Grand Haven Area Community
The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (GHACF) is a public charity and community foundation based in Grand Haven, Michigan. Founded in 1971 by twelve community leaders who each contributed $100, the organization has grown to become the 9th largest community foundation in Michigan. GHACF operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives gifts and donations, invests them to generate growth, and distributes funds back to the community through strategic grantmaking and philanthropic initiatives.
Key facts about Grand Haven Area Community
- EIN
- 23-7108776
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,934,250
- Grants made (2024)
- 197
- Average grant
- $55,504
- Median grant
- $19,859
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (53 of 197, 2024)
- Total assets
- $192,887,178
- Primary geography
- Michigan (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Grant applications are submitted through the foundation's grant application portal. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Grand Haven Area Community funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Grand Haven Area Community's 197 itemized 2024 grants were Michigan (95%). The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Haven, MI (39 grants), Grand Rapids, MI (36 grants), Muskegon, MI (21 grants) and Holland, MI (15 grants). 35% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Capital Campaign" (4 grants) and "Fundraising Support" (3 grants).
Is Grand Haven Area Community open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 53 of 197 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $71K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Grand Haven Area Community
- How to evaluate Grand Haven Area Community as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$192.9M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.9M
+27.7% YoY
Grant Count
197
+21.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+5.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
GHACF's mission is to "advance the well-being of the Northwest Ottawa area by creating the best places to live, learn, work, give and engage." The foundation aims to improve and enhance the quality of life in the Tri-Cities area by:
- Serving as a leader, catalyst, and resource for philanthropy
- Building and holding a permanent and growing endowment for the community's changing needs and opportunities
- Striving for community improvement through strategic grantmaking
- Providing a flexible and cost-effective way for donors to improve their community now and in the future
Primary funding priorities include:
- Arts & Culture
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Economic & Community Betterment
- Education
- Environment
- Health & Human Services
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Grand Haven Area Community?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
GHACF serves Northwest Ottawa County, Michigan, specifically:
- City of Grand Haven
- City of Ferrysburg
- Village of Spring Lake
- Surrounding townships including Crockery, Grand Haven, Robinson, and Spring Lake Township
The foundation's primary geographic focus is the Tri-Cities area and western Michigan region, though grantmaking has extended to organizations in Michigan, Missouri, and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 197 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $183 million (2023)
- $192.9 million (2024)
- $182.7 million (as of recent filing)
Annual Giving:
- $12 million+ (2024)
- $11.8 million in expenses (2023)
Revenue:
- $17.3 million (2023)
- $53.0 million annual revenue (company profile data)
Liabilities:
- $454,000 (2023)
Donor-Advised Funds: The foundation operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $192,887,178 | $182,746,977 | $158,176,337 |
| Revenue | $21,451,520 | $17,344,326 | $17,775,794 |
| Expenses | $14,250,690 | $11,762,215 | $11,858,947 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $14,272,021 | $9,557,385 | $5,937,760 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
859 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
66 open opportunities from Grand Haven Area Community
Allendale Community Foundation Scholarship Grant
Grand Haven Area Community
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Aryln J. Walt Memorial Scholarship Grant
Grand Haven Area Community
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Athena Scholarship Fund Grant
Grand Haven Area Community
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Grand Haven Christian School ($837,503), Love in Action ($766,137), Tri-Cities Family YMCA ($621,310).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GRAND HAVEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Grand Haven, MI | ENDOWMENT | $837,503 |
| LOVE IN ACTION Grand Haven, MI | OPERATING FUND | $766,137 |
| TRI-CITIES FAMILY YMCA Grand Haven, MI | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $621,310 |
| MIDWEST MINIATURES MUSEUM Grand Haven, MI | SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT OF MUSEUM LOAN EXHIBIT | $616,088 |
| GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY Grand Rapids, MI | POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS AT THE ROBERT B. ANNIS WATER RESOURCES INSTITUTE | $536,500 |
| CITY OF GRAND HAVEN Grand Haven, MI | REIMBURSEMENT FOR SOUTH PIER ENTRANCE LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT (7.1-12.31.2023) (INVOICE #2400019849) | $437,976 |
| SPRING LAKE DISTRICT LIBRARY Spring Lake, MI | SUPPORT RENOVATION EFFORTS | $312,521 |
| MOSAIC COUNSELING Grand Haven, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $311,818 |
| OTTAWA COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION West Olive, MI | TO BE USED FOR GRAND EXPLORERS TRAIL RACE. | $282,439 |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF WEST MICHIGAN Muskegon, MI | CELLULOSE CREATION FROM WASTE TEXTILES | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a volunteer board of trustees. GHACF employs approximately 11-18 staff members across various departments including operations, finance, customer service, project management, and general management.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Konarska | Trustee/Vice Chair/Board Chair | 1 | — |
| Cindy Anderson | Trustee/Board Chair - Part Year (Jan-May) | 1 | — |
| Pat Verduin | Trustee/Secretary - Part Year (Jan-May) | 1 | — |
| Reyna Masko | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Rob Peel | Trustee/Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Natalia Kovicak | Trustee/Secretary | 1 | — |
| Shirley Woodruff | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Mary Carole Cotter | Trustee/Treasurer/Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| David Swain | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Brandon Brown | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Dean Reisner | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Cindy Moe | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Peter Haines | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Hadley Streng | President | 40 | $278,368 |
| Christopher Riker | V.P. Advancement & Donor Services | 40 | $143,936 |
| Holly Cole | V.P. Grants & Program | 40 | $138,089 |
| Patricia Macdonald | V.P. Finance & Administrat | 40 | $142,492 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements and activities include:
GHACF awarded $551,000 in grants across Northwest Ottawa County
Community foundation awards $551K in grants across Northwest Ottawa County\The foundation awarded $288,000 in Community Impact Grants in a recent funding round
Community foundation awards $551K in grants across Northwest Ottawa County\GHACF announced its largest amount of Community Impact grants ever in a recent cycle
Community foundation awards $551K in grants across Northwest Ottawa County\The foundation supports the Lakeshore Advantage program
GHACF supports Lakeshore Advantage program | Local News | grandhaventribune.comGHACF has been regularly recognized as a top 100 community foundation nationally
Community foundation awards $551K in grants across Northwest Ottawa County\The organization maintains a perfect 100% rating from Charity Navigator with a four-star designation
Contact Information
Address: 6 Sherman Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Phone: 616-842-6378
Email: info@ghacf.org
Website: ghacf.org
Grant Application Portal: grantinterface.com
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Grand Haven Area Community fund?
GHACF's mission is to "advance the well-being of the Northwest Ottawa area by creating the best places to live, learn, work, give and engage." The foundation aims to improve and enhance the quality of life in the Tri-Cities area by: • Serving as a leader, catalyst, and resource for philanthropy • Building and holding a permanent and growing endowment for the community's changing needs and opportunities • Striving for community improvement through strategic grantmaking • Providing a flexible and…
How do I apply for a grant from Grand Haven Area Community?
Grant applications are submitted through the foundation's grant application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Grand Haven Area Community make grants?
GHACF serves Northwest Ottawa County, Michigan, specifically: • City of Grand Haven • City of Ferrysburg • Village of Spring Lake • Surrounding townships including Crockery, Grand Haven, Robinson, and Spring Lake Township The foundation's primary geographic focus is the Tri-Cities area and western Michigan region, though grantmaking has extended to organizations in Michigan, Missouri, and Georgia.
What size grants does Grand Haven Area Community award?
In 2024, Grand Haven Area Community awarded 197 grants totaling $10.9M — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Grand Haven Area Community's EIN?
Grand Haven Area Community's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7108776. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grand Haven Area Community's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.