GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation believes that every child deserves meaningful educational experiences and opportunities to reach his/her highest potential. We believe that Grand Rapids Public Schools cannot do it alone; they need community support and partnerships to ensure these opportunities are available for all students of GRPS.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
GR8 Sports, Great Kids
GR8 Sports, Great Kids makes sports available to all GRPS elementary and middle school (K-8) students; at school and after school - all at no cost to students or their families.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation will provide resources needed for the students of Grand Rapids Public Schools to learn, develop, and thrive; and for GRPS to meet its own goal of education excellence. Together, we will ensure that every student has the potential to be an educated, self-directed and productive member of society.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
GRSAF utilizes and implements a variety of strategies to accomplish the organizational. These strategies evolve and alter to align and respond to the growing needs of Grand Rapids Public Schools.
Board & Governance- To meet the strategic direction of the organization, the GRSAF must have board structure alignment with our primary responsibility: raising funds to meet the needs of GRPS.
Fund Development- To meet the increasing needs of GRPS and the needs of the donor, GRSAF, with enhanced proficiency and skills, must manage and cultivate existing fund development pathways and continue to identify and grow new funding opportunities.
Grand Rapids Public Schools- GRSAF and GRPS must work together and fully aligned to meet the development needs of the district and to create an ideal system of fund development.
Communications- To meet philanthropic needs, GRSAF must create and implement a consistent and comprehensive communications strategy that supports its mission, vision and values.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As the fundraising partners of the Grand Rapids Public Schools, the Foundation raises and stewards funds from the donor community to support GRPS and its almost 17,000 students and 53 schools. Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation (GRSAF) is led by a powerful vision to link community resources to the needs of the district so that all students can learn, grow and thrive. When appropriate, we also serve as a facilitator and fiduciary for community initiatives that benefit GRPS and/or its students. During the 2016/17 school year, GRSAF’s philanthropic impact through private community investment on GRPS was more than $1.9M.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Throughout the 1990s, the GRSAF continued to evolve. Concentrating primarily on strategic positioning to make the most impact, fundraising efforts began to form into full-fledged opportunities for private community members to support well-rounded, student academic enrichment. As groundbreaking fundraising efforts took shape, the Student Advancement Foundation reorganized. Equipped with a new mission, and a more strategic focus, Susan Heartwell was hired as the first formal executive director in 2003. Since those early years, the GRSAF has continued to expand its reach and impact. Looking to the future the Foundation will continue to work closely and strengthen our relationship with Grand Rapids Public Schools, the community, and private donors, we endeavor to provide every GRPS student with the best educational experience possible.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
Board of directorsas of 03/11/2024
Brendan Geary
OAP
Term: 2021 - 2024
Amy Turner-Thole
Anne Marie Carson
Miller Johnsons
Charissa C. Huang
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge
Joe DiBenedetto
Lambert
Max Gibbs
Monica Steimle-App
Rockford Construction
Ruth Posthumus
Sommar Boese
Perrigo
Tim Duflo
Deloitte
Misti Stanton
Mercantile Bank
Gretchen Mousel
Heart of West Michigan United Way
Brendan Geary
OAP
Paul Lee
Winchester
Peter Knoester
OAM
Greg Rio
Huntington
Tony Baker
Ferris State University
Alexis Reame
PNC Bank
Emily Cantor
Warner Norcross + Judd
Javier Cervantes
The Diatribe
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data