The Political function of Philanthropy: DeVos Family Foundations – Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation

“In any case, the hidden hand of of foundations can control the course of social change and deflect anger to targets other than elite power.” 

 – Joan Roelofs, Foundations and Public Policy

For the past 10 years, GRIID has been monitoring foundations in West Michigan, particularly the large family foundations that those who are part of the Grand Rapids Power Structure have created. Our monitoring of local foundations has been part of our larger critique of the Non-Profit Industrial complex in Grand Rapids.

Over the next several weeks, GRIID will provide some information and analysis of the most recent 990 documents that foundations are legally required to submit. These 990 documents must be submitted within a three-year period, which is why the 990s that we will be examining are from 2020, since most foundations prefer to submit their 990 documents at the last minute, thus minimizing possible scrutiny. So far we have posted article about the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, plus the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation. 

Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation

GRIID has always begun our Foundation Watch work by looking at the foundations associated with the most powerful family in West Michigan, the DeVos family. The Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation has been one of the largest in West Michigan, which was founded in 1992. According to GuideStar, in 2020, the Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation contributed $16,590,424, leaving them with $79,921,409 of funds left in their foundation. To see the 990 document for 2020 from the Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation, go here.

The Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation made contributions to dozens of entities in 2020, but there are some clear categories of groups they contributed to, such as the Religious Right, Think Tanks, Education-centered groups, and social service entities, to name a few. Below is a listing of each from these categories, with a dollar amount and a brief analysis. 

We also include groups that are DeVos owned or created, along with liberal non-profits. With the liberal non-profits, we believe that funding from foundations like the DeVos family foundations is a form of hush money. When we say hush money, we mean that these entities will not publicly challenge the system of Capitalism, the wealth gap, structural racism and other systems of oppression, which the DeVos family benefits from and perpetuates through their own political funding.

Religious Right

• Alliance for Children Everywhere – $100,000
• Base Camp Urban Outreach – $20,000
• Bridge St. House of Prayer – $50,000
• Christian Leader NFP – $50,000
• Covenant House Michigan – $25,000
• Keystone Community Church – $120,000
• Life International Inc – $100,000
• Luis Palau Association – $150,000
• Partners Worldwide – $40,000
• Pregnancy Resource Center – $30,000
• Young Life – $50,000

Far Right Think Tanks

• Acton Institute – $75,000
• American Enterprise Institute – $500,000
• Mackinac Center – $50,000
• National Constitution Center – $2,000,000
• The Seminar Network Inc. – $500,000

Education-centered groups

• Calvin University – $100,000
• Cornerstone University – $30,000
• Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative – $265,000
• Godwin Heights Public Schools – $48,000
• Grand Rapids Christian Schools – $161,000
• Grand Rapids Community College Foundation – $631,000
• Grand Rapids Public Schools – $93,500
• Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation – $720,000
• Grand Valley State University – $195,000
• Hope Academy of West Michigan – $78,500
• K-Connect – $125,000
• Leading Educators Inc – $1,855,250
• Ottawa Area ISD – $87,000
• Potter’s House – $125,000
• Purdue Research Foundation – $5,175,000
• Rehoboth Christian School – $200,000
• The NYC Leadership Academy Inc – $345,000
• Wake Forest University – $250,000

The Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation has a long history of contributing to the Grand Rapids Public Schools, particularly through the GRPS foundation, known as the Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation, which we documented in 2019.

DeVos-owned, created or connected groups

• ArtPrize – $50,000
• Grand Action Foundation 2.0 – $50,000
• Grand Rapids Initiative for Leaders – $30,500
• Orlando Magic Youth Foundation – $90,000
• West MI Aviation Academy Foundation – $315,000

Groups receiving Hush $ 

• Access of West Michigan – $30,000
• Baxter Community Center – $50,000
• Bethany Christian Services – $475,000
• Degage Ministries – $165,000
• Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids – $200,000
• Family Promise of Grand Rapids – $135,000
• First Steps Kent – $75,000
• Heart of West Michigan United Way – $525,000
• ICCF – $30,000
• Kent County Habitat for Humanity – $125,000
• Kids Food Basket – $27,500
• Lifequest – $20,000
• Oakdale Neighbors – $37,120
• Safe Haven Ministries – $120,000
• The Other Way Ministries – $60,000

These groups all provide some sort of social service – people fleeing domestic violence, those who are housing insecure, people with disabilities, adoption and immigration. There are root causes to all of these issues, but these groups are not likely to address root causes and larger systems of oppression. When the DeVos family foundations make contributions, this will increase the likelihood that systems of oppression will not be addressed by these groups. One thing that is unique about the Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation is the amount of money they give to non-profits that are in the 3rd Ward of Grand Rapids, where AmplifyGR is location, which is an entity they created. 

Foundations rarely make contributions without strings attached. The Doug and Maria DeVos has a long history of funding far right and religious right groups, which GRIID documented 10 years ago when we started this project.  Lastly, it is worth noting that the Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation, like all of the DeVos family foundation, compliments the campaign contributions they make to further impact public policy and promote their religious and capitalist ideologies.