Grand Rapids Launches Capacity Building Initiative for Nonprofits

Grand Rapids Hosts New Initiative for Nonprofits

Grand Rapids, MI – In January 2025, the Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation launched a new initiative called “Capacity Building: Grand Rapids.” This program is designed to support 14 local nonprofit organizations in their quest for long-term sustainability, programmatic excellence, and greater community impact. The initiative is being executed in collaboration with the DeVos Institute for Arts and Nonprofit Management, which has extensive experience in capacity building for arts nonprofits globally since its establishment in 2001.

Facilitated by key figures from the DeVos Institute, including Chairman Michael Kaiser and President Brett Egan, the program provides a comprehensive set of resources aimed at enhancing the operational effectiveness of local nonprofits. The foundation’s initiatives have reached over 2,000 organizations around the world, making it an industry leader in nonprofit capacity enhancement.

Program Details and Implementation

The program encompasses a variety of personalized consultations, group training sessions, and a strategic planning process tailored to each participant’s individual needs. The first phase of the training culminated on May 9, 2025, where Dick and Betsy DeVos discussed the program’s early impacts and articulated future goals for both the initiative and the participating organizations.

According to the DeVos Family, the training program allows arts and cultural institutions to significantly strengthen their impacts on West Michigan families. This sentiment was echoed by Maggie Lancaster, the CEO of the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, who highlighted the program’s relevance and richness, asserting that its benefits extend to organizations of all sizes and budgets.

What’s Next for Participants

Looking ahead, phase two of the program includes matching participating nonprofits with individual consultants to help develop strategic plans tailored to their missions. Following this, the organizations will receive approximately six months of support during the implementation phase to ensure the successful adoption of their strategies.

Among notable participants in this inaugural program is the Grand Rapids Symphony, a key player in the local cultural landscape. The smiling success of the initial phase has set a positive trajectory for other nonprofits in the area, fostering a spirit of collaboration and improvement across the sector.

Broader Context and Significance

This initiative is part of a larger trend, with similar capacity building programs being rolled out in various cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, and Dallas, among others, both in the United States and globally. Such widespread efforts reflect a growing recognition of the need to strengthen nonprofit organizations, enabling them to have a sustained impact on their communities.

The DeVos Family Foundation has a notable history of philanthropy, having recently concluded the activities of the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation in May 2024. This foundation alone distributed more than $1.1 billion to over 1,000 organizations since its inception in the late 1960s. Significant past beneficiaries of their funding include the Corewell Health Foundation, Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Christian Schools, and the Grand Valley University Foundation. The final contribution from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation was a significant $20 million donation to Corewell Health’s children’s hospital in early 2024.

The “Capacity Building: Grand Rapids” initiative is seen as a vital step towards empowering local nonprofits to thrive in a challenging funding climate, ultimately benefiting the community as a whole. As organizations continue to adapt and grow through the resources provided by this program, the hope is that they will emerge stronger and more effective in meeting the needs of the families they serve in West Michigan.