Holland Nonprofits and Charities

The Tulip City Walls Mural Festival is a vibrant, award-winning public art event transforming Holland's Eastcore neighborhood. With support from you, this year's festival will extend our impact by increasing access for underrepresented youth in the arts through a free Mural Camp with Michigan artist Dustin Hunt of Muralmatics.<br><br>Youth Mural Camps give middle and high school students the chance to create professional-quality murals while developing technical and personal skills. By incorporating students' interests and ideas into the designs, these camps celebrate their stories and contributions to their communities. Students learn techniques like spray painting, using ladders, and the "scribble grid" method while building relationships and creative confidence.<br><br>Learning Outcomes include the following.<br><br>- Build Strong Relationships<br>- Grow Confidence Through Accomplishments<br>- Step Into Leadership Roles<br>- Learn New Artistic Skills<br>- Create Meaningful Public Art<br>- Engage Mind and Body<br>- Experience Community and Celebration<br><br>In supporting our Youth Mural Camp, you will provide valuable education for the next generation of our neighborhood while enhancing public spaces as a part of our Tulip City Walls Mural Festival.<br><br>The Tulip City Walls Mural Festival began after neighborhood listening sessions revealed the number one desire of residents was for more connection: to each other and to a neighborhood identity. We first debuted two (2) new murals in 2022, paired with a neighborhood block party that drew over 200 attendees.<br><br> In 2023, 3Sixty and community partners organized the inaugural Tulip City Walls Mural Festival, which installed five (5) permanent murals around Eastcore's Columbia Avenue commercial district. Our festival featured a DJ, food trucks, a beer tent, a dog parade, a chalk art contest, a car and coffee show, a vintage sale, and a community resource expo highlighting other local nonprofits and their services. According to data from the Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, over 2,200 neighbors, Holland residents, and out-of-town guests visited throughout the four-day event. <br>Our success in 2023 even earned 3Sixty national recognition when we were nominated and awarded a 1st Place "Neighborhood of the Year" award for Physical Revitalization/Beautification by Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA). In total, our 2024 Tulip City Walls Mural Festival drew approximately 3,100 individuals from throughout the Great Lakes Region to witness the creation of six (6) new permanent murals from eight (8) muralists, including internationally recognized artists from the Netherlands, Canada, and the U.S.<br><br>In addition to the outcomes associated with our first-ever Youth Mural Camp, our goals for 2025 include:<br>- Create 10 new permanent murals that reflect our theme for this year ("Invest in Community") with accompanying artist statement plaques in Eastcore<br>- Host 100 attendees for our first-ever free-to-the-public "Meet the Artists" Reception and Dialogue where community members can interact with muralists through a facilitated discussion on art's power to cultivate neighborhood pride<br>- Increase our attendance to 3,500 over the course of the festival<br> <br>*Organization Impact<br><br>For years, the Eastcore neighborhood was dismissed as "the ghetto," but public art has rewritten that narrative. The murals have brought people from across Holland and beyond, fostering understanding of the immigrant journey and creating a deeper connection between cultures. What was once a neighborhood many avoided is now a thriving destination filled with art, culture, and community.<br>Tulip City Walls is more than painting walls--it's about shifting perspectives, fostering connections, and celebrating the diverse stories that make our community stronger. The festival turns blank walls into canvases of storytelling, cultural expression, and public dialogue. Through artist talks, workshops, and interactive mural-making, residents actively engage in shaping their public spaces.<br>The impact extends beyond cultural enrichment:<br>National Recognition: The 2023 Tulip City Walls Mural Festival received a 1st national award from Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) for 'Neighborhood of the Year', recognizing our physical revitalization and beautification work in our Eastcore neighborhood.<br><br>Social Justice & Inclusion: Recognizing the murals' role in transforming Eastcore and fostering a more inclusive community, the City of Holland's Human Relations Committee awarded 3Sixty the 2024 Social Justice Award for Community Relations. This honor highlights how public art can be a powerful tool for representation, belonging, and equity.<br><br>A Festival Unlike Any Other: Mural artists from across the U.S. and abroad have praised Tulip City Walls for its unique approach. Unlike many for-profit mural festivals, 3Sixty, as a nonprofit, is not driven by commercial gain. The festival is more intimate, bringing art directly to neighborhood streets, allowing residents to witness the creative process up close. Artists are treated as friends, embraced by the community, and given a family-like experience that makes this festival stand out.<br><br>Economic Growth: Studies show that for every dollar spent on a mural, communities can see up to $24 in economic activity. The Tulip City Walls Mural Festival has increased foot traffic along Columbia Avenue's business corridor, supporting the growth of local businesses including Mi Favorita, Colin's Bakery, and JJ Auto Sales.<br><br>Tourism & Visibility: Public murals attract visitors, supporting small businesses and creating landmarks within the city.<br><br>Community Pride & Safety: Research indicates that areas with murals experience less crime due to increased foot traffic and neighborhood pride.<br><br>Representation & Belonging: For many, these murals provide a long-overdue sense of visibility and affirmation. As longtime resident Juan Mascorro shared, "After I saw the murals, I finally felt like I belonged here."<br><br>Supporting Artists: The festival gives muralists a platform to engage with the Eastcore community and refine their skills. Up-and-coming artists gain valuable experience through "box murals," allowing them to create large-scale works for the first time and learn what it takes to be part of a mural festival.<br>Additionally, partnerships with educational institutions like Black River Public School further the festival's reach, providing students with opportunities to engage with artists, learn about cultural narratives, and participate in meaningful public humanities programming.<br>By investing in public art, we are investing in a stronger, more connected community--one where every story has a place and every resident feels seen. Tulip City Walls is not just revitalizing Eastcore; it's redefining what our neighborhood stands for.

Hope Pkgs provides first night backpacks for children entering foster care. They provide a new backpack, new pajamas, a new blanket, socks, underwear, toiletries and for younger children a toy or a book! They are extremely committed to providing for children and helping foster parents who may not have much time to prepare for the arrival of a foster child. Every item they provide is new which is meant to show these children that someone cares and that these kids are worthy! These are children that are pulled from a bad situation and put into a home where they may not know anyone and do not know what to expect. As a donor to Hope Pkgs, we have witnessed their daily dedication and are happy to help in anyway we can!

My father had a soft spot for my rescue animals and would get food donations from his local community center to donate to them and BestPals rescue. His last wish a few weeks before he passed in October was to donate to BestPals rescue which he knew I had a deep passion to help this organization. In his obituary we have named BestPals Animal rescue Center Holland, MI as a beneficiary for donations in his honor. <br /><br />recently, Michelle Kenat from BestPals Animal rescue Center received a message through facebook from an elderly man in Holland that was very concerned about his 11 year old dog Buddy's health and that he could not pay for care until mid December. He had no transportation so Michelle picked him and Buddy up and took him to her vet at the Animal Clinic for Dr. Jim to evaluate this sweet doggy. He had fleas, white gums, was in pain and with the results of a blood test was diagnosed with Pancreas and Kidