Application Process
Community Impact 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 Preliminary Application
If you have an idea for a project, you may submit a Preliminary Application at any time. We recommend that you submit your Application a minimum of 4-6 weeks before the grant deadline.

Step 2: Preliminary Application Reviewed
Within 2 weeks of submission, our team will review your Preliminary Application to determine whether the project aligns with our grantmaking priorities, then respond to you.

Step 3: Complete a Grant Application
Your Preliminary Application 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.

For questions about the grant portal or our grantmaking process and guidelines, contact our Vice President of Grants & Program, Holly Cole.
Grant Impact Stories
$50,000 in Grants Awarded to Local Municipalities in Celebration of 50 Years of Service
In continuation of our 50th anniversary celebration, our foundation recently granted $50,000 to local municipalities to improve the quality of life and promote a healthy, inclusive, collaborative, and diverse community in Northwest Ottawa County.
Community Book Read
In honor of our 50th anniversary, we were able to make possible several smaller, community-focused activities including the donation of books to students. In May of this year, we gave a copy of the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? to every Northwest Ottawa County second grader, local public libraries as well as school and classroom libraries. This resulted in a total of nearly 1,000 books gifted.
Grant Lifts Up Program for Latinx Leaders
The Board of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce four third-round Community Impact grant awards, totaling $275,000, in support of Northwest Ottawa County and our surrounding communities. This includes a $40,000 grant to Tri-Cities Puentes Initiative for “LEADeres Lakeshore,” a leadership and professional development program for Latinx professionals and leaders in the lakeshore area.