At the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (GHACF), the Allendale Community Foundation, and the Coopersville Area Community Foundation, our fund holders, donors, partners, teammates, along with their families, and the communities that we serve remain our top priorities. Throughout the pandemic, we have continued to offer the level of personalized service and customized solutions that individuals, organizations, and corporations have come to expect.

We appreciate your continued confidence and understanding as we navigate these ever-changing times. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact any member of our team.

From March 14, 2020 through May 18, 2020, a community coalition comprised of the Greater Ottawa County United Way, the GHACF, LNA, Community Spoke, and the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area worked together to monitor the ongoing developments surrounding COVID-19, as well as proactively worked to assist with the increasing needs of our community.

During that time, the coalition awarded 110 grants totaling over $990,000 from the Emergency Human Needs Fund to area nonprofit organizations that are helping our community in this time of crisis. View the full list of grants here: Emergency Grants During COVID-19.

The coalition launched careottawacounty.com to keep the public informed of how they can help and established an Emergency Human Needs Fund at the GHACF. The GHACF, the CFHZ, and the GOCUW worked together to provide funds to nonprofit organizations that help the most vulnerable in our community.

• The fund is non-endowed to ensure resources will be used to respond to the evolving crisis and long-term plans for recovery.
• Areas of focus include safe housing, accessible nutrition, physical and mental health, education, arts and culture, frontline fatigue, and vulnerable communities such as seniors and children.
• Grants are awarded to support core operations in an effort to allow organizations to continue caring for Northwest Ottawa County communities.

Broad and generous community support has allowed the GHACF to continue raising resources and award more than $1.1 million in grants from the Community Relief & Recovery Fund to area for-impact organizations that remain focused on addressing the increased needs.

The ongoing pandemic has amplified the needs of our community. While many for-impact partners are striving to simply maintain operations, others have had to greatly expand their capacity while complying with critical health and safety standards that have limited their opportunities to generate revenue and fundraise.

As we continue to focus on relief and recovery efforts in Northern Ottawa County, it is imperative that local for-impact organizations are provided the support necessary to not only adapt their operations, but sustain their missions, in an effort to fully care for our neighbors in this continued time of need.

As a result of the ongoing needs, we are keeping the Community Relief & Recovery Fund open and will continue to actively fundraise for the foreseeable future.

Give to the Community Relief & Recovery Fund
Apply for the Community Relief & Recovery Fund Grant Program

Restoring Hope Challenge Match

Launched in June of 2020, the Restoring Hope Challenge Match served as an initial spark for the Community Relief & Recovery Fund. In less than seven weeks, hundreds of generous individuals, organizations, and funds came together to contribute more than $325,000 – for a total of more than $650,000 (with the match) – to the fund.

If you would like to help, you may still make an online donation to the Community Relief & Recovery Fund on our Donation Page. You may also mail a check (please include CR&R Fund in the memo line) to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation at One South Harbor Drive, Grand Haven, MI  49417.

Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired
– $5,000 to support organizational operations and programming, specifically within Northern Ottawa County.

Bethany Christian Services
– $20,000 to support mental health counseling efforts in Northern Ottawa County.
– Grand Haven Office – $5,000 for the Grand Haven office’s Client Assistance Fund, which is designed to meet the tangible needs of clients and families receiving services. Support may include food and nutrition, personal hygiene products, and COVID-19 supplies.

Big Brothers Big Sisters
– $5,000 to provide five youth from northern Ottawa county an opportunity to be matched with a “Big.” Bigs serve to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships to encourage youth to meet their full potential.

Children’s Advocacy Center
– $18,500 to create new and accessible resources for teachers, parents and children to continue body safety programming and education within the limitations created by COVID-19.

City of Grand Haven – Neighborhood Housing Services
– $20,000 to support education and housing counseling services as a Department of Housing and Urban Development Local Housing Counseling Agency.
– $15,000 toward Neighborhood Housing Services’ Homeowner Repair grant program for low to moderate income households in NW Ottawa County. The demands of the pandemic have caused the price of construction to rise, ultimately limiting the number of projects that can be successfully completed. Awarded funds will be allocated to support critical project overruns such as safe and secure roofing.

Community Access Line of the Lakeshore (Call 211)
– $11,500 for community outreach efforts to ensure that the public is able to connect with the services they need.

Every Woman’s Place
– $4,000 to continue their vital services for the community, especially during the increase of domestic violence cases during quarantine and COVID-19.

Four Pointes Center for Successful Aging
– $25,000 to support the Home Care team that have been tirelessly providing care to the vulnerable senior population.
– $22,500 for the Home Care Program, which provides care to the vulnerable senior population, and the participation of senior citizens who are otherwise unable to afford services.

Gracious Grounds
– $10,000 to support the Wraparound Services Program, a program created in response to limitations and demands of COVID-19. The Wraparound Services Program connects residents and their families to local resources to support physical, emotional, and mental health.

