Organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes; funds gifts, grants and scholarships with special focus on youth activities, environmental improvements, and other charitable endeavors promoted by the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids.
A $20,000 grant to IKUS Life Enrichment Services for facility upgrades is one of the clearest signals in Rotary Club of Grand Rapids- Charities Foundation’s latest giving: it uses grant dollars to strengthen local organizations’ capacity as well as support direct services. The foundation’s recent awards also include $18,840 to Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services for a pediatric center serving mental health and autism spectrum disorder needs, showing attention to specialized care for children and families. Other grants point to a broad charitable mix that includes student basic needs, neighborhood improvements, arts programming, and community support. In 2025, the foundation backed a SHOES program for low-income students, tree planting work, downtown sculpture installations, domestic violence services for Latinx community members, and professional coaching for youth musicians. Its active programs show a similar range, combining scholarships, mentoring, and community grants with support for local, regional, and international nonprofits. Organized exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes, the foundation funds gifts, grants, and scholarships tied to Rotary Club of Grand Rapids priorities across youth activities, environmental improvements, and other charitable endeavors.
Youth support appears in several forms. The foundation gave $15,000 to In the Image for the SHOES program, which provides athletic shoes to students from low-income families, and $7,200 to Grand Rapids Youth Symphony for professional musician coaching sessions for Youth Symphony students. It also has active scholarship and mentoring programs for Grand Rapids Public Schools high school students. Health and human services are another clear thread. A $18,840 grant to Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services supported a pediatric center for mental health and autism spectrum disorders. The foundation also awarded $10,000 to Puertas Abiertas for services in the Latinx community for those affected by domestic violence. Place-based community work shows up in environmental and downtown projects. Friends of Grand Rapids Parks received $10,000 for tree planting, while Downtown Grand Rapids received $10,000 to place sculptures around downtown and encourage residents and visitors to explore the area.
$103K
$1.6M
$191K
$204K
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The foundation’s recent grant sizes cluster around the low five figures: the top of the list is $20,000, with other awards at $18,840, $15,000, $12,000, several at $10,000, and a $7,200 grant. It is a public charity, and its active program list shows both open community grants and named scholarship programs. Recipients recur at the program level more than as repeated grantees in the recent grant list; the data shows ongoing scholarship, mentoring, and community-grants activity rather than a single one-off project. Community Grants accepts unsolicited proposals, while the STRIVE Mentoring and Scholarship Program does not. Some scholarship programs are also open to unsolicited applications.
The recent grants list is entirely U.S.-based, with all eight grants going to recipients in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Several awards support city-specific work there, including downtown placemaking, tree planting, and services for students and families. The foundation’s active programs extend beyond the city: one scholarship is for Michigan residents, and Community Grants may support local, regional, and international nonprofits. Even so, the recent recipient footprint is concentrated in Grand Rapids rather than spread across multiple states or countries.
Its stated focus areas include youth programs, education and scholarships, environmental projects, community development, international service, and polio eradication. Recent grants also show support for mental health services, autism-spectrum support, low-income student needs, domestic violence services, public art, and youth music education.
Yes, for some programs. Community Grants accepts unsolicited proposals, and the Richard and Helen DeVos Scholarship and David V. and Nancy A. Huhn Scholarship both accept unsolicited applications. The STRIVE Mentoring and Scholarship Program does not accept unsolicited applications.
Recent awards are mostly in the $10,000 to $20,000 range, with examples at $20,000, $18,840, $15,000, $12,000, and several $10,000 grants. The Richard and Helen DeVos Scholarship is listed at $25,000 for a single award.
Active scholarship-related programs include STRIVE Mentoring and Scholarship for Grand Rapids Public Schools high school students, the Richard and Helen DeVos Scholarship for Michigan residents pursuing master’s, doctoral, or advanced research study in Michigan, and the David V. and Nancy A. Huhn Scholarship for students in technical, mechanical, and engineering fields.
The recent grants list shows eight grants, all to recipients in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The foundation’s program structure also reaches beyond the city through Community Grants, which can support local, regional, and international nonprofits.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Rotary Club of Grand Rapids- Charities Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Open to local, regional, and international nonprofits. Funding is limited and requests may be submitted throughout the year.
Deadline: Requested throughout the year
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKUS Life Enrichment Services | Grand Rapids, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | Support facility upgrades |
| Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services | Grand Rapids, MI | $18,840 | 2025 | Support for pediatric center for mental health autism spectrum disorders |
| In the Image | Grand Rapids, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | Support for SHOES program which provides athletic shoes to students from low income families |
| Rotary Club of Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | $12,000 | 2025 | Community |
| Downtown Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | Support program placing sculptures around downtown to encourage citizens and visitors to explore downtown Grand Rapids |
| Friends of Grand Rapids Parks | Grand Rapids, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | Support for tree planting |
| Puertas Abiertas | Grand Rapids, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | Support services in the Latinx community for those effected by domestic violence |
| Grand Rapids Youth Symphony | Grand Rapids, MI | $7,200 | 2025 | Support for professional musician coaching sessions for Youth Symphony students |
| Rotary Club of Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | $12,000 | 2024 | Community |
| Rotary Club of Grand Rapids | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $12,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY |
IKUS Life Enrichment Services
$20,000Support facility upgrades
Support for pediatric center for mental health autism spectrum disorders
In the Image
$15,000Support for SHOES program which provides athletic shoes to students from low income families
Rotary Club of Grand Rapids
$12,000Community
Downtown Grand Rapids
$10,000Support program placing sculptures around downtown to encourage citizens and visitors to explore downtown Grand Rapids
Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
Support for tree planting
Puertas Abiertas
$10,000Support services in the Latinx community for those effected by domestic violence
Grand Rapids Youth Symphony
$7,200Support for professional musician coaching sessions for Youth Symphony students
Rotary Club of Grand Rapids
$12,000Community
Rotary Club of Grand Rapids
$12,000COMMUNITY