Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation

What Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation does

The Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is a private, IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) family foundation established in 1989 by Dick and Betsy DeVos in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The foundation operates as a vehicle for charitable giving, deploying capital through grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, churches, and government entities, with primary geographic focus on the greater Grand Rapids community and secondary focus on the broader West Michigan region. Three giving areas anchor the foundation's strategy: leadership and capacity building, making West Michigan a desirable place to raise a family, and advancing education freedom.

Grantmaking is delivered through a formal application process using a cloud-based SmartSimple portal (rdv.smartsimple.com), with rolling submissions and a typical 3–4 month decision timeline. The foundation is relationship-led rather than transactional: most grantees are long-term partners, with only 5–10 new organizations added annually. Grant amounts vary based on organizational budgets, other donor support, relationship history, and trustee evaluation.

The foundation's programmatic surface extends beyond direct grants through affiliated initiatives. The DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management, established in 2001, has trained over 2,000 arts and cultural organizations globally across the U.S. and in countries including Croatia, Vietnam, and Ireland. The West Michigan Aviation Academy, founded by Dick DeVos in 2010 and operating at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, serves 620 students in grades 9–12 with aviation-themed education. Revenue is not generated from products or services; the foundation's economic activity is the deployment of contributed capital.

Name

Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation

Legal name

Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation

Website

https://dbdvfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) family foundation established in 1989 in Grand Rapids, Michigan that deploys charitable grants to West Michigan nonprofits, churches, and government entities across three focus areas: leadership development, family well-being, and education freedom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Family Foundation / Philanthropic Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Family foundation giving
• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Education freedom grants
• Community development funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Michigan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grantmaking: As a private family foundation, the organization generates no revenue from products or services. It deploys charitable capital through grants to nonprofit organizations aligned with its mission areas of leadership development, family well-being in West Michigan, and education freedom. The foundation was launched by Dick and Betsy DeVos in 1989 as a vehicle for charitable giving.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is a private family foundation that deploys charitable capital through grants to eligible nonprofit organizations. It focuses on three giving areas: leadership and capacity building, making West Michigan a desirable place to raise a family, and advancing education freedom. Organizations submit applications through an online portal, and the foundation funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits, churches, and government entities, primarily in the greater Grand Rapids community.

Product overview

The Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1989 that makes grants to nonprofit organizations, churches, and government entities. The foundation does not offer a product or service in the traditional technology sense; it operates a grant application portal for managing funding requests. The foundation's giving is centered around three focus areas: leadership and capacity building, making West Michigan a desirable place to raise a family, and advancing education freedom. The foundation supports various grantee organizations including West Michigan Aviation Academy (a charter school founded by Dick DeVos), The Potter's House, DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, and Grand Rapids Children's Museum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management: Institute focused on arts management programming and capacity building for nonprofit organizations worldwide

Products and services

• Leadership and Capacity Building Grants Philanthropic grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations for leadership development, capacity building, operational sustainability, strategic planning, and program expansion funding. Available to eligible nonprofits, churches, and government entities on a rolling application basis through the foundation's online portal.
• West Michigan Family Well-Being Grants Philanthropic grants supporting programs that strengthen family well-being and work-life balance in the West Michigan community, including community development, family services, and quality-of-life initiatives in the greater Grand Rapids area.
• Education Freedom Grants Philanthropic grants supporting education freedom efforts including charter schools and policy advancement, with a flagship initiative being the West Michigan Aviation Academy, a charter school founded by Dick DeVos in Grand Rapids, Michigan serving 620 students in grades 9-12.

Quantifiable outcome

• 620 students enrolled in West Michigan Aviation Academy (grades 9-12)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DeVos Institute of Arts ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2001 and originally housed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., the DeVos Institute of Arts Management provides capacity-building programming to arts and cultural organizations. The institute has trained over 2,000 organizations globally across the U.S. and countries including Croatia, Vietnam, and Ireland. It operates under the foundation's umbrella and led the 'Capacity Building: Michigan Lakeshore' initiative that benefited five Lakeshore nonprofits.
• West Michigan Aviation AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA charter school founded by Dick DeVos in Grand Rapids, Michigan at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Now in its 13th year, the school serves 620 students in grades 9-12, offering aviation-themed education with flight certification programs and engineering tracks. Dick DeVos serves as founder and board president. The foundation supports this school as a flagship initiative in education freedom.
• Saugatuck-Douglas History CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of a $20,000 catalyst grant from the foundation as part of the Lakeshore capacity-building initiative. Will launch 'Art History at the Art Coast' campaign featuring pop-up exhibits and social events highlighting the Lakeshore's artistic heritage.
• Evergreen Commons (Holland Senior Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of a $20,000 catalyst grant. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Holland senior center is using funds to host a Blue Zone Summit focusing on healthy aging research and intergenerational community connections.
• The Holland ChoraleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of a $20,000 catalyst grant for an intensive marketing and rebranding effort including digital marketing, fresh branding, and targeted campaigns to strengthen ties with current patrons and reach new listeners.
• Tri-Cities Historical MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of a $20,000 catalyst grant to create a permanent exhibit focusing on the Lakeshore's maritime and indigenous communities, featuring interactive hands-on elements for young visitors and families.
• Zeeland History SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of a $20,000 catalyst grant to create a new introductory video that will greet guests and serve as a marketing tool to attract visitors and spark appreciation for Zeeland's history.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kresge Foundation: Large private foundation headquartered in Troy, Michigan, founded by S.S. Kresge (retail). Comparable as a Michigan-based private foundation making place-based grants with overlapping focus areas including education, arts and culture, and community development.
• Hudson-Webber Foundation: Private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan, originally established by the Hudson and Webber families with deep ties to Grand Rapids. Comparable as a Michigan-focused private foundation supporting arts, education, and community development in the same regional ecosystem.
• Steelcase Foundation: Corporate foundation of Steelcase Inc., headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Comparable as a Grand Rapids-based grantmaking entity funding education, community development, and arts in West Michigan.
• Frey Foundation: Private family foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, established by the Frey family. Directly comparable as a Grand Rapids-based private family foundation focused on community transformation, education, and the arts in West Michigan.
• Grand Rapids Community Foundation: Community foundation serving the greater Grand Rapids area, pooling funds from many donors to support local nonprofits. Comparable as a Grand Rapids-based grantmaking institution targeting the same geographic footprint and nonprofit ecosystem.
• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation: Major private foundation headquartered in Flint, Michigan, founded by General Motors' Charles Stewart Mott. Comparable as a long-standing Michigan-based private foundation with a strong local-community focus and national/international grantmaking in education and civic life.
• Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation: Sibling family foundation established by other DeVos family members (Amway co-founder Richard DeVos Sr.), also based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Directly comparable as a DeVos family grantmaking vehicle with overlapping West Michigan focus areas.
• Wege Foundation: Private family foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, founded by Peter Wege (Steelcase). Comparable as a Grand Rapids private family foundation supporting education, environment, and arts in the same regional market.

Broad incumbents

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Largest private foundation in the United States, with major programs in U.S. education (including charter and choice models) and global development. Comparable as an education-focused family foundation, though operating at vastly greater scale, scope, and geographic reach.
• Walton Family Foundation: Nationally prominent family foundation focused heavily on K-12 education choice and charter schools. Comparable in its education-freedom thesis and DeVos Institute-adjacent policy networks, though operating at substantially greater scale and geographic breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation