Grand Action Foundation 2 0
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
- Income
- $49.2 million
- Spending
- $71.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 77%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 44
- Highest pay
- $227,826, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 97% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 109% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 March 31, 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 (1)
- $71.2 million spent. AS PART OF THE 2.0 LAUNCH, GRAND ACTION FOUNDATION HAS REENGAGED CONVENTION SPORTS AND LEISURE INTERNATIONAL (CSL) TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON INITIATIVES AND RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE ORIGINAL DESTINATION ASSET STUDY CONDUCTED FOUR YEARS AGO. THE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED INCLUDE PENDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPLORATION AS FUTURE GRAND ACTION PROJECTS WHICH MAY CONSIST OF: AN EXPANSION OF DEVOS PLACE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SOCCER/FIELD SPORTS ARENA, OR AN AERIAL TRANSPORTATION/GONDOLA PROJECT. THE RESEARCH WILL ASSIST GRAND ACTION IN DEVELOPING A PLAN AND STRATEGIES FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT IN DESTINATION ASSETS AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF GRAND RAPIDS. GRAND ACTION FOUNDATION'S ROLE IS IN PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THESE STUDIES AND CONSTRUCTION OF POTENTIAL FUTURE PROJECTS.AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, GRAND ACTION FOUNDATION WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENTAL BODIES, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN PLANNING, PROMOTING, DEVELOPING, ORGANIZING, AND OVERSEEING THE REALIZATION OF CIVIC, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES, WITH A GOAL OF FOSTERING, SUPPORTING, ENCOURAGING, AND REINFORCING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS AREA AND IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF WEST MICHIGAN. GAF 2.0'S WORK IS NEARING COMPLETION FOR THE PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR TWO PROJECTS, A DOWNTOWN AMPHITHEATER AND A SOCCER STADIUM. THE PROJECTS ARE IN THE LATE STAGES OF DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT AND GAF 2.0 IS CONTINUING TO ADVANCE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT OF THE TWO FACILITIES AS MILESTONES ARE ACHIEVED AND GAF 2.0 WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE STUDIES, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO FACILITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 March 2025.
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 April 1994.
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.