
The Ronda E. Stryker and William D. Johnston Foundation makes highly concentrated, place-based investments in Kalamazoo, MI, prioritizing community revitalization, neighborhood institutions, and early childhood services. Their funding mixes large capital and planning grants (citywide initiatives and capital campaigns) with multi-million-dollar support for neighborhood organizations, health centers, and coordinated early learning infrastructure. They favor unrestricted/operating support and seed or launch funding for collaborative, long-term local initiatives.
The Ronda E Stryker and William D Johnston Foundation stands out for its sustained support of Kalamazoo-based systems change, especially initiatives tied to early childhood, community infrastructure, and intergenerational poverty. A defining thread is its multi-year investment in the Kalamazoo Early Learning Network and related preschool infrastructure, alongside major commitments to citywide planning and neighborhood institutions. The foundation also backs organizations that build local capacity over time, often through operating support or campaign funding rather than short-term project grants. Recent grants show a strong emphasis on organizations that anchor community life in Kalamazoo. The foundation gave $4,000,000 to Hispanic American Council Inc for the El Concilio capital campaign, supporting Latinx institutional capacity in the city. It also awarded $3,800,000 to Douglass Community Association for general operating support and a capital campaign, reflecting attention to neighborhood-based organizations that combine services with physical infrastructure. Health and family-serving institutions are another recurring part of the portfolio. Grants to Family Health Center Inc and Kalamazoo Community Foundation for the RX Kids program show support for coordinated early childhood and family support work, while funding for community organizations such as Helping Hands Wellness Center and the Young Women’s Christian Association of Kalamazoo indicates a broad local platform focused on stability, access, and long-term organizational strength.
Early childhood systems are a major theme. In 2025, the foundation gave $3,774,731 to Family Health Center Inc for objectives of the Kalamazoo Early Learning Network preschools, and it previously awarded $3,739,906 to Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative for launch and support of ELNC-Kalamazoo early childhood education services. Community infrastructure and capital work also appear prominently. The foundation provided $3,000,000 to Lift Foundation for Lodge House affordable housing development, and $2,000,000 to Ecumenical Senior Center for a capital campaign, pointing to support for place-based facilities that serve local residents. Youth development and school supports are another clear area. Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo received $2,100,000 in 2024 and again in 2025 for elementary integrated student supports, while New Connections of Kalamazoo received $1,836,940 in 2025 for skilled and vocational trade and life skills training for school-age youth. The foundation also supports racial healing and civic work, including $1,500,000 to Kalamazoo Community Foundation for Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Kalamazoo.
$53.2M
$40.3M
$63.6M
$56.1M
Most grants fall between $51K and $200K, with a median of $150K.
25th Percentile
$51K
Median
$150K
75th Percentile
$200K
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Very concentrated giving: a small number of very large grants (multi-million-dollar), mostly to local Kalamazoo organizations; combination of capital/campaign grants and flexible operating support; repeats and multi-year commitments to core local partners.
Notable grantees: City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Hispanic American Council (El Concilio), Douglass Community Association, Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC) / Family Health Center
Typical grants cluster at a large scale: the 25th percentile is $50,632, the median is $150,000, and the 75th percentile is $200,000. The recent-grants list shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo, Young Women’s Christian Association of Kalamazoo, Helping Hands Wellness Center, and Kalamazoo Community Foundation, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation also funds individuals, and its active grant programs describe a relationship-centered, strategic approach that uses general operating support, multi-year grants, project grants, capacity building, and limited capital campaign support. Some program descriptions note unsolicited inquiries are accepted, while others describe proactive or invitation-based partnering.
This is an intensely local grantmaker: 99% of grants go to recipients in Michigan, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Kalamazoo is the main recipient city by a wide margin, with many grants directed to organizations there, including City of Kalamazoo, Douglass Community Association, and Family Health Center Inc. One notable non-Kalamazoo recipient appears in the recent list: Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The geographic pattern matches a county-level focus on Kalamazoo and nearby institutions.
It funds nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions that work on systems and root causes of intergenerational poverty in Kalamazoo County. The active grant programs also emphasize organizations led by and serving Black people and people of color, plus equity, anti-racist work, and organizational capacity building.
Yes, some of its active grant programs accept unsolicited inquiries or applications. Other program descriptions say the foundation has moved to a proactive or invitation-based approach, so application access depends on the specific grant program.
The grant-size distribution centers at $150,000 median, with a 25th percentile of $50,632 and a 75th percentile of $200,000. The recent grants list also includes much larger awards, showing that the foundation makes both mid-sized and major commitments.
