Grand Haven Area Community Foundation awards $687K to nonprofits, public safety, literacy
The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees has awarded more than $687,000 in Community Impact grants for its summer 2026 cycle.
GRAND HAVEN — The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees has awarded more than $687,000 in Community Impact grants for its summer 2026 cycle.
The grants distribute critical funding to local initiatives across northwest Ottawa County, including public safety, early literacy, nonprofit capacity, and environmental sustainability.
A focal point of this funding round is a $114,500 grant allocated to Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence. The funding arrives as victim-service agencies nationwide brace for substantial drops in government assistance.
Resilience, which has provided free and confidential crisis intervention, advocacy, and housing support across Ottawa and Allegan counties for nearly 50 years, will use the capital to ensure long-term operational stability and boost service outreach in the Tri-Cities region.
“The need for victim services has not diminished, even as funding challenges continue to grow,” said Megan Hennessey, executive director of Resilience. “This grant will help strengthen Resilience’s long-term sustainability while increasing awareness of the support and resources available to survivors throughout the Tri-Cities communities.”
Alongside the grant to Resilience, the GHACF Board approved five additional major community awards:
- Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance ($300,000): A three-year investment aimed at improving leadership, governance, tech infrastructure, and financial management for local nonprofits.
- John Ball Zoo ($150,000): Funding for sustainable geothermal infrastructure powering a new giraffe habitat under the zoo's African Expansion Project.
- Ready for School ($69,605): Support to sustain and expand the "Reach Out and Read" early literacy program at Corewell Health Pediatrics in Grand Haven.
- Child Development Services of Ottawa County ($30,000): Development of a new, inclusive playground at the Central School childcare center in Grand Haven.
- HEARTSafe Tri-Cities ($23,600): A community initiative expanding CPR and AED training across Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Ferrysburg to secure a national HEARTSafe designation.
"The impact of these investments extends far beyond individual projects," said Hadley Streng, president and CEO of the GHACF. "Together, they strengthen the organizations, systems, and partnerships that help make Northwest Ottawa County a vibrant, healthy, and resilient place to live."
The foundation announced that its Winter 2027 grant pre-application portal will open on Sept. 22, with initial filings due Nov. 4.
— Submitted by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
