Fostering Community Vibrancy

Building Community


Community is built at the intersection of people and place.  With that understanding, we support projects and programs that range from neighborhood-based initiatives to efforts with broad regional impact that engage residents and foster community vibrancy.

Our grantmaking priorities currently include:

  • Ensuring access to affordable housing for all
  • Encouraging well-planned development to create strong city centers and vibrant neighborhoods
  • Fostering public-private partnerships to leverage capital investments that enhance local and regional impact
  • Supporting workforce development

Featured Stories

Housing Innovation

While Michigan’s economy is strong, many people who are employed struggle to find homes they can afford in our communities. In West and Northern Michigan, our partners are collaborating across sectors to explore innovative solutions to housing accessibility and affordability.

Inner City Christian Federation

Ryan VerWys can describe the work of Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF) in one sentence. “We’re making places for people to come home to,” he says proudly. In a city where affordable housing is in short supply, where children leaving foster care struggle to obtain adequate employment and housing, and where the injustices of discriminatory housing practices echo.

Muskegon Farmers’ Market

The Muskegon farmers’ market has always been considered a community asset, a great place to meet friends and buy fresh food. But the 50-year-old structure needed work and lacked amenities such as running water and electricity that market vendors want these days. Its location, tucked in an area with limited visibility and accessibility, also presented challenges.

Habitat Kent

For 30 years, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County has partnered with businesses, non-profit organizations, funders, tradespeople, thousands of volunteers, and qualified Habitat home buyers to help nearly 400 families achieve the dream of owning a home. With that home comes tangible stability – no more moving every few months from rental to rental or relative to relative.

Uprep Academy

In a downtown neighborhood that has struggled for decades, one unique school is demonstrating how a challenging curriculum, high expectations and personal attention set the stage for students to thrive.

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