Upcoming Grant Application Timeline
We expect Black Legacy Fund will accept grant applications early in 2027. Updates will be shared when details are confirmed.
Black Legacy Fund
Continuing our legacy
Black Legacy Fund builds on the legacy of giving in Black communities in greater Grand Rapids. Support this cause today by contributing to Our Black Legacy Fund. Your gift will support the fund's endowment, as well as provide resources for immediate grantmaking directed by the Black Legacy Fund committee. This ensures your giving will help now and in the future. Click here to give today.
Celebrating Impact and Legacy
A legacy established in 2006
20th Anniversary
In 2006, community members came together to start a fund at Grand Rapids Community Foundation that would specifically support nonprofits in Black communities. In 2026 we will honor the tradition of philanthropy in Black communities in Kent County and look to the future together. As we celebrate 20 years of impact, we also honor the vision and commitment of the fund founders: Ellen James and Elias Lumpkins and the late Margaret Sellers Walker Morris, Shirley Daniels, Beverly Drake and Cal Jeter.
2024 Grant Awards
Recipient
Amount
Date
Purpose
-
African Resource Center
$10,000
Supporting the SuccessNow Youth Empowerment program, to equip vulnerable African young adults (ages 18 -35) with social and vocational skills to contribute to Kent County's economic growth.
-
Asher Legacy L.I.F.E. Series
$19,500
The LIFE (Legacy, Inspiration, Fitness, Empowerment) Series, aims to increase and support Black women aged 50 and up in the Grand Rapids area.
-
Battle Ground JKD – Men’s Mental Health Event
$10,500
Supporting the Men's Mental Health Conference and monthly follow ups focused on supporting mental well-being.
-
Beyond the City
$33,000
Supporting the creation of spaces that nurture the dreams and aspirations of Black youth while helping them explore the diversity within Black cultures.
-
Community of Hearts
$20,000
Helping students develop the tools to be their own mental health advocates, reduce stress and anxiety triggers, and reinforce soft-solving skills and behavior.
-
Connect Café
$25,000
Supporting Connection Cafe to empower individuals with disabilities by providing comprehensive support services and resources.
-
Deborah's House
$20,000
The Deborah House invests in the well-being of single parents and low-income families.
-
Dynamic Dyad
$30,000
The Postpartum Peace Initiative provides monthly financial support to families in postpartum recovery, easing financial stress to foster healing.
-
GR MiFi
$40,000
Development and implementation of a Blueprint for African American Community Development in Grand Rapids.
-
Hues of Hospitality
$20,000
Hues of Hospitality provides opportunities for exposure, education, and advancement in the hospitality and tourism industry for underrepresented talent.
-
National Young Farmers, Co.
$21,716
Building capacity for the West Michigan Young Farmers Chapter to carry out programming, do outreach, and share our impact with the community.
-
Respite for Wives
$10,000
Supporting the Removing the Cape program, which helps women of color break the cycle of generational and inherited family trauma.
-
Sistas in Development
$40,000
To disassemble systems that have been intentionally designed to disproportionately affect youth of color in a detrimental manner.
-
S.W.A.G.
$20,000
To expand youth access to overnight camping, integrating it with comprehensive environmental education and allowing youth to engage fully with nature.
-
Taylor Made Re-Entry
$40,000
Providing rental assistance or emergency shelter for justice-impacted individuals for up to 6–8 months, supporting their reintegration into society.
-
The Sewing Academy
$22,000
The Sewing Academy empowers individuals through the art of sewing, fostering creativity and developing practical skills.
2024 Grantmaking Process
In 2024, the Black Legacy Fund advisory committee reviewed applications for funding and granted more than $380,000 to local organizations. In a virtual event, we shared more about the process and grant award recipients and heard feedback from community members.
Support the Fund Today
Legacy is something that we are part of, something we are adding to.
Support this cause today by contributing to the Black Legacy Fund. You will have the opportunity to choose an endowed gift or non-endowed. Both ways of giving will help now and in the future. Click here to give today.
Make Your Commitment Known
Join loyal partners honoring the past and building the future.
Black Legacy Fund Brilliance Circle
Members of our Brilliance Circle make a commitment to support the fund at an elevated level, sharing their belief in the power of the Black Legacy Fund. Donor partners qualify for membership by giving $1,000 all time or by giving for five consecutive years at any amount.
The Brilliance Circle is a great way to ensure the sustainability of the fund into the future. Interested in joining? Contact Jenine Torres today.
Sponsorship Requests
Have an opportunity that you are interested in Grand Rapids Community Foundation sponsoring? Learn more about our sponsorship application process!