Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GRAND HAVEN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS GOVERNED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF TRUSTEES. OUR MISSION: WE ENHANCE THE QUALIFY OF LIFE FOR ALL BY WORKING TOGETHER TO COLLECTIVELY ADDRESS CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT WEST MICHIGAN. OUR VISION: WE ADVANCE THE WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES BY CREATING THE VERY BEST PLACES TO LIVE, LEARN, WORK, GIVE AND ENGAGE. WE STRIVE FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH STRATEGIC GRANTMAKING IN PRIORITY AREAS OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY BETTERMENT, HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, ARTS & CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION AS TO RACE, COLOR OR CREED.
- Income
- $21.5 million
- Spending
- $14.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 67%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $329,273, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $12.4 million spent. FOR THE COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM, OUR PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY AREAS: ARTS & CULTURE, DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION, ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY BETTERMENT, HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES. ALL ORGANIZATIONS STATE IN WRITING HOW THEY WILL USE THE FUNDS AWARDED. THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN EVALUTION REPORT ON HOW THE FUNDS WERE USED. THE GRANTS COMMITTEE MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE BOARD VOTES ON THE GRANTS FOR APPROVAL OR DENIAL AT THEIR QUARTERLY MEETINGS. FOR ALL OTHER GRANT AWARDS, A GRANT RECOMMENDATION FORM IS SUBMITTED BY THE APPROPRIATE FUND REPRESENTATIVE. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION STAFF FOLLOW DUE DILIGENCE PROTOCOL IN CONFIRMING THE CHARITABLE STATUS OF THE GRANTEE ORGANIZATION. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REVIEWS AND APPROVES THESE GRANTS AS PART OF THEIR QUARTERLY MEETINGS. THE GRANT CHECK IS ISSUED DIRECTLY TO THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A COVER LETTER IDENTIFYING THE FUND FROM WHICH THE GRANT IS AWARDED AND THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THE GRANT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.