximum of two years for new programs or program expansions
  • Application requires pre-contact with Director of Community Impact
  • Note: No additional responsive grant rounds scheduled in 2025

Proactive Grants - Focused funding in targeted community priority areas (2026-2028)

  • Supporting Student Success
  • Financial Stability for Working Families
  • Increasing Access to Mental Health Services
  • Application deadlines vary by focus area (January, May, October 2026)

Priority Areas

CFHZ is committed to addressing:

  • Arts and culture
  • Community and economic development
  • Environment
  • Education
  • Health
  • Human services
  • Housing
  • Seniors
  • Youth

The foundation prioritizes proposals that:

  • Are core to the organization's mission
  • Will have a lasting impact
  • Represent a turning or pivot point for the organization
  • Address inequities
  • Demonstrate organizational capacity (financial stability, leadership capacity, successful project/program delivery record)

What They Don't Fund

  • Operating support
  • Research and planning
  • Emergency requests
  • Religious programs advocating specific doctrines
  • Requests from individual classrooms
  • Organizations or requests outside the greater Holland/Zeeland geographic area

Governance and Leadership

Staff Leadership

  • Patrick Cisler - President/CEO
  • Colleen Hill - Vice President of Development and Donor Services
  • Rob Arnold - Director of Finance
  • Yadah V. Ramirez - Director of Community Impact
  • Rachel Shelton - Director of Development
  • Stacy Timmerman - Director of Scholarships
  • Sydney Santa Ana - Donor Services and Events Manager
  • Nathan Willit - Finance and Operations Manager
  • Ellie Davis - Communications Officer
  • Mitch Doyle - Community Impact Program Officer / College Success Coach
  • Ebony Roach - Scholarship Program Officer / College Success Coach
  • Sara Hemsani - Donor Services & Administrative Assistant

Board of Trustees

  • Scott Brooks - Chair
  • Jasmine Irish - Chair Elect
  • Tim Hemingway - Secretary
  • Ed Amaya - Treasurer
  • Erin Avery Zylman - Past Chair
  • Jessica Arends - Trustee
  • Tom Den Herder - Trustee
  • Sue Franz - Trustee
  • Olaf Huebner - Trustee
  • Micki Janssen - Trustee
  • Melissa Kamara Liggins - Trustee
  • Jonathan Padnos - Trustee
  • Jean Ramirez - Trustee
  • Ann VanZalen - Trustee
  • Yazlén Ochoa - Youth Trustee

Quote from President/CEO Patrick Cisler: "I look forward to the opportunity to further CFHZ's mission of growing the Community's Endowment for further transformational impact."

Quote from Board Chair Diane Kooiker (on Patrick Cisler): "Patrick is adept at building long-term relationships and walking alongside donors, nonprofits, and community partners to help the greater Holland/Zeeland area become a place where all who live and work in our community can thrive."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Required Pre-Application Contact: All applicants must first contact Director of Community Impact, Yadah V. Ramirez, before submitting an application.

After initial discussion, the Director will provide the application form. Applications are submitted through the Foundant online portal.

Decision Timeline

Organizations should anticipate approximately 8 weeks between the application deadline and receiving a final decision on their proposal.

Review Process: Grant applications are reviewed and evaluated by the Distribution Committee or the Youth Advisory Committee with support from CFHZ staff. Review committees provide recommendations to the Foundation's Board of Trustees for final grant determinations.

Success Rates

In 2023, CFHZ awarded 209 grants totaling $13,037,510. The foundation has consistently awarded between 185-211 grants annually over recent years:

  • 2023: 209 awards
  • 2022: 203 awards
  • 2021: 185 awards
  • 2020: 211 awards

Reapplication Policy

Information on reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants was not publicly available. Contact the Director of Community Impact for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on CFHZ's stated priorities and recent funding patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

Alignment with Organizational Mission: CFHZ prioritizes proposals that are "core to the organization's mission" rather than side projects or experimental initiatives.

Lasting Impact: The foundation looks for programs and projects that will create enduring change in the community, not short-term fixes.

Organizational Capacity: Applications must demonstrate:

  • Financial stability
  • Strong leadership capacity
  • Proven record of successful project/program delivery

Addressing Inequities: CFHZ specifically values proposals that work to address inequities in the Holland/Zeeland community.

Strategic Timing: Proposals that "represent a turning or pivot point for the organization" receive priority consideration.

Recent Funded Examples illustrate CFHZ priorities:

  • I AM Academy's Rumble to Rise program - Empowering Black and Brown students with communication and leadership skills
  • Velo Kids - Expanding Bike Club Program embedded in organizations serving underserved populations
  • RISE Academy - Individualized academic support for ninth graders from Holland Public, West Ottawa, and Zeeland Public schools, especially historically underserved students
  • Love Your Neighbor - Spanish-speaking life skills program serving up to 75 families annually
  • CommunityWorks partnership with Good Samaritan Ministries - "Circles of Support" program for poverty reduction on Holland's south side
  • Midtown Counseling - School-based counseling expansion focusing on caregiver involvement
  • Women and Children's shelter - Capacity expansion for childcare, rehabilitation programs, and support services

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application contact is mandatory - Do not submit an application without first speaking with Yadah V. Ramirez, Director of Community Impact. This conversation is your opportunity to ensure alignment and receive guidance.

  • Geographic restriction is strict - Only organizations serving the greater Holland/Zeeland area in Michigan are eligible. Do not apply if you serve areas outside this region.

  • Demonstrate capacity rigorously - CFHZ evaluates financial stability, leadership strength, and track record. Be prepared to provide evidence of successful past delivery.

  • Focus on equity and lasting impact - Applications should explicitly address how the project reduces inequities and creates sustainable, long-term change rather than temporary solutions.

  • Operating support is not funded - CFHZ funds capital projects and programmatic initiatives, not general operating expenses. Frame your request accordingly.

  • Plan for 8-week timeline - Build this decision timeframe into your project planning and budget cycles.

  • Alignment with proactive focus areas increases odds - For 2026-2028, proposals addressing student success, financial stability for working families, or mental health access align with foundation priorities.

References

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