Recent Initiatives
In celebration of 30 years as caretakers of the Orlando Magic, the 30 Grants for 30 Years Initiative was created to say “thank you” to local nonprofits in Central Florida making a difference in the community. The DeVos family committed to donating a total of $3 million through individual grants to 30 nonprofits in the area throughout the course of the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons.
SpringGR trains, mentors, and provides networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, supporting its belief in people and their creative capacity and focusing on individuals with access to fewer resources. The classes offered through the program empower entrepreneurs to build successful, profitable companies in the greater Grand Rapids area.1
The DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative (DVULI) was launched in 1998 to invest in the sustainable leadership and development of urban youth workers. Its mission is to positively impact the lives of disadvantaged urban youth by investing in their leaders.1
Start Garden empowers entrepreneurs through access to financial, intellectual, and social capital by providing a community of support for startups to grow. The organization’s goal is to establish a culture of entrepreneurship and to invest in that culture.
The Center for Health Transformation and Innovation will serve as the organization’s system-wide headquarters and enable Spectrum Health to consolidate administrative offices, bringing over 1,200 employees to downtown Grand Rapids. The eight-story building will also house a training and learning center.
In 2021, the Simon-DeVos Prize for Philanthropic Leadership was established through a partnership between the Simon and DeVos families. The award continues the 15-year tradition of the Philanthropy Roundtable, recognizing philanthropists who have shown exemplary leadership through charitable giving.
When COVID-19 hit in March 2020, the DeVos family supported individuals and families in West Michigan through nonprofit partners who quickly responded to assist those experiencing financial hardship. In addition, a short-term fund was created to provide emergency cash relief to meet essential needs like food, shelter, and health care.1