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First Steps Kent at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

First Steps Kent

To create a coordinated, integrated system of early childhood services that supports all families in kent county so every young child in kent county will enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life.

$9.8M
Granted FY2025still arriving
20
Grants FY2025still arriving
4
States reached
$1.4M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Health$8.8MEducation$5.7MCrime & Legal$4.0MHuman Services$2.7MPublic Benefit$2.1MHousing & Shelter$1.7MYouth Development$1.0MSocial Science$329kOther$0
02FY2025 · 20 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k3 grants · $96k
  • $50k–250k5 grants · $732k
  • $250k+12 grants · $8.9M
$321,125
Median grant
4
States reached
$3.9M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
KENT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT$1,430,417
KENT COUNTY$1,372,159
FAMILY FUTURES$1,189,011
ARBOR CIRCLE$1,034,000
HEALTH NET OF WEST MICHIGAN$992,436
COREWELL HEALTH$814,707
GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE$455,643
HEALTHY HOMES COALITION OF WEST MICHIGAN$376,052
FAMILY PROMISE$337,700
YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS$321,125
VIBRANT FUTURES$318,672
CHERRY STREET HEALTH SERVICES$285,105
MOMSBLOOM$239,438
BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES$140,988
BASIS POLICY RESEARCH$133,105
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–25, $6.6M) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 94% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%EASTERSEALS MICHIGAN: $241k → 8%BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $319k → 16%EASTERSEALS MICHIGAN: $54k → 8%BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $212k → 16%EASTER SEALS MICHIGAN: $41k → 8%BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $141k → 16%EASTER SEALS MICHIGAN: $28k → 8%BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $71k → 16%YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS: $321k → 11%YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS: $152k → 11%ARBOR CIRCLE: $1.0M → 11%ARBOR CIRCLE: $919k → 11%ARBOR CIRCLE: $642k → 11%ARBOR CIRCLE: $135k → 11%ARBOR CIRCLE: $96k → 11%VIBRANT FUTURES: $378k → 11%VIBRANT FUTURES: $319k → 11%VIBRANT FUTURES: $315k → 11%WEST MICHIGAN PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN: $265k → 11%VIBRANT FUTURES: $212k → 11%HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN: $145k → 11%VIBRANT FUTURES: $129k → 11%HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN: $125k → 11%HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN: $101k → 11%WEST MICHIGAN PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN: $69k → 11%HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN: $59k → 11%WEST MICHIGAN PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN: $44k → 11%THE PLAYGROUNDGR: $30k → 11%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

100%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$36M · 25 repeat orgs$30k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +34% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

25 repeat relationships: 19 still active in FY2025, 6 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

25
1

Total granted

$36M
$30k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+34%
0%

Still filing today

72%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $30k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’23’24’25
Human ServicesHealthHousing & ShelterCrime & LegalEducationCivil RightsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • FF
    FAMILY FUTURES
    6× · 2020–2025 · $5.1M · revenue +113% · 32% of their budget
  • HN
    Health Net of West Michigan
    8× · 2017–2025 · $3.6M · revenue +90% · 26% of their budget
  • CH
    COREWELL HEALTH
    6× · 2020–2025 · $3.5M · revenue +86%

Funded once

  • TP
    THE PLAYGROUNDGR
    one grant, 2025 · $30k · revenue 0%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Michigan Family Resources

Michigan Family Resources mission is to deliver holistic family-centered services to children that promote their well-being and development.

Education
2
Midmichigan Health Services

To provide high quality community-oriented, patient-centered health services for all.

Health
3
Center for Family Health

The mission of the Center for Family Health is opening the door to health care for all.

Health
4
Family Outreach Center

Leading the way in promoting healthy family living by reaching out to underserved populations and those who are in our community.

—
5
Grand Rapids Early Discovery Center

Our mission is to continuously expand the potential of children, the experiences of educators and the involvement of parents within the diverse community of grand rapids, mi

Human Services
6
Lincoln Behavioral Services

To provide comprehensive outpatient mental health services to over 5400 individuals and their families in a consumer driven person centered delivery system. Approximately 15% of our staff members are our clients who are involved in a…

Health
7
Child Care Resource and Referral of Kalamazoo

To work with parents, child care providers, businesses and the community to improve access to quality child care and early education so that every child enjoys safe, nurturing and inspiring care.

Human Services
8
Michigan Child Care Centers Inc

Touching hearts, teaching minds, changing lives

—
9
Brilliant Detroit

Helping families and neighborhoods succeed by providing a place and support to assure kids ages 0-5 are school ready and families are healthy and stable.

Youth Development
10
Mgh Family Health Center Muskegon Family Care

Muskegon family care is a federally qualified health center with medical and dental clinics reaching out to uninsured and underinsured patients in muskegon county.

Health
11
Child & Family Service of Saginaw

Child and Family Service of Saginaw County is a social work agency dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in our community by fostering personal growth, emotional development, recovery from trauma, self- reliance, and healthy…

Human Services
12
Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery

The mission of greater minneapolis crisis nursery is to end the abuse and neglect of children and create strong and healthy families.

