Our Mission

To build capacity in those grassroots, neighborhood organizations and related efforts that address issues of systemic poverty or diminish a sense of isolation among residents of the central city of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Our Goals

Focusing on skill development

To provide community residents with critical skills that will strengthen their ability to become productive and independent individuals.

To strengthen critical skills of staff and administrative infrastructure in organizations engaged in service, development, civic engagement, personal enrichment and community improvement programming.

Photo by Artworks, a non-profit, art-based job training program.

Focusing on strategic planning

To enhance organizational governance through the development and implementation of an operational strategic plan defined by goals, objectives, activities, responsibilities, timelines and assessment.
To promote and strengthen collaborative, multi-interest approaches to critical issues affecting local quality of life.

Focusing on fund development / marketing

To support personal economic growth of central city individuals and households.
To enhance organizational sustainability through the establishment and implementation of fund development and/or marketing plans and related activities.
To establish and strengthen organizations that recognize and promote focused community involvement in revitalization.

Focusing on data / policy

To increase individual knowledge of and access to community data, including neighborhood indicators.
To promote the collection, analysis and use of community data to measure quality of life and improve organizational decision-making, resource allocation and evaluation.
To support the growth and application of community data systems to influence policy, decision-making and resource allocation toward positive social change.

Focusing on civic engagement

To promote education preparing individuals to address key systemic issues affecting their quality of life.
To encourage and enhance organizing resident participation in matters affecting their quality of life and/or level of opportunity.
To promote the practice of utilizing citizen involvement to benefit the formation of, and implementation of, public policy.

Focusing on economic and housing development

To develop, strengthen and support efficient organizations which promote community-based revitalization in the central city of Grand Rapids.
To support the development of healthy local economies, including the critical revitalization of neighborhood residential, commercial and mixed-use districts.

Focusing on direct service

To provide residents with those services which will add happiness and reduce pain, suffering and dysfunction in their lives.
To support successful program initiation or expansion of direct services identified as critical and sustainable.
To promote the establishment and maintenance of collaborations which enhance quality of life through united planning, programming, resource development and delivery of critical direct service.

Focusing on cultural enrichment

To support the involvement of low- and moderate-income residents in cultural activities.
To support organizations related to services and products which enhance community residents’ enjoyment of life.
To support services and products which aesthetically enhance the community environment.

Focusing on environmental improvement

To support organizations which improve and preserve the natural environment in greater Grand Rapids.
To support programs which improve and preserve the natural environment in greater Grand Rapids.