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PARTNERS in Progress
This summer, Grand Rapids Community Foundation awarded $1,035,000 in grants to local nonprofits from the Fund for Community Good and Field of Interest funds. These grant partnerships support nonprofits in meeting community needs and are made possible by generous donor partners like you.
AMERICAN ARAB INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSOCIATION, $2,500
The grant is a partnership with American Arab Intellectual Property Association as they support the revival of traditional knowledge of Arab culture, including traditional food, customs, traditions, and crafts.
DIATRIBE, $375,000
Diatribe’s mission is to use restorative art to disrupt historical systems of oppression by reimagining education, holistically honoring the community through their approach to their work and creating an unapologetic vision for liberation that is accessible to all. This grant will help them purchase and transform the former Holwerda-Snoap Sporting Goods store into the Emory Arts and Culture Hub. The grant will also help this organization, located in the Garfield Park neighborhood, expand staffing to increase capacity for afterschool programming and provide a mixed-use space for artists, entrepreneurs and community gatherings.
MICHIGAN JUSTICE FUND, $150,000
Michigan Justice Fund is dedicated to advancing justice reform and the economic mobility of individuals with criminal convictions in Michigan. This funding collaborative advances effective and equitable justice policy and funding. It is housed at Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. This grant will be combined with resources from other funders working together to support nonprofits across the state. Grand Rapids Community Foundation is a participatory member in the grantmaking and learning collaborative.
MICHIGAN STUDENT POWER ALLIANCE, $7,500
Michigan Student Power Alliance connects students across interests, identities and campuses. This grant supports a People of Color Caucus Fellow based in Grand Rapids to support the work, relationships and community-building efforts to address racial inequalities through community organizing.
URBAN CORE COLLECTIVE, $200,000
Urban Core Collective serves as the fiduciary for a collaborative effort to strengthen the ecosystem of community-led advocacy in Kent County. Through this grant, UCC will invest in the community and support proactive initiatives expanding the infrastructure and access to support for organizers and movement leaders.
URBAN LEAGUE OF WEST MICHIGAN, $300,000
This grant will help Urban League of West Michigan purchase an adjacent property and expand their current facility. More space will allow them more opportunity to fulfill their goal to improve the overall quality of life for Black students and families by increasing education supports and reaching more youth. The Urban League is the city’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering Black and African American communities to enter the economic and social mainstream.
Written by D.P.