Its giving is highly local. The stated geographic scope is local, 99% of grants go to recipients in Michigan, and the recent-grants record is concentrated in Kalamazoo-based organizations and initiatives.
The active programs center on intergenerational poverty, systems change, equity and anti-racism, collaborative action, and organizational sustainability. Recent grants also show strong support for early childhood education, community infrastructure, youth supports, housing, and racial healing work.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,000,000 | 2025 | RX KIDS PROGRAM |
| FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC | KALAMAZOO, MI | $3,774,731 | 2025 | MAY BE USED TO ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE KALAMAZOO EARLY LEARNING NETWORK PRESCHOOLS AT FAMILY HEALTH CENTER'S DISCRETION |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $2,100,000 | 2025 | ELEMENTARY INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS |
| ECUMENICAL SENIOR CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $2,000,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| ECUMENICAL SENIOR CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $2,000,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| NEW CONNECTIONS OF KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $1,836,940 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR SKILLED AND VOCATIONAL TRADE AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING FOR SCHOOL-AGE YOUTH. |
| HELPING HANDS WELLNESS CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $1,644,254 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION (LISC)- KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $1,529,600 | 2025 | HOMEWARD PROMISE |
| YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $1,435,000 | 2025 | CRADLE KALAMAZOO OPERATIONAL CAPACITY |
| INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP | KALAMAZOO, MI | $1,183,483 | 2025 | THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING IS TO SECURE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PROGRAMS. |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $1,166,666 | 2025 | KALAMAZOO COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE |
| REACH SOBER LIVING INC | KALAMAZOO, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| KALAMAZOO COUNTY READY 4S | KALAMAZOO, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY HEALING CENTERS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $895,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY HEALING CENTERS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $895,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| URBAN ALLIANCE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $750,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO COUNTY DEFENDER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $700,000 | 2025 | FULLY OPERATIONALIZE CLIENT SERVICE PROJECT: THE VILLAGE |
| MINISTRY WITH COMMUNITY | KALAMAZOO, MI | $594,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NETWORK | KALAMAZOO, MI | $550,000 | 2025 | MAY BE USED TO SUPPORT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FATHERHOOD NETWORK AT THE DISCRETION OF KALAMAZOO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NETWORK |
| KALAMAZOO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NETWORK | KALAMAZOO, MI | $550,000 | 2025 | BUILDING A LIBERATORY OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (OST) SECTOR (OPERATIONAL FUNDING) |
| KALAMAZOO JUSTICE HUB (STARA) | KALAMAZOO, MI | $545,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DISABILITY NETWORK SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $528,665 | 2025 | ADVOCACY & COMMUNITY EDUCATION - KALAMAZOO COUNTY |
| RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES INC | KALAMAZOO, MI | $500,000 | 2025 | ROI SEEKS TO BECOME AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION, THROUGH ITS CULTURE, PROCESSES AND SERVICES OFFERED |
| READ & WRITE KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $475,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY HOMEWORKS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $425,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND CAPACITY BUILDING |
| THE URBAN FOLK ART EXPLORATORY | KALAMAZOO, MI | $425,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INTERFAITH STRATEGY FOR ADVOCACY AND ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY (ISAAC) | KALAMAZOO, MI | $365,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO BLACK MALE ALLIANCE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO LITERACY COUNCIL | KALAMAZOO, MI | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| REACH SOBER LIVING INC | KALAMAZOO, MI | $333,333 | 2025 | REACH SOBER LIVING OPERATIONS AND EXPANSION |
| HEALTHY HOUSE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $305,890 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF HEALTHY HOUSE, INCLUDING REMODELING OF OUR NEW RESIDENTIAL FACILITY AND THE CONTINUATION OF OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING PROVIDING SOBER HOUSING AS WELL AS FOOD, BEDDING, TOILETRIES, DRUG TESTING, AND PROGRAMMING. |
| THE SYNERGY CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $300,000 | 2025 | URBANZONE MIHAP & ALTERNATIVE ACADEMIC PROGRAM |
| ROOTEAD ENRICHMENT CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $279,569 | 2025 | KALAMAZOO VALLEY ACCELERATED ASSOCIATE PROGRAM (KVAAP) PILOT PROGRAM |
| CARE COLLECTIVE OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $275,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OPEN DOORS KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| KALAMAZOO NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES INC | KALAMAZOO, MI | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BLACK WALL STREET KALAMAZOO | KALAMAZOO, MI | $225,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMING SUPPORT/GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SUNNYSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | KALAMAZOO, MI | $221,250 | 2025 | FREE STORE OF KALAMAZOO AND CHUMA |
| KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CENTER AND DIRECTORS |
| KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KALAMAZOO, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CENTER AND DIRECTORS |
| SOUTHWEST CHILD CARE RESOURCES AND REFERRAL | PORTAGE, MI | $197,124 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CDA/APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM |
| ERACCE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $186,600 | 2025 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ERACCE |
| ERACCE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $186,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ERACCE |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN | KALAMAZOO, MI | $155,900 | 2025 | MAY BE USED TO SUPPORT THE OBJECTIVES OF VOICES OF YOUTH AT THE DISCRETION OF UNITED WAY OF THE BATTLE CREEK AND KALAMAZOO REGION |
| ECUMENICAL SENIOR CENTER | KALAMAZOO, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | WELLNESS SUPPORT |
| KIDS MOVING AND THRIVING | KALAMAZOO, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | WELLNESS SUPPORT |
| MOTHERS OF HOPE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | WELLNESS SUPPORT |
| EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION | KALAMAZOO, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | WELLNESS SUPPORT |
| KALAMAZOO LOAVES & FISHES | PORTAGE, MI | $150,000 | 2025 | WELLNESS SUPPORT |
FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC
$3,774,731MAY BE USED TO ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE KALAMAZOO EARLY LEARNING NETWORK PRESCHOOLS AT FAMILY HEALTH CENTER'S DISCRETION
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF KALAMAZOO
$2,100,000ELEMENTARY INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS
NEW CONNECTIONS OF KALAMAZOO
$1,836,940OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR SKILLED AND VOCATIONAL TRADE AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING FOR SCHOOL-AGE YOUTH.
HELPING HANDS WELLNESS CENTER
$1,644,254GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION (LISC)- KALAMAZOO
$1,529,600HOMEWARD PROMISE
CRADLE KALAMAZOO OPERATIONAL CAPACITY
INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP
$1,183,483THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING IS TO SECURE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PROGRAMS.
REACH SOBER LIVING INC
$1,000,000GENERAL OPERATING
URBAN ALLIANCE
$750,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
KALAMAZOO COUNTY DEFENDER
$700,000FULLY OPERATIONALIZE CLIENT SERVICE PROJECT: THE VILLAGE
MAY BE USED TO SUPPORT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FATHERHOOD NETWORK AT THE DISCRETION OF KALAMAZOO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
BUILDING A LIBERATORY OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (OST) SECTOR (OPERATIONAL FUNDING)
KALAMAZOO JUSTICE HUB (STARA)
$545,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ADVOCACY & COMMUNITY EDUCATION - KALAMAZOO COUNTY
RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES INC
$500,000ROI SEEKS TO BECOME AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION, THROUGH ITS CULTURE, PROCESSES AND SERVICES OFFERED
READ & WRITE KALAMAZOO
$475,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE URBAN FOLK ART EXPLORATORY
$425,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
KALAMAZOO BLACK MALE ALLIANCE
$350,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
REACH SOBER LIVING INC
$333,333REACH SOBER LIVING OPERATIONS AND EXPANSION
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF HEALTHY HOUSE, INCLUDING REMODELING OF OUR NEW RESIDENTIAL FACILITY AND THE CONTINUATION OF OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING PROVIDING SOBER HOUSING AS WELL AS FOOD, BEDDING, TOILETRIES, DRUG TESTING, AND PROGRAMMING.
THE SYNERGY CENTER
$300,000URBANZONE MIHAP & ALTERNATIVE ACADEMIC PROGRAM
KALAMAZOO VALLEY ACCELERATED ASSOCIATE PROGRAM (KVAAP) PILOT PROGRAM
CARE COLLECTIVE OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
$275,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BLACK WALL STREET KALAMAZOO
$225,000PROGRAMING SUPPORT/GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SUNNYSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$221,250FREE STORE OF KALAMAZOO AND CHUMA
KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$200,000KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CENTER AND DIRECTORS
KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$200,000KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CENTER AND DIRECTORS
SOUTHWEST CHILD CARE RESOURCES AND REFERRAL
$197,124EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CDA/APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
ERACCE
$186,600OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ERACCE
ERACCE
$186,500OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ERACCE
MAY BE USED TO SUPPORT THE OBJECTIVES OF VOICES OF YOUTH AT THE DISCRETION OF UNITED WAY OF THE BATTLE CREEK AND KALAMAZOO REGION
KIDS MOVING AND THRIVING
$150,000WELLNESS SUPPORT
EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
$150,000WELLNESS SUPPORT