The Political function of Philanthropy: The David and Carol Van Andel 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.

GRIID has been providing information and analysis on the various DeVos Family Foundations, using 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 public scrutiny. So far we have posted articles about the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation, the Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation, the Dan and Pamela DeVos Foundation, the Cheri DeVos Foundation, the Jerry & Marcia Tubergen Foundation, and the Steve and Amy Van Andel Foundation.  

The David and Carol Van Andel Foundation

GRIID has always done our Foundation Watch work by looking at the foundations associated with the most powerful families in West Michigan, like the DeVos family and the longtime family friends, the Van Andel family. The David & Carol Van Andel Foundation was founded in 2005, with assets of $114,38,885. The most recent 990 document for their foundation is 2021, where a total of $8,016,755 was spent in contributions. 

As we reported previously, the David & Carol Van Andel Foundation has contributed heavily to the Religious Right and the Political Right, along with charity-based non-profits in West MI, which we categorize as hush money. 

Below we provide some categories of organizations/entities that have been the beneficiaries of Van Andel Foundation funds, with some analysis. To view the 990 document for the David & Carol Van Andel Foundation, go to guidestar.org and you can find the information they are required to make public. 

Religious Right/Conservative Christian Groups

• Cascade Fellowship Christian Reformed Church – $70,000
• Mel Trotter Ministries – $1,500,000

Mel Trotter Ministries is part of what we refer to as the Homelessness Industrial Complex in Grand Rapids, since they only seek to play a savior/charity role and not address root causes of why people are housing insecure. Mel Trotter Ministries also recently endorsed both the GR Chamber of Commerce proposed ordinance, along with the two separate ordinances that the City of Grand Rapids adopted in late July, ordinances that will criminalize the unhoused.

Political Right and Think Tanks

• Grand Action Foundation – $350,000
• Acton Institute – $125,000
• US Chamber of Commerce Foundation – $250,000

The Grand Action Foundation is part of what is now known as Grand Action 2.0, which has used millions of dollars of public money for development projects – Van Andel Arena, Downtown Market, and the upcoming outdoor Amphitheater – all of which are designed to attract tourists who will spend money in the downtown area, ultimately benefiting the members of the Capitalist Class.  

The quarter of a million in contributions to the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation is largely because David Van Andel’s father, Jay Van Andel, was the President of the US Chamber of Commerce during the early part of the Reagan years.  

Education Institutions

• Cornerstone University – $300,000
• Grand Rapids Christian Schools – $500,000
• Hope College – $525,000
• Western Theological Seminary – $252,000

Groups receiving Hush Money

• Bethany Christian Services – $600,000
• ICCF – $170,000
• John Ball Zoological Society – $1,500,000
• Kids Food Basket – $60,000
• Wedgewood Christian Services – $75,000
• YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids – $164,000

The David & Carol Van Andel Foundation has contributed lots of money to ICCF, like in 2017, when they, along with other large foundations gave millions to ICCF to purchase 177 homes from a Chicago based private equity group. ICCF also doesn’t address the root causes of the current housing crisis, particularly the market-driven Neoliberal economic model that has made housing so expensive.

Foundations rarely make contributions without strings attached. The David and Carol Van Andel Foundation 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 David & Carol Van Andel Foundation compliments the campaign contributions they give to GOP candidates, which is also pretty substantial, according to OpenSecrets.org. The GOP candidates they contribute to adopt policies which cause tremendous harm to working class people and benefits the business class that the Van Andels are part of.