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Grand Rapids Public Schools Foundat Ion

EIN 38-3137984 · Grand Rapids, MI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CULTIVATING COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ENRICH EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND REMOVE BARRIERS SO EVERY STUDENT LEARNS, DEVELOPS, AND THRIVES. THE GRPS FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO REMOVE BARRIERS AND SECURE ESSENTIAL FUNDING FOR CRITICAL PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND RESOURCES, ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT IN THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS (GRPS) SYSTEM LEARNS, DEVELOPS, AND THRIVES. AS THE PRIMARY FOUNDATION FOR WEST MICHIGAN'S LARGEST PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, GRPS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS NEARLY 14,000 STUDENTS, INSPIRING FUTURE SUCCESS THROUGH A WELL-ROUNDED APPROACH TO EDUCATION. EACH YEAR, WE FUND VITAL PROGRAMS IN SPORTS, ARTS, MUSIC, AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, OFFERING HANDS-ON, REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES THAT COMPLEMENT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. OUR SUPPORT EXTENDS TO PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING WARM CLOTHING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND VOLUNTEER-LED INITIATIVES LIKE PLAYGROUND CLEAN-UPS. ADDITIONALLY, WE ADMINISTER MINI-GRANTS FOR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, EMPOWERING EDUCATORS.

Income
$660,352
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
5
Volunteers
387
Highest pay
$130,010, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 105% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (2)
  1. $799,236 spent. GRPS STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS REMAIN AT THE HEART OF OUR MISSION, ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT FOSTER SUCCESS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. WE FUND ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS IN SPORTS, ARTS, MUSIC, AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, AS WELL AS CRITICAL RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. EACH YEAR, WE REVIEW OUR GOALS AND MAKE SURE OUR FUNDRAISING IS ALIGNED WITH EMERGING EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.SEE COMPLETE DETAILS IN SCHEDULE OIN 2025, WE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT TEACHER MINI-GRANTS, AWARDING $500 EACH TO 50 TEACHERS FOR CLASSROOM ENHANCEMENTS THAT FOSTER HANDS-ON LEARNING. THESE GRANTS FUNDED UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS LIKE HANDHELD MICROSCOPES, SCHOOL GARDEN SUPPLIES, BIRDFEEDERS WITH CAMERAS, OWL PELLETS, AND AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS.WE ALSO ADDRESSED STUDENT ESSENTIALS THROUGH THE TERESA WEATHERALL NEAL PRINCIPAL'S FUND, WHICH PROVIDED 19 SCHOOLS WITH RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SENIOR TRIPS, CAPS AND GOWNS, AND CAMP EXPERIENCES. ADDITIONALLY, WE COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ORGANIZERESOURCE DRIVES, INCLUDING A WARMTH DRIVE THAT PROVIDED OVER 500 ITEMS OF ASSORTED HATS, MITTENS, COATS, BOOTS, AND SCARVES TO ENSURE STUDENTS COULD COMFORTABLY PLAY AND EXPLORE OUTSIDE.
  2. $216,099 spent. ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS FOR PHYSICAL WELLNESS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL HEALTH REMAIN A VITAL FOCUS OF THE FOUNDATION'S SUPPORT FOR GRPS SCHOLARS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING FOR AFTER-SCHOOL SPORTS, ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 8TH GRADE CAN PARTICIPATE AT NO COST. BY PROMOTING A HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFESTYLE, WE HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP A LIFELONG PASSION FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND TEAMWORK.THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED FUNDING TO SUPPORT OVER 3,200 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FREE SPORTS PROGRAMMING, COVERING ESSENTIAL COSTS SUCH AS UNIFORMS, COACHES, TRANSPORTATION, AND EVENT FEES. THESE ACTIVITIES STRENGTHEN STUDENTS' RELATIONSHIPS WITH POSITIVE ADULT MENTORS, CULTIVATE RESILIENCE, AND INSTILL THE VALUES OF TEAMWORK AND PERSEVERANCE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION HELPS STUDENTS THRIVE BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD, LAYING AFOUNDATION FOR HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG WELLNESS.OUR GOAL IS TO NURTURE WELL-ROUNDED STUDENT-ATHLETES BY FOSTERING AN ATHLETICS PROGRAM THAT NOT ONLY BUILDS ATHLETIC SKILLS BUT ALSO SUPPORTS ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL GROWTH. PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS HAS BEEN SHOWN TO IMPROVE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, REDUCE STRESS, AND BUILD SELF-ESTEEM.SEE COMPLETE DETAILS IN SCHEDULE O

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.

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