For over 70 years, Steelcase Foundation has supported Heart of West Michigan United Way, investing nearly $23 million in solutions that reduce poverty for families in Kent County. HMWUW mobilizes resources from donors, workplaces, and grant funders to support the immediate needs of ALICE families while addressing the root causes of systemic inequities through measurable, transparent solutions.

This year, the Steelcase Foundation approved a three-year $1,350,000 grant ($450,000 annually) to HWMUW to execute its 2022-2025 strategic plan. For the next three years, the organization will:

• support partner agencies through its Community Grant Fund committed to poverty reduction through Youth Education, Family Stability, and Financial Security;
• engage the next generation of donors and mobilize community members to address critical needs through its Volunteer Center and Young Leaders’ Society;
• expand capacity of grassroots BIPOC-led nonprofits through its Opportunity Initiative;
• amplify its work in crisis and community fund dissemination through housing stabilization efforts and participation in the redesign of the statewide 2-1-1 system.

We’re excited to continue our longstanding partnership with HWMUW as it continues to invest in solutions to reduce poverty in our community so all families can thrive.