Grants
Grantmaking Priorities
The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation will consider grants that seek to enhance the quality of life and promote a healthy, inclusive, collaborative, and diverse community in Northwest Ottawa County.
Click the icons below to learn more about our individual priorities and how you can help support their funds!
Grant Application Process
The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation is proud of our role as a community grantmaker. We aim to increase the capacity of the nonprofit sector by making strategic community investments in programs that advance our mission of improving and enhancing the Northwest Ottawa County area.
Step 1: Submit a Letter of Inquiry
If you have an idea for a project, you may submit a Letter of Inquiry at any time. We recommend that you submit your Inquiry a minimum of 4-6 weeks before the grant deadline.
Step 2: Letter of Inquiry Reviewed
Within 2 weeks of submission, our team will review your Letter of Inquiry to determine whether the project aligns with our grantmaking priorities, then respond to you.
Step 3: Complete a Grant Application
Your Letter of Inquiry helps determine whether the project aligns with our grantmaking priorities. If eligible, the appropriate grant application will be made available to you through the online application portal.
Step 4: Grant Applications Reviewed
Our team conducts a thorough due diligence process on all submitted grant applications. A site visit may be scheduled prior to review by our Grants Committee.
Funding Eligibility
Please consider whether your organization meets the following requirements:
- Has a current 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS, is a unit of government, or a religious or educational institution.
- Serves the Northwest Ottawa County or greater West Michigan region.
- Addresses one or more of the foundation’s grantmaking priorities of funding sources for the program or project in order to demonstrate sustainability.
Important Dates
for GHACF grants
November 20, 2019 – Letter of Inquiry Due
January 2, 2020 – Grant Deadline
February 27, 2020 – Notification
February 19, 2020 – Letter of Inquiry Due
April 1, 2020 – Grant Deadline
May 29, 2020 – Notification
August 19, 2020 – Letter of Inquiry Due
September 30, 2020 – Grant Deadline
December 4, 2020 – Notification
Youth Grant Program
The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council awards funding annually to support local programs and projects that work to seed and expand programming and opportunities for the young people in our community.
The same grant process and guidelines apply, however, please ensure your inquiry addresses one or more of the YAC Grantmaking Priorities. Larger youth-focused grants may be reviewed by both the Grants Committee and the Youth Advisory Council for a co-funding opportunity.
Important Dates
November 20, 2019 – Letter of Inquiry Due
January 2, 2020 – Grant Deadline
February 27, 2020 – Notification
February 19, 2020 – Letter of Inquiry Due
April 1, 2020 – Grant Deadline
May 29, 2020 – Notification
August 19, 2020 – Letter of Inquiry Due
September 30, 2020 – Grant Deadline
December 4, 2020 – Notification
For questions about the grant portal or our grantmaking process and guidelines, contact our Vice President of Grants & Program, Holly Cole.
Grant Impact Stories
Inspiring Philanthropy
We’re redefining philanthropy to include time, talent, treasure, and ties, because it’s not about how much you give, but how deeply you care.
Recent Grants Focus on Youth, Wellness
At the end of May, our board, together with the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), announced nine second-round grant awards, totaling $203,015 in support of Northwest Ottawa County and our surrounding communities. This includes a $25,000 grant to the City of Ferrysburg for a new playground at Fire Barn Park at the intersection of 174th Avenue and North Shore Road.
Grant Recipient: Bluebird Cancer Retreats
Bluebird Cancer Retreat’s mission has always been to serve adults who have been affected by cancer. It is the only retreat opportunity of its kind for those with cancer in the West Michigan region, and one of only 34 retreat centers serving adults with cancer in the nation. “Most cancer retreats focus on children,” said Renee Denslow, Executive Director of Bluebird Cancer Retreats. “But adults have families and the need to serve the entire family was huge. We wanted to do something for the families and asked ourselves what it would look like if adults could attend with their kids.”