First Steps Kent
First Steps Kent is an independent nonprofit based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is listed as a public charity. It works with community partners to build a coordinated early childhood system in Kent County so young children can enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.
First Steps Kent at a glance
In short: First Steps Kent gave $9.8M across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $488K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,755,322
- -2.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- -9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $487,766
- +7.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $319,899
- Total assets
- $3,929,520
- -18.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to First Steps Kent
- How to Apply
-
Apply through the annual RFP process and include the required attachments. First Steps Kent asks agencies not currently funded to meet with its team before the RFP release.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026–27 proposal deadline was May 15, 2026, at 5 p.m.; this is a past cycle.
- Deadline
- The 2026–27 proposal deadline was May 15, 2026, at 5 p.m.; this is a past cycle.
- Contact
Mailing address: 401 Hall Street Sw Ste 385, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: (616) 632-1003
Website: https://firststepskent.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who First Steps Kent funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Kent Intermediate School District ($1.4M). Together the top 10 received $8.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 30 grants of 110 (27%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
First Steps Kent’s stated vision and millage programs serve Kent County, Michigan. In 2025, 97% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan; 1% each went to recipients in Indiana, North Carolina, and Louisiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
How First Steps Kent gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $89K (2019) to $10.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $9.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kent Intermediate School District Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $1,430,417 |
| Kent County Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $1,372,159 |
| Family Futures Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $1,189,011 |
| Arbor Circle Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $1,034,000 |
| Health Net of West Michigan Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $992,436 |
| Corewell Health Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $814,707 |
| Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $455,643 |
| Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $376,052 |
| Family Promise Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $337,700 |
| Young Mens Christian Association of Greater Grand Rapids Caledonia, MI | General Support | $321,125 |
Ready to take the next step with First Steps Kent?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing states that the Ready by Five Millage provides dedicated funding for early childhood programs. The website reports that the millage generated about $8 million in 2024 and $48 million in total. These are millage figures, not amounts of grants First Steps Kent gave.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,929,520 | $10,788,371 | $11,465,683 | $9,755,322 | 20 | — |
| 2024 | $4,830,339 | $12,965,156 | $11,930,968 | $9,993,011 | 22 | — |
| 2023 | $3,416,832 | $10,520,422 | $10,890,715 | $9,356,431 | 23 | — |
| 2022 | $3,263,286 | $8,534,103 | $8,331,757 | $6,918,342 | 23 | $-4,804 |
| 2021 | $2,604,123 | $6,363,440 | $6,180,254 | $4,391,007 | 22 | $1 |
| 2020 | $2,563,732 | $3,588,201 | $3,747,156 | $2,333,716 | 18 | $3 |
| 2019 | $1,466,341 | $1,557,034 | $1,389,520 | $88,868 | 1 | $-14,756 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
First Steps Kent’s stated mission is to create a coordinated, integrated system of early childhood services that supports Kent County families so every young child can enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life.
Ready by Five funding supports services in areas including healthy development, outreach and navigation, early learning, and parent education and support. Examples include home visiting, developmental screening, play-and-learn groups, and help navigating services. First Steps Kent says funding decisions are based on community needs assessments and recommendations from a resident proposal review board. Its filing describes grant agreements that specify uses and outcomes, require grantee financial reports, and are monitored by staff.
The 2025 grantee list includes organizations whose own stated missions cover a range of services. For example, Family Futures says it helps children reach their full potential; Health Net of West Michigan says it improves health through education and connections to care and support services; and MomsBloom says it connects families with newborns to community members who provide postpartum support. The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan describes work that includes preschool, youth programs, and social-service navigation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, First Steps Kent reported 20 grants totaling $9,755,322. Grant amounts ranged from $16,725 to $1,430,417, with a median of $319,898.
The largest reported grants included $1,430,417 to Kent Intermediate School District, $1,372,159 to Kent County, $1,189,011 to Family Futures, $1,034,000 to Arbor Circle, and $992,436 to Health Net of West Michigan. Each was listed for general support. Other 2025 recipients included Corewell Health ($814,707), Grand Rapids Community College ($455,643), and Vibrant Futures ($318,672).
