2011 Grants

Support for the acquisition and renovation of the former Davenport University downtown campus, as well as the renovation of existing campus facilities including the Ford Fieldhouse, Main building, and Cook Academic Hall.

Support for development of an accessible outdoor playground and learning environment sited on the campus of Grand Rapids Public Schools' Lincoln Development Center and available for use by the broader community.

Support for a better and larger space to house an innovative approach to reducing hunger among preschool- and elementary-aged children.

Support for a capital campaign to acquire, renovate, and equip a once vacant warehouse southwest of downtown Grand Rapids to house a new, expanded central kitchen in support of the Senior Meals Program.

Support to expand the region's capacity to attract youth and amateur baseball and softball tournaments, stimulate economic activity, and potentially generate substantial economic impact.

Support for the acquisition and renovation of a facility to expand its retail thrift store operation.

Support for the School Nurse Partnership initiative designed to provide site-based preventative health services to school children in the Charlevoix area.

Support for the "Transformation Investment Plan" - an effort to create a sustainable high-quality public safety operation.

Support for the reconstruction and update of a model of downtown Grand Rapids.

Support for a study of the area's parks systems in order to identify, evaluate, and propose organizational, operational, and funding models that could maintain services for multiple jurisdictions.

Support for a capital campaign to transform the southern tip of downtown Grand Rapids into the area's first year-round urban farmer's market, and the country's first LEED-certified public market.

Support for surveys of citizens and local officials regarding municipal service sharing.

Support to help broaden the base of support for this statewide public policy organization focused on economically vulnerable families and children.

Support for capital improvements to the Fulton Street Farmers Market to provide greater access to fresh, locally-sourced food for the surrounding neighborhood as well as to the greater Grand Rapids area.

Support for the Michigan Metropolitan and Urban Strategy project - an urban economic redevelopment initiative.

Support for the next stage in the development of an independent, nonpartisan "think-and-do" tank that champions a results-driven public sector.

Support for an initiative to expand the capacity of a high-quality child development program through repurposed space within the neighborhood community center.

Support for multidisciplinary team training in the investigation of child sexual assault.

Support for the establishment of an Early Education Scholarship Fund, a community-wide initiative to improve access to high-quality early education for at-risk preschoolers in preparation for kindergarten entry.

Support for the Family Literacy program in collaboration with the Schools of Hope program within Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Support to meet a challenge grant to engage economically disadvantaged 3-year-old children in high-quality preschool in partnership with the local Great Start Collaborative.

Funding for the Holland-centered, community-led early care and education initiative designed to better prepare young children for school entry.

Support for the Read to Me parent/child education program.

Support for the Food 4 Kids Backpack program that provides nutritional meals for economically disadvantaged children over the weekends and summer recess.

Support for the Little Pine Island Cabin and Rope Challenge Course capital campaign.

Support for the Hope Academy of West Michigan, a pre-K to 12 charter school for the academic preparation of underserved preschool children and improved outcomes for at-risk elementary and high school students.

Support for ArtPrize 2011 and the organization's efforts toward financial sustainability.

Support for the "Advancing the Creative Spirit: Keeping the Promise" campaign to expand the College's impact as a supplier of creative talent and design innovation while helping to revitalize Detroit's Midtown area.

Support to grow Crooked Tree's community arts education offerings through the addition of a Program Director and the use of new space in the adjacent former Carnegie library.

Support to assist this small start-up in its efforts to grow their donor base and improve their facilities in order to generate increased earned revenue.

Support for the exploration of and planning for a new School of the Arts within the Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Support for "Keeping Arts in the Picture," an initiative to support arts education and educators in schools and create public awareness of the need to nurture artistic talent of youth.

Support for the construction of the Upton-Morley Performing Arts Pavilion, a new seasonal performance venue.

Support for a campaign to renovate aging exhibits, construct new exhibits, and create visitor amenities intended to increase attendance and revenue.

Support for an architectural and feasibility study of Old Town Playhouse's facilities and site for possible improvement and expansion.

Support to expand the distribution of the Gallery's online newsletter and subsequently coverage and knowledge of the contemporary arts; also to expand the number of its members and donors.

Support for an after-school strings program for youth.

Support for the Bach Chorale's transition to an independent non-profit and to broaden its donor base.

Support for a capital campaign to construct a new LEED-certified, multidisciplinary, contemporary arts facility at the southwest corner of Fulton Street and Division Avenue.

Support for VSA program planning and expansion: a multi-year effort to build VSA's internal capacity in order to both grow and create programming in and out of school for children, youth and adults with disabilities in collaboration with their community partners.

Support to create a safe and accessible connection between the White Pine Trail and the township's Trestle Park.

Support for a detailed master plan process to understand the transportation, land use, and economic development potential of the Michigan Street corridor.

Support for a citizen engagement campaign to organize and build grassroots engagement in an effort to keep the Great Lakes Asian carp free and to encourage decision makers to accelerate the completion of planned research.

Support for "Parks Alive", a new program to reclaim and sustain parks through volunteer support while growing sponsorship opportunities that encourage people to stay and play.

Support for the removal of three Boardman River dams and the modification of a fourth, restoring the flow of this cold-water river into Lake Michigan at Traverse City.

Support for the creation and implementation of a business plan related to the startup of the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds.

Support for the final phase of "Advancing Conservancy Excellence", a program to increase the pace, quality, and permanence of land conservation by ensuring successful national accreditation for a majority of Michigan's land conservancies.

Support for a master planning effort to develop a route to connect LARA's Phase I trail with the regional Fred Meijer River Valley Rail Trails.

Support for Phase II of the "Building a Sustainable Future" campaign, a three-phase capital campaign designed to increase program capacity by improving facilities and visitor access to nature.

Support for a comprehensive Michigan sign control guidebook and series of statewide trainings.

Support for the Pigeon River Habitat Improvement project.

Support for the "Pathways to Sleeping Bear" and Phase I of an effort to construct a 27-mile non-motorized trail in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore called the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

Support to conduct a trout angler survey to provide state-level management data on the status and economic impacts of coldwater and salmonoid species angling, while developing accurate profiles of the state's recreational trout and salmonoid anglers.

Support for updates to the Coalition's trail atlas and the creation of a smartphone application.

Support for the Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund, a resource for nonprofit organizations in West Michigan.

Support for the Schools of Hope program.