Grand Haven Area Public Schools
– $87,983 to support the purchase of educational materials and platforms to allow flexible and greater access to learning.

Good Samaritan Ministries
– $25,000 to support the Community Housing Partnership program, which provides short-term financial assistance to families experiencing homelessness.

Hand2Hand
– $5,000 to support the creation of snack-packs and breakfast-packs for children in Northern Ottawa County.
– $20,000 to purchase food for 6,000 “backpacks” provided to over 250 area students for nourishment over the weekends within Spring Lake and Grand Haven area schools.

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes
– $10,000 toward virtual engagement of corporate and community volunteers and the development of digital learning opportunities.

Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates
– $15,000 to support their Legal Services Program, which provides high-quality, affordable legal services.

Little Red House
– $37,052 to help staff develop, manufacture, and install unique table dividers to provide adult day care clients a healthy and safe environment for re-engagement.

Loutit District Library
– $9,950 for the purchase of acrylic shields and UV cleaning devices to further improve the safety of library members, as well as the acquisition of additional mobile hotspot devices to meet the demands of area students and adults learning and working remotely.

Love In Action
– $25,534 to support the collaborative Housing Costs and Case Management Program, which provides support to local families, regardless of religious affiliation or beliefs, who are unable to meet rent, mortgage, or utility payments.

Mary Free Bed
– $15,000 toward the expansion of their telehealth services.

Momentum Center
– $22,500 for mental health programming, which includes the Momentum Center, the Momentum Center Teen program, and community conversations.
– on behalf of the Ottawa County Suicide Prevention Coalition $8,000 for county-wide mental health awareness resources that are available to those who may be homebound or do not have internet access.

Mosaic Counseling
– $25,000 to support access to affordable mental health services and programming.
– $45,000 to meet the increased demand for mental health services caused by COVID-19. Funding will support the onboarding of new therapists, provide uninsured or underinsured clients access to care, maintain the School Outreach Program over the summer months via teletherapy, and provide suicide prevention training to the larger, northern Ottawa county community.

No One Lives Alone
– $10,000 to support the continued operations of Bernice’s House, a sober living program in Grand Haven. The grant will fund cleaning supplies and PPE, help provide residents access to technology for virtual engagement, and provide staff training and support for co-occurring disorders.

Northwest Ottawa Recreation Authority
– $25,000 to support basic operating expenses, which are normally supported from programing fees.

North Ottawa Community Health System
– $30,000 toward the purchase and installation of ultraviolet lights and air ionization units throughout the patient areas of North Ottawa Community Hospital and Heartwood Lodge.

Ottagan Addictions Recovery (OAR)
– $10,000 towards the creation and implementation of the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Clinic in the Grand Haven office. MAT supports the treatment of opioid use disorders and maintaining long-term recovery.
– $25,000 toward the continued treatment, education, and support for those affected by addictions and co-occurring mental health concerns.

OAISD – Wellness Coaching for Educators – $16,000

Ottawa Community Schools Network – Coopersville
– $7,200 to help provide educational, mental health, and general support to students.

Outdoor Discovery Network
– $50,000 to go towards the support of a partnership with the Ottawa Area ISD to help students, staff and administration safely return to school this fall by utilizing outdoor learning space and educational techniques to provide safe, relevant, and engaging learning experiences.

R.E.A.D. Ottawa
– $6,000 to sustain free, one-on-one tutoring to adults striving to strengthen their reading and language fluency.

The Little Red House, Inc.
– $20,000 for the creation of an Infection Control / Quarantine Room as required to reopen and safely provide adult day care services.
– $5,000 towards safety and security expenses critical to the organization’s successful reopening.

Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence
– $5,259 for Shelter and Emergency Housing.
– $30,000 to go toward the increased cost of operating the emergency shelter and expenses associated with housing families in alternative locations as the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in intimate-partner violence in Northwest Ottawa County.

The Salvation Army of Grand Haven
– $25,000 to support the Emergency Shelter Program.
– $50,000 to support the Pathway of Hope program, a program launched in 2011 rooted in case management and focused on individual needs and mastery of life skills for stability and self-sufficiency.

Spring Lake Public Schools
– $67,492 to fully staff a social worker at Jeffers Elementary School and further support the district’s strategic development of Social Emotional Learning.

TCAN Preschool Roundtable
– $10,000 for PPE within area preschools.

Talent 2025
– $5,000 to support continued operations of its programming, as well as collaborative, timely conversations among stakeholders. across the 13-county region of West Michigan toward the ultimate goal of becoming a Top 20 employment market by the year 2025.

Tri-Cities Family YMCA
– $25,000 to ensure summer programming operations continue—including children’s day camps, which provide a safe and meaningful space for local youth.
– $25,000 to support continued operations and critical community services.
– $25,000 towards the safe and successful launch of summer programming including the licensed and accredited Summer Day Camp and Childcare program. Awarded funds will also support the continued delivery of critical community services such as food and nutrition distribution.

