Capacity Building: Grand Rapids

About the Program

The Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation, in partnership with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, is pleased to announce Capacity Building: Grand Rapids, a two-year technical assistance and strategic planning intensive for up to 15 non-profit arts and cultural organizations throughout greater Grand Rapids and surrounding towns.

The program will begin in January 2025, and is fully underwritten by the Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation.

The arts and culture sector is changing rapidly, but certain fundamentals remain: all organizations require highly distinctive programming, vigorous marketing campaigns, strong boards, and a robust family of donors, members, and funders.

Though these elements may seem straightforward, they can be challenging to develop and sustain. 

This is the key role of this program: to assist participating organizations in their efforts to develop consensus on mission, vision, and values and to put in place simple, effective, and right-sized strategies to execute in each of these essential areas of practice.

Program Components

Capacity Building: Grand Rapids will:

• Provide six in-person and virtual training intensives for executive staffs and board leadership
• Prove a three-part Board Development Intensive designed specifically for executives, chairs, and other board leadership to accelerate support for the board-staff partnership and provide training for new and prospective board members
• Engage each participating organization in a strategic planning process that will result in a tailored, five-year strategic plan
• Provide six months of subsequent implementation support
• Include a Next Generation Leadership Fellowship Program for emerging leaders in Grand Rapids.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to non-profit cultural organizations across greater Grand Rapids and surrounding towns. In addition to completing an online application, applicants must:

• Provide a statement of compelling rationale for involvement
• Provide a signed commitment by executive, artistic, and board leadership (or equivalent)
• Provide the previous year’s audited financial statements
• Be able to provide evidence of at least three years of operation and programming
• Employ at least one permanent staff member (or part-time equivalents)
• Have an annual operating budget of at least $100,000

Time Commitments

The program estimates approximately 60 hours from each core participant over the 2-year period. However, participation will vary according to the role of each attendee.

• Training and strategic planning participation typically includes three representatives – executive, artistic/programmatic, and board leadership (or equivalent). Here we estimate approximately 60 hours over the 2-year period. This includes attendance at the group training intensives, board development intensives, and strategic planning meetings. It also includes preparation time between intensives and strategic planning meetings, as well as time spent on implementation calls.
• Strategic planning participation will include additional staff, board, and key stakeholders – any “voices” essential to the long-term development of the organization. This time commitment is approximately 15-20 hours over six months.

Consideration will be taken into account regarding each organization's goals, financial status, program plans, and commitment to the program. 

An interview with key leadership, such as the Executive Director or Board Chair, may be requested with representatives from the DeVos Institute to further discuss their organization’s commitment and potential fit within the program. As a result, this process will prioritize assembling a cohort of dynamic, diverse arts and culture organizations.

To apply, please click HERE. Applications are due Friday, November 1, 2024. Participants will be notified by mid-December.

Information Session

An Information Session took place on Thursday, October 3, 2024, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET. This session provided an overview of the program and responded to questions from potential applicants. 

The session was recorded, and the recording is available for review on the top right of this page.

Questions

Questions regarding the program, application process, or information session may be directed to Marie Gossman Thomas at CapacityBuilding@devosinstitute.net