The James and Jane Welch Foundation focuses on place-based community support centered in West Michigan (Ada/Grand Rapids/Kent County) while also making selective gifts to organizations in Florida and Minnesota. Their giving emphasizes arts and cultural institutions, basic needs (food banks and community food programs), youth and family services (children's centers, camps, Boys & Girls Clubs), and faith-based social service ministries. Grants are predominately general operating support with several repeat multi-year gifts and a single very large commitment to a regional arts-training organization.
A $200,000 general contribution to West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology in 2025 stands out in the James and Jane Welch Foundation’s recent record, because it sits beside a long run of repeat support for the same organization. That pattern fits a funder that backs local institutions over time, often with general operating grants rather than highly restricted awards. In West Michigan, the foundation has also supported arts, nature, food access, and family services through organizations such as Women's Resource Center, Blandford Nature Center, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, and Mary Free Bed Hospital Foundation. The foundation’s giving is not limited to one type of nonprofit. Recent grants include community food programs, youth-serving groups, and faith-based ministries, along with a campaign gift to Blandford Nature Center’s Highlands Campaign. Several grants recur across multiple years, including support for Our Hope Association, Feeding America West Michigan, Community Food Club, and Minneapolis Heart Institute Fndtn. The result is a grantmaking pattern that combines anchor support for familiar West Michigan organizations with selective gifts in Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, and Texas.
Arts and cultural education is a clear thread in the James and Jane Welch Foundation’s portfolio. The foundation gave $200,000 in 2025, plus $100,000 in both 2024 and 2023, to West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology as a general contribution, showing sustained backing for one arts-training organization. It also made a $50,000 general contribution to Grand Rapids Community Foundation in 2023 and a $7,500 general contribution to John Ball Zoo in 2023. Basic needs and food access form another core area. In 2024, the foundation gave $20,000 to Feeding America West Michigan and $20,000 to Community Food Club, then repeated support to both organizations in 2023 and 2025. Youth and family services also appear consistently through grants to Women's Resource Center, Boys & Girls Club of St Lucie Cnty, Hibiscus Children's Center, and Mary Free Bed Hospital Foundation. Faith-based social service work appears in grants to Jesus House of Hope and Sunshine After Rain Ministries.
Typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $7,500, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. Recent grants show frequent general contribution language, with a smaller set of campaign- or program-specific awards such as the Highlands Campaign and Battle Buddy. The foundation’s record also shows repeat support across multiple years for several recipients, especially West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology, Our Hope Association, Feeding America West Michigan, Community Food Club, and Minneapolis Heart Institute Fndtn. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$425K
$5.8M
$335K
$485K
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$25K
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A mix of one concentrated large commitment (notably a $400k multi-grant to a regional arts center) and many modest recurring general-support grants; primarily local/regional focus with repeated support to core grantees and occasional out-of-area donations tied to donor interests.
Notable grantees: West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology, Feeding America West Michigan, Blandford Nature Center, Women's Resource Center, Boys & Girls Club (St. Lucie County)
Grantmaking is concentrated in Michigan, where 69% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state and where the top giving state is also MI. Grand Rapids appears often, with recipients such as West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology, Women's Resource Center, Blandford Nature Center, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, and John Ball Zoo. Other Michigan recipients include Comstock Park and Ada-area institutions. Outside Michigan, grants in the recent record also reach Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Palm City, Denver, Minneapolis, and Carrollton, all within the United States.
Recent grants show support for arts and cultural education, food security, youth and family services, nature and outdoor education, and faith-based social service ministries. Examples include West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology, Feeding America West Michigan, Blandford Nature Center, Boys & Girls Club of St Lucie Cnty, and Jesus House of Hope.
Its grant sizes are usually in the low-to-mid five figures. The 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $7,500, and the 75th percentile is $25,000.
Yes. Michigan is the top state by grant count, and 69% of grants go to recipients in MI. Grand Rapids and nearby West Michigan communities account for many of the grants in the recent record.
Several recipients appear across multiple years, which points to recurring support rather than one-off grants. West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Feeding America West Michigan, Community Food Club, Our Hope Association, and Minneapolis Heart Institute Fndtn also repeat.
No. While Michigan receives most grants, the recent record also includes organizations in Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, and Texas. Examples include Mile High United Way in Denver, Minneapolis Heart Institute Fndtn in Minneapolis, and Sunshine After Rain Ministries in Carrollton.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEST MICHIGAN CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| OUR HOPE ASSOCIATION | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $34,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ST LUCIE CNTY | FORT PIERCE, FL | $32,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| HIBISCUS CHILDREN'S CENTER | JENSEN BEACH, FL | $32,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| JESUS HOUSE OF HOPE | STUART, FL | $32,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MILE HIGH UNITED WAY | DENVER, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MINNEAPOLIS HEART INSTITUTE FNDTN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN | COMSTOCK PARK, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| DISABILITY ADVOCATES OF KENT COUNTY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| CAMP HENRY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| COMMUNITY FOOD CLUB | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| NAPLES COMMUNITY HOSPITAL | NAPLES, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| YWCA - WEST CENTRAL MICHIGAN | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION | CLARKSBURG, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| JOHN BALL ZOO | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| HOME REPAIR SERVICES | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| SAFE HAVEN MINISTRIES | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| DA BLODGETT - ST JOHNS HOME | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CLINIC INC | NAPLES, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| I UNDERSTAND LOVE HEALS | ADA, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| WEST MICHIGAN CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| OUR HOPE ASSOCIATION | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $34,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| HIBISCUS CHILDREN'S CENTER | JENSEN BEACH, FL | $32,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ST LUCIE CNTY | FORT PIERCE, FL | $32,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| JESUS HOUSE OF HOPE | STUART, FL | $32,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MARY FREE BED HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN | COMSTOCK PARK, MI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| COMMUNITY FOOD CLUB | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MINNEAPOLIS HEART INSTITUTE FNDTN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MILE HIGH UNITED WAY | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| DA BLODGETT - ST JOHNS HOME | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| COLLIER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | NAPLES, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | FRESH START FUND |
| HOME REPAIR SERVICES | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| NAPLES COMMUNITY HOSPITAL | NAPLES, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| SAFE HAVEN MINISTRIES | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| CAMP HENRY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| PAWS WITH A CAUSE | WAYLAND, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| I UNDERSTAND LOVE HEALS | ADA, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| NORTH OTTAWA COUNTY COUNCIL - AGING FOUR POINTES | GRAND HAVEN, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| WEST MICHIGAN CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| BLANDFORD NATURE CENTER | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $75,000 | 2023 | HIGHLANDS CAMPAIGN |
| GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MARTIN COUNTY PALS | PALM CITY, FL | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN | COMSTOCK PARK, MI | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN MINISTRIES | CARROLLTON, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | BATTLE BUDDY |
| MINNEAPOLIS HEART INSTITUTE FNDTN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| COMMUNITY FOOD CLUB | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ST LUCIE CNTY
$32,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
MINNEAPOLIS HEART INSTITUTE FNDTN
$10,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
CAMP HENRY
$5,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
DA BLODGETT - ST JOHNS HOME
$5,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
I UNDERSTAND LOVE HEALS
$2,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ST LUCIE CNTY
$32,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN
$20,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
DA BLODGETT - ST JOHNS HOME
$5,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
CAMP HENRY
$5,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
I UNDERSTAND LOVE HEALS
$2,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
NORTH OTTAWA COUNTY COUNCIL - AGING FOUR POINTES
$2,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
MARTIN COUNTY PALS
$30,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN MINISTRIES
$10,000BATTLE BUDDY