devos

What devos does

The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is a private, non-operating family foundation established in 1989 by Dick and Betsy DeVos in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It functions as a charitable grant-making vehicle rather than a commercial enterprise, distributing funds to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, churches, and government entities in the greater West Michigan region. The foundation prioritizes initiatives supporting leadership and capacity building, family and community well-being in West Michigan, and education freedom. Grant applications are accepted through an online portal (rdv.smartsimple.com) on a rolling basis, with a three-to-four-month review cycle, and the foundation typically adds five to ten new recipient organizations per year while maintaining long-term partnerships with established grantees.

The foundation has no commercial product or technology offering. Its operational infrastructure consists of the online grant application portal, a website (dbdvfoundation.org), and email communications. The foundation is affiliated with the West Michigan Aviation Academy — a charter school focused on aviation education located at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, serving 620 students in grades 9-12, with Dick DeVos serving as founder and board president — and with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, which provides capacity-building programming to arts and cultural organizations. Recent grantmaking includes a $100,000 catalyst grant program split across five Lakeshore-area nonprofits ($20,000 each) for arts, culture, and wellness initiatives.

Because the entity is a private family foundation, it has no external investors, no parent company, and no traditional revenue model. Capital deployed in grants originates from the DeVos family's personal resources, and the foundation does not charge for grant applications or generate licensing, subscription, or transactional revenue. Marketing and outreach are limited to the foundation's website, the online grant portal, and direct email correspondence with applicants and partners.

Name

devos

Legal name

Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation

Website

https://dbdvfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1989 that distributes charitable grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, churches, and government entities in West Michigan, with a focus on leadership, community, and education freedom initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy and Charitable Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAD

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAE

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

Keywords

• Family foundation
• Charitable grants
• Philanthropic giving
• Nonprofit funding
• Community grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Grants distributed to recipient organizations (primary outflow), Personnel and foundation operations, Operations (grant administration, application processing), Marketing or Sales (foundation communications and outreach), Others (capacity-building programs such as DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management)

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grant-Making: The foundation distributes charitable grants to eligible organizations including 501(c)(3) nonprofits, churches, and government entities. The foundation was launched in 1989 by Dick and Betsy DeVos as a vehicle for charitable giving, funded by the family's resources. No commercial revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is a private family foundation that distributes charitable grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, churches, and government entities primarily serving the greater Grand Rapids / West Michigan community. It funds general operating support, capital campaigns, and program/project support, and provides capacity-building assistance through programs such as the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management. Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis through an online portal, with a three-to-four-month review process and typically five to ten new recipient organizations added each year.

Product overview

The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is a charitable philanthropy organization, not a technology product company. It does not offer software products, platforms, or technology services. The foundation operates a grantmaking program supporting organizations in West Michigan focused on leadership development, education freedom, and family well-being. Its activities include managing a grant application portal for nonprofit organizations, providing capacity-building support through the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, and making financial grants to recipient organizations. There are no technology products, modules, or branded service offerings to catalog.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charitable Grant Program Rolling charitable grant program funding general operating support, capital campaigns, and program/project support for eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, churches, and government entities serving the greater Grand Rapids / West Michigan community. Organizations may submit one application per calendar year through an online portal, with a three-to-four-month review process.
• DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management (DVIAM)
• West Michigan Aviation Academy Support
• Lakeshore Catalyst Grants

Named customers9 records

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• West Michigan Aviation AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDick DeVos is founder and board president of this charter school focused on aviation education. Located at Gerald R Ford International Airport, the school serves 620 students in grades 9-12. The foundation has supported the school since its founding, representing a core education freedom initiative.
• DeVos Institute of Arts ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe institute provides arts management programming and capacity-building support to arts and cultural organizations. Founded in 2001, originally at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington. Led by Chairman Michael M. Kaiser and President Brett Egan. Has provided programming to over 2,000 organizations worldwide.
• Second Wave MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMichigan-based news outlet that covered the foundation's $100,000 catalyst grant to five Lakeshore nonprofits. Original reporting source for grant announcements.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Frey Foundation: A Grand Rapids-based private family foundation focused on the Grand Rapids/West Michigan community, with comparable grantmaking scale and priorities around community, education, and arts — making it the most direct geographic and operational peer.
• Grand Rapids Community Foundation: The local community foundation serving greater Grand Rapids, distributing grants across education, health, arts, and community needs. Operates the same geographic footprint and similar grantmaking motion as the DeVos Family Foundation.
• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation: One of the largest Michigan-based family foundations, with similar emphasis on community development, education, and Flint-area giving. Comparable as a multi-generational family foundation operating in Michigan.
• Steelcase Foundation: Grand Rapids-based corporate/family foundation funding education, community development, and arts in West Michigan — directly overlapping the DeVos Family Foundation's geography and priority areas.
• Skillman Foundation: Detroit-based private foundation focused on children, education, and community in Michigan. Comparable as a Michigan-focused family foundation with similar education and community-development emphasis.
• McGregor Fund: Detroit-area private foundation supporting education, health, social services, and the arts. Comparable as a Michigan-based family foundation with similar grantmaking priorities and process orientation.
• Hudson-Webber Foundation: Detroit-based private family foundation focused on economic and community development, arts, and education in Michigan. Comparable peer in structure, geography, and priority alignment.

Broad incumbents

• Kresge Foundation: Major Michigan-based private foundation with a broader national footprint and larger endowment, focused on expanding opportunity in American cities. Comparable as a legacy family foundation but operates at materially larger scale and broader geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about devos