CFHZ Proactive Grant Program

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area (CFHZ) is a philanthropic organization based in Holland, Michigan, committed to improving the well-being of its community through focused grantmaking. CFHZ operates a Proactive Grant Program designed to address key areas that data indicates are critical to the health and success of the Holland/Zeeland region. The foundation emphasizes long-term community outcomes and seeks to partner with organizations capable of creating measurable impact in targeted domains. The Proactive Grant Program supports three main focus areas. The first is increasing access to and availability of mental health services. The second is leveraging out-of-school time to mitigate educational opportunity gaps. The third is increasing the consistency of healthy relationships between children and caring adults, including parents or other mentors. Each area has a specific application deadline each year to align with the foundation’s grant cycles. Eligible applicants for Proactive Grants include nonprofit organizations recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, schools, municipalities, and other governmental entities that serve a charitable purpose. These organizations must be operating within the greater Holland/Zeeland area to be considered for funding. CFHZ prioritizes projects that align with the applicant organization’s mission, propose lasting solutions, address community inequities, and demonstrate strong capacity to implement the proposed work. Key evaluation criteria include the financial stability of the organization, the strength of its leadership, and a proven record of successful program or project delivery. CFHZ encourages potential applicants to ensure their proposals clearly reflect these strengths. The foundation has also stated that preference will be given to requests that are central to the mission of the applying organization and that show potential for long-term community benefit. For the 2025 cycle, the deadline for applications focusing on increasing healthy adult-child relationships is May 12. Proposals that address mental health services are due by October 20. The grant application process begins by contacting the Director of Community Impact, Yadah V. Ramirez, via email. Her direct support is available to guide applicants through the initial steps and answer questions related to the application process. Applicants seeking more details can reach CFHZ at their main office at 85 E. 8th Street, Suite 110, Holland, MI 49423. General inquiries can also be directed to the foundation’s main line at (616) 396-6590 or by emailing info@cfhz.org.