Tri-Cities Habitat for Humanity
– $16,231 for emergency home repairs such as roofing, home entry steps, and bathroom handrails as well as the creation and installation of wheelchair ramps in an effort to support an individual or family’s ability to “age in place.”

Walden Green Montessori
– $9,550 towards social, emotional, and mental health efforts, including providing staff and administration access to training in Trauma Informed School and incorporating mindfulness and Social Express programming for students.

If you would like to help, you may still make an online donation to the Community Relief & Recovery Fund on our Donation Page. You may also mail a check (please include CR&R Fund in the memo line) to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation at One South Harbor Drive, Grand Haven, MI  49417.

If you are looking for food, housing, transportation, or financial assistance, please call 2-1-1, or access resources on their website.

Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm, but we are currently open to visitors by appointment only. We have a rotating schedule with some staff in the office and others working from home.

Our team can all be reached via phone or email during normal business hours. Email addresses can be found on our Meet the Team page.

GHACF issues more than $200K in grants
Grand Haven Tribune – June 1, 2021

GHACF awards more than $1M in one year for those most impacted by COVID-19
The Lakeshore | West Michigan – May 31, 2021

More than $200K in COVID relief grants awarded locally
Grand Haven Tribune – January 16, 2021

Foundation grants additional $625,000 for COVID-19 relief
The Lakeshore: West Michigan – September 18, 2020

Community foundation’s challenge match goal met
Grand Haven Tribune – August 8, 2020

Community’s generosity takes COVID-19 response fund beyond goal
Rapid Growth | Lakeshore – August 7, 2020

14 ways grants are making a difference in the Grand Haven area
Rapid Growth | Lakeshore – July 15, 2020

COVID-19 relief in Grand Haven (video interview)
Fox17 – July 7, 2020

Restoring Hope Challenge Match extended
Grand Haven Tribune – June 27, 2020

GHACF extended Restoring Hope Challenge Match in face of continuing need
Rapid Growth | Lakeshore – June 26, 2020

Emmanuel Hospice launches telehealth program
Grand Rapids Business Journal – June 26, 2020

Philanthropy steps up to help as crisis hits nonprofits hard
MiBiz – June 21, 2020

Community foundation launches challenge match for pandemic relief
Grand Haven Tribune – June 17, 2020

Foundation matching donations to Restoring Hope fund for COVID-19 relief
Rapid Growth | Lakeshore – June 12, 2020

Women Who care support emergency response coalition
Grand Haven Tribune – June 11, 2020

Community coalition shifts from emergency needs to recovery
Grand Haven Tribune – June 3, 2020

Community coalition supports area nonprofits
Grand Haven Tribune – May 20, 2020

Where is the America we used to see in times of disaster?
Grand Haven Tribune – May 13, 2020

Community Foundation Holland/Zeeland assists Ottawa Co. residents during COVID-19
Fox 17 – May 12, 2020

Living Sustainably: Local campaign asks to #ShareTheStimulus
Holland Sentinel – April 27, 2020

Ottawa County leaders: #ShareTheStimulus if you don’t need it yourself
Holland Sentinel – April 17, 2020

Emergency grants, community donations provide thousands of meals
Rapid Growth | The Lakeshore – April 15, 2020

Emergency grant funding keeps mental health services going
Rapid Growth | The Lakeshore – April 9, 2020

Community coalition grants funds to local organizations (update)
Grand Rapids Business Journal – April 7, 2020

Community coalition grants support to Resilience, others
Grand Haven Tribune – March 31, 2020

Living Sustainable: careottawacounty.com highlights hope, positivity
Lenconnect.com – March 30, 2020

Change-Ups: Websites
Grand Rapids Business Journal – March 27, 2020

Can’t hug, but can reach out
Grand Haven Tribune – March 27, 2020

A call to action: philanthropy’s commitment during COVID-19
Council of Foundations – March 24, 2020

Emergency grants help nonprofits get more food, services to those in need
Rapid Growth | Lakeshore – March 24, 2020

Lakeshore nonprofits make it safe and easy to help from home
Rapid Growth | Lakeshore – March 23, 2020

COVID-19: 5 Things Funders Can Do to Support Grant Partners
Council of Michigan Foundations – March 23, 2020

Coalition grants immediate funds to local organizations
Grand Haven Tribune – March 23, 2020

Greater Holland community rallies to provide support during COVID-19 outbreak
Holland Sentinel – March 22, 2020

United Way offers opportunities to help during coronavirus crisis
Rapid Growth | Lakeshore – March 19, 2020

Community coalition grants funds to local organizations
Grand Rapids Business Journal – March 18, 2020

Resource website offers help, outlet for support
Grand Haven Tribune – March 18, 2020

Ottawa County asking for helpers amid coronavirus shutdowns
Holland Sentinel – March 15, 2020

Community coalition develops online resource hub for those looking to help
Grand Haven Tribune – March 14, 2020