About Right Place
To drive sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity for all in the Greater Grand Rapids Region.
Focus Areas
economic developmentjob creationbusiness attraction and retentiontalent and workforce developmentregional planningadvanced manufacturinghealth sciencestechnology
Who They Fund
regional economic development organizations and municipalitiesemployers and manufacturers adopting Industry 4.0workforce participants / jobseekers and incumbent workerstechnical colleges, training providers, and MMTCschildcare providers and families in regional communities
About Right Place
The largest recent grant from The Right Place Inc was $23,670,874 to Gotion Inc for SSRP, a signal that the foundation’s giving is centered on large-scale economic development work in the Greater Grand Rapids region. Across its recent grants, it supports site readiness, revitalization and placemaking, childcare planning and access, workforce training, and Industry 4.0 implementation for employers and training providers. The foundation’s role is not limited to one sector: its grant list includes municipal infrastructure projects, regional workforce intermediaries, community colleges, and manufacturers adapting to new technology. Several recent awards show how the strategy works in practice. Vibrant Futures received grants for regional childcare planning and regional childcare support, while Mecosta County Development Corp was funded for build-ready site and strategic site readiness work. The foundation also backs manufacturing modernization, with grants to companies such as The Decc Company Inc and Seal Bond Inc for Industry 4.0 implementation. Its stated purpose is to drive sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity for all in the Greater Grand Rapids Region, and the grant record reflects that regional mandate through a mix of public, nonprofit, and business recipients.
What Right Place Funds
Economic development is the clearest thread in the grant record. The foundation gave $652,500 to Village of Shelby for a revitalization and placemaking grant, and $125,000 to City of Cedar Springs for the same type of work. It also supported site readiness through awards such as $543,234 to Mecosta County Development Corp for a build ready site and strategic site readiness grant. Workforce development is another major area. Montcalm Community College received $49,000 for workforce training equipment and talent pathways, while West Shore Community College received $45,000 for workforce training equipment. In the manufacturing pipeline, grants went to companies including Extol Inc and Rsi of West Michigan for Industry 4.0 implementation. Regional childcare planning also appears in the portfolio through Vibrant Futures, which received funding for regional childcare planning.
How Right Place Gives
Typical grants cluster in the low five figures, with a p25 of $13,408, a median of $20,814, and a p75 of $25,000. The distribution includes a small number of much larger awards, including one multi-million-dollar grant, alongside many grants at or near the $25,000 level. The pattern suggests a mix of large project funding and smaller implementation or equipment grants. The recent list shows repeat funding to some recipients across years or through multiple related awards, including Vibrant Futures, S J Kingma & Associates LLC, and Mecosta County Development Corp. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grantmaking is local and entirely within Michigan.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$25.4M
Total Assets
$36.8M
Total Revenue
$33.9M
Total Expenses
$33.6M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $13K and $25K, with a median of $21K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$21K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
About 100% of grants go to recipients in MI.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
RANDY THELEN
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Right Place?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime