Foundation Surpasses $1M Granted for COVID-19 Relief
The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation has granted $216,231 from its Community Relief & Recovery (CR&R) Fund to 11 area for-impact organizations serving individuals, families, and communities most impacted by COVID-19.
Supporting Our Local Environmental Organizations
A significant part of our mission and commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Northwest Ottawa County includes prioritizing, protecting, and preserving the environment through thoughtful stewardship, advocacy, and education.
A few of our grantees leading meaningful environmental initiatives within our community took a moment to express their appreciation to the foundation as we continue to celebrate our 50th anniversary. We have had the pleasure of working with wonderful mission-driven organizations, including the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Department and the Ottawa County Parks Foundation, the Outdoor Discovery Center Network, the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, and the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum over the years to support our shared environmental commitment.
COVID Relief Grant Recipients Highlight the Impact of Your Contributions
A few of our COVID relief grant recipients—Mosaic Counseling, Love in Action, Four Pointes Center for Successful Aging, Good Samaritan Ministries, and St. John’s Episcopal Church—took a moment to discuss the impact of these contributions and explained just how much this support has helped the important causes they lead throughout the Northwest Ottawa County area.
Impact Investing: A New Way to Invest in Our Community
At the end of 2019, the GHACF formed the Impact Investment Committee to explore a different option for investments. These investments will complement the foundation’s current investment policy, programs, and grant-making activities and establish a process for the expanded investment and development of resources in the community.
Community Leaders Extend Appreciation as Foundation Celebrates 50th Anniversary
For 50 years, relationships have been an integral part of the success of the GHACF and very much remain so today. We are grateful for the relationships that we have with community leaders because we are often more impactful when we work together.
Grant Helps Families Facing Housing Crisis
We are pleased to announce four first-round Community Impact grant awards, totaling $342,100, in support of Northwest Ottawa County and our surrounding communities. This includes $188,475 over three years to Good Samaritan Ministries (GSM) to open a satellite office in Northwest Ottawa County to better serve families facing housing crisis in our community.
A Conversation with Our First Four Grant Recipients
The GHACF has had the distinct honor and privilege of partnering with community over the past 50 years to positively impact lives. In celebration of our anniversary, we are taking look back at what we as a community have accomplished and we are imagining what we can do together over the next 50 years. Recently, I had a moment to reflect on the foundation’s first four grant recipients and how they have evolved since 1971.
Celebrating 50 Years of Making an Impact in our Community
Fifty years ago, a group of a dozen community leaders gathered together because they wanted to do something more for our community. Something bigger. They each gave $100 to start what would become the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. Little did they know the impact they would have a half-century later.
Foundation Grants Additional $223,927 for COVID-19 Relief
“Winter always brings a higher level of need in our community, and the pandemic has only amplified that. Many of our partners are striving to simply maintain operations, while others have been required to greatly expand their capacity, all while complying with critical health and safety standards that have unfortunately limited their opportunities to generate revenue and fundraise.” – Holly Cole, Vice President of Grants and Program
YAC Continues to Support Area Youth
With the first half of our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) year underway, the committee has adapted to a virtual meeting format while still working towards empowering and supporting youth in Northwest Ottawa County. We’ve used this time to pause and pivot our work, leaning into the data that shows what our youth need.