Agencies may apply through an annual Request for Proposals process. First Steps Kent asks agencies not currently funded that are interested in applying to meet with its team before the RFP is released. For the 2026–27 cycle, proposals were to be submitted with Attachments B and C; proposals without them were considered incomplete.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kate Pew Wolters and Lew Chamberlin as co-chairs, and Josh Sayles as secretary/treasurer. It also lists Leah Atkins as parent leader and Guillermo Cisneros, Kevin Clay, Rev. Howard C. Earle Jr., and Hanna C. Jaworski, MD, as directors. Amanda Barbour is listed as a director through 2024, and Melinda Johnson as a director through September 21, 2025.
The organization’s website lists Jennifer Headley-Nordman as president, Cati Cortes as vice president of finance, Kristen Sobolewski as vice president of early care and education, Daniel VanderMolen as vice president of impact, and Kiana Garcia Zaderej as vice president of community investments.
First Steps Kent is led by Jennifer Headley-Nordman, President on every filing since 2022; 1 of 23 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Headley-Nordman
President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$26K (2022) → $151K (2025)
Amanda Barbour
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melinda Johnson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Van Dyke
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Welsh
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hanna C. Jaworski MD
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Howard C. Earle Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelsey Perdue
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randy Thelen
Director
Director - Start → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Cantor
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Guillermo Cisneros
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Clay
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Krashawn Martin
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claudia Jones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Pinkham
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Gorman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Pew Wolters
Co-Chair
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lew Chamberlin
Co-Chair
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Queen
Parent Leader
Director - Start → Parent Leader, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josh Sayles
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Flora Ma
Parent Leader
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leah Atkins
Parent Leader
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Taniah Ingram
Parent Leader
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Milt Rohwer (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Ron Koehler (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Carl Ver Beek (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Juan Olivarez (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Claire Guisfredi (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Joslyn Ward (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Annemarie Valdez (2019–2022) — President
- Former: Julie Ridenour (2019–2022) — Director -
- Former: Kristina Donaldson (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Lynne Ferrell (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Maureen Hale (2019–2022) — Director -
- Former: Beca Velazquez-Publes (2022) — Director - Start
- Former: Robert Herr (2022) — Director
- Former: Susan Jandernoa (2022) — Director -
- Former: Bob Herr (2019–2021) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Sue Jandernoa (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Alejandra Contreras (2019) — Director
- Former: Joan Secchia (2019) — Former Director
- Former: Karen O'Donovan (2019) — Director
- Former: Ron Caniff (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $151K, to Jennifer Headley-Nordman (President).
Frequently asked questions about First Steps Kent
How much does First Steps Kent give each year?
First Steps Kent gave $9.8M across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $10.0M across 22 grants.
What is First Steps Kent's typical grant size?
First Steps Kent's median grant in 2025 was $319,899, and its average grant was $487,766, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does First Steps Kent give grants?
First Steps Kent gives mostly in Michigan: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (16 grants).
Does First Steps Kent give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of First Steps Kent's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are First Steps Kent's largest grantees?
First Steps Kent's largest 2025 grantees include Kent Intermediate School District ($1,430,417), Kent County ($1,372,159) and Family Futures ($1,189,011), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is First Steps Kent?
First Steps Kent reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.8M.
What does First Steps Kent fund?
First Steps Kent’s stated mission is to create a coordinated, integrated system of early childhood services that supports Kent County families so every young child can enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Steps Kent?
Apply through the annual RFP process and include the required attachments. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is First Steps Kent's EIN?
First Steps Kent's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0640886. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in First Steps Kent's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). First Steps Kent funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/first-steps-kent-morg_3798d6169000482da1531364211106cf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_270640886_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{First Steps Kent funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/first-steps-kent-morg_3798d6169000482da1531364211106cf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from First Steps Kent's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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