Homelessness in Grand Rapids Requires Short and Long-Term Approach

By Brittany DernbergerApril 19, 2019May 21, 2019 Foundation News, Grant Awards

The Steelcase Foundation recently awarded several grants to prevent and respond to homelessness in the Grand Rapids area. In the short-term, response strategies are needed to address immediate community needs…

Kentwood Parent Academy

By Leslie SchoenApril 2, 2019April 6, 2019 Grant Awards

Last fall, Kentwood Public School (KPS) launched a two-year Parent Academy pilot to provide language and educational programming to the parents of the 1,800+ English language learner (ELL) students in…

Accessibility and Inclusion at Grand Rapids Children’s Museum

By Leslie SchoenMarch 29, 2019March 21, 2019 Grant Awards

In its 21-year history, the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum (GRCM) has welcomed over 3.5 million guests, and invited young children and their hosts to engage in hands-on learning and exploration…

Storytime in the Park

By scfoundationMarch 25, 2019March 21, 2019 Grant Awards

Grand Valley State University (GVSU) launched its summer literacy program, Storytime in the Park (formerly Storytime in the Heights) in June of 2010, providing children on the southeast side of…

Covenant House Michigan – Grand Rapids House

By Leslie SchoenMarch 21, 2019March 21, 2019 Grant Awards

On November 26, Covenant House Michigan – Grand Rapids (CHMGR) opened its doors to 12 young men, welcoming its first cohort to the newly built space. Through a $4.5 million…

Messy Work – Broad-based Organizing for Social Change

By Brittany DernbergerFebruary 1, 2019February 10, 2019 Foundation News

When non-profits talk about community organizing efforts, the purposes can seem vague. What does it look like to build capacity in people? How does engagement actually happen? What does system…

Steelcase Foundation and Heart of West Michigan United Way

By Leslie SchoenNovember 15, 2018April 2, 2019 Grant Awards

Steelcase has a long history of supporting Heart of West Michigan United Way (HWMUW). Last year, with some help from the Steelcase Foundation, Steelcase Inc.’s United Way campaign raised $1,132,719,…

Steelcase Foundation’s First Program-Related Investment (PRI)

By Brittany DernbergerAugust 13, 2018September 4, 2018 Foundation News

Many people are familiar with grants, which are often the way foundations support nonprofit organizations. Fewer people may be aware of another tool foundations can use: program-related investments, known as…

2018 Second Quarter Grant Awards

By Leslie SchoenMay 24, 2018August 29, 2018 Grant Awards

The Steelcase Foundation awarded five grants to the following organizations for second quarter of 2018. Education Grand Rapids Public Schools received $580,000 over three years to continue its Harvard Leadership…

Matching Gifts Program Expands to Cover Disaster Relief

By Christine CarrizalesApril 9, 2018April 18, 2018 Foundation News

What will be the next Puerto Rico? The next Houston? The next Fukushima? We can’t predict where an earthquake will hit, a volcano will erupt or severe weather events will…

Q2 2019 Grant Awards

By Leslie SchoenApril 15, 2019May 21, 2019 Grant Awards

At its April 8, 2019 meeting, the Steelcase Foundation trustees awarded grants to the following four organizations: Council of Michigan Foundations The Council of Michigan Foundations received $15,000 for each…

Empowering Parents through Family Literacy

By Leslie SchoenMarch 31, 2019March 21, 2019 Grant Awards

The Literacy Center of West Michigan was founded in 1986, and modeled on the “each one, teach one” tutoring philosophy, which designs activities around the learner’s individual needs. As the…

KDL On the Road

By Leslie SchoenMarch 27, 2019March 21, 2019 Grant Awards

On October 15, the Steelcase Foundation celebrated the launch of the Kent District Library’s (KDL) new Bookmobile with Steelcase employees at Steelcase’s Grand Rapids Business Center. The Bookmobile will allow…

First Steps Kent

By Leslie SchoenMarch 23, 2019March 21, 2019 Grant Awards

First Steps Kent’s (FSK) vision is that every young child will enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed in school and in life. Through its work with early childhood partners,…

2019 First Quarter Grant Awards

By Leslie SchoenFebruary 10, 2019February 10, 2019 Grant Awards

The Steelcase Foundation awarded seven grants to the following organizations for the Foundation’s Q1, 2019. Education Affinity Mentoring was awarded $75,000 over three years to expand its programming to recruit,…

2018 Fourth Quarter Grand Awards

By Leslie SchoenDecember 31, 2018February 10, 2019 Grant Awards

The Steelcase Foundation awarded grants to five organizations at its fourth quarter 2018 meeting: Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation (SAF) was awarded $25,000 to create an Athletic Tracking System for…

2018 Third Quarter Grant Awards

By Christine CarrizalesAugust 13, 2018August 28, 2018 Grant Awards

The Steelcase Foundation awarded five grants to the following human service organizations for third quarter of 2018: Heart of West Michigan United Way received $450,000 toward its 2018 fiscal year….

How does the Steelcase Foundation respond to pressing community needs?

By Brittany DernbergerAugust 1, 2018September 4, 2018 Grant Awards

Nonprofits are on the frontline of communities: meeting basic needs, connecting people to resources, advocating for policy change, and providing programs government and the private sector cannot accomplish. Because of…

Gifts from Donor-Advised Funds Now Eligible for Matching Gifts

By scfoundationMay 10, 2018September 4, 2018 Foundation News

The Steelcase Foundation Board of Trustees approved the extension of personal funds to include Donor Advised Funds (DAF) for the Matching Gifts Program. Starting now and until April of 2019,…

January 2018 Update

By Leslie SchoenJanuary 29, 2018September 4, 2018 Foundation News

On January 8th, the Steelcase Foundation Board of Trustees at their quarterly meeting approved six grants to local organizations, and $122,082 in matching gifts. The trustees also welcomed two new…