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Vibrant Futures; the most unlike its peers is The Playgroundgr. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

20 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 20 of the 26 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

5
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
19/20
Grantees still filing
15/20
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

KENT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT: $4,148,690 · OtherKENT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICTKENT COUNTY: $3,754,709 · OtherKENT COUNTYGRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE: $2,028,174 · OtherGRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGEEarly Learning Neighborhood Collaborative: $461,953 · OtherBasis Policy Research LLC: $461,605 · Other+3 more: $534,566 · OtherHealth Net of West Michigan: $3,625,355 · HealthHealth Net of West MichiganCOREWELL HEALTH: $3,478,379 · HealthCOREWELL HEALTHCherry Street Services Inc: $1,531,728 · HealthCherry Street Services Inc+1 more: $176,271 · HealthTHE ARBOR CIRCLE CORPORATION: $2,825,305 · Human ServicesTHE ARBOR CIRCLE COR…VIBRANT FUTURES: $1,353,181 · Human ServicesVIBRANT FUTURESBETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $742,171 · Human ServicesBETHANY CHRISTIAN SE…The Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Grand Rapids (3019): $473,281 · Human ServicesThe Young Men's Chri…HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN INC: $429,475 · Human ServicesHISPANIC CENTER OF W…WEST MICHIGAN PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN: $378,839 · Human ServicesWEST MICHIGAN PARTNE…EASTERSEALS MORC HEALTH CARE INC: $363,226 · Human ServicesEASTERSEALS MORC HEA…+1 more: $29,502 · Human ServicesFAMILY FUTURES: $5,147,473 · Crime & LegalFAMILY FUTURESHEALTHY HOMES COALITION OF WEST MICHIGAN INC: $1,289,250 · Housing & ShelterFAMILY PROMISE OF GRAND RAPIDS: $1,120,955 · Housing & ShelterREADY FOR SCHOOL: $977,179 · EducationMOMSBLOOM INC: $827,300 · Civil RightsHEART OF WEST MICHIGAN UNITED WAY: $89,788 · Philanthropy
Other$11,389,697Health$8,811,733Human Services$6,594,980Crime & Legal$5,147,473Housing & Shelter$2,410,205Education$977,179Civil Rights$827,300Philanthropy$89,788

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetFAMILY FUTURES: $5,147,473 over 6y, 32% of budgetHealth Net of West Michigan: $3,625,355 over 8y, 26% of budgetCOREWELL HEALTH: $3,478,379 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ARBOR CIRCLE CORPORATION: $2,825,305 over 6y, 4.2% of budgetCherry Street Services Inc: $1,531,728 over 6y, 0.5% of budgetVIBRANT FUTURES: $1,353,181 over 6y, 7.4% of budgetHEALTHY HOMES COALITION OF WEST MICHIGAN INC: $1,289,250 over 6y, 61% of budgetFAMILY PROMISE OF GRAND RAPIDS: $1,120,955 over 6y, 6.8% of budgetREADY FOR SCHOOL: $977,179 over 5y, 30% of budgetMOMSBLOOM INC: $827,300 over 6y, 54% of budgetBETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $742,171 over 5y, 1.4% of budgetThe Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Grand Rapids (3019): $473,281 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetEarly Learning Neighborhood Collaborative: $461,953 over 4y, 1.4% of budgetHISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN INC: $429,475 over 5y, 3.5% of budgetWEST MICHIGAN PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN: $378,839 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetEASTERSEALS MORC HEALTH CARE INC: $363,226 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetDA BLODGETT - ST JOHN'S: $336,255 over 6y, 0.6% of budgetCOMPREHENSIVE THERAPY CENTER: $176,271 over 6y, 5.6% of budgetHEART OF WEST MICHIGAN UNITED WAY: $89,788 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetTHE PLAYGROUNDGR: $29,502 over 1y, 13% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds FAMILY FUTURES ↗
  • Who funds Health Net of West Michigan ↗
  • Who funds COREWELL HEALTH ↗
  • Who funds THE ARBOR CIRCLE CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds Cherry Street Services Inc ↗
  • Who funds VIBRANT FUTURES ↗
  • Who funds HEALTHY HOMES COALITION OF WEST MICHIGAN INC ↗
  • Who funds FAMILY PROMISE OF GRAND RAPIDS ↗
  • Who funds READY FOR SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds MOMSBLOOM INC ↗
  • Who funds BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES ↗
  • Who funds The Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Grand Rapids (3019) ↗
  • Who funds Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative ↗
  • Who funds HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN INC ↗
  • Who funds WEST MICHIGAN PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN ↗
  • Who funds EASTERSEALS MORC HEALTH CARE INC ↗
  • Who funds DA BLODGETT - ST JOHN'S ↗
  • Who funds COMPREHENSIVE THERAPY CENTER ↗
  • Who funds HEART OF WEST MICHIGAN UNITED WAY ↗
  • Who funds THE PLAYGROUNDGR ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Grand Rapids Communit…Corewell Health Group…Michigan Health Endow…Heart of West Michiga…Frey FoundationThe Wege FoundationThe Community Foundat…WK Kellogg FoundationThe Sebastian Foundat…Douglas & Maria Devos…Feeding America West …Health Net of West Mi…
Grand Rapids Community FoundationMI41.9× affinity18 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Grand Rapids Community Foundation · Corewell Health Group Return · Michigan Health Endowment Fund · Heart of West Michigan United Way · Frey Foundation · The Wege Foundation · The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area Inc · WK Kellogg Foundation · The Sebastian Foundation · Douglas & Maria Devos Foundation · Feeding America West Michigan · Health Net of West Michigan

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization First Steps Kent funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from First Steps Kent. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%5%19%42%75%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    12report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 26 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on First Steps Kent’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home