MPNL - Why Study Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at GVSU?

Michigan is home to several nationally renowned philanthropic foundations and nonprofit organizations. Listed below are some of the features that make Michigan, and Grand Rapids in particular, an attractive home for a program exclusively dedicated to philanthropic and nonprofit leadership. Michigan is home to:

  • Three of the largest private foundations in the world: W.K. Kellogg Foundation (5th), the Kresge Foundation (15th), and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (18th).
  • One of the oldest and the largest regional association of grant makers (the professional association of all of the grant making foundations): Council of Michigan Foundations
  • One of the first and most successful state membership associations of nonprofit organizations: Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA). MNA has a $20 million endowment fund
  • One of the first and most successful college volunteerism programs: Michigan Campus Compact
  • One of the first and most successful networks of community based volunteer associations: Volunteers of Michigan
  • One of the first state-government commissions on service: Michigan Service Commission
  • Three of the largest community foundations in the nation (Fremont, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo) and one of two states in the nation with community foundation services covering every county in the state. There are over 90 community foundation organizations in Michigan out of approximately 700 such organizations nationwide.
  • Many family-foundations, with over 300 family foundations headquartered within a 45-minute drive of Grand Rapids.
  • One of the leading consulting groups to foundations (The Williams Group)
  • A strong network of United Way organizations
  • A robust nonprofit health sector, including most hospitals and many ancillary health care services such as hospices, health plans, nursing homes, community health centers, and health research foundations.


Page last modified June 28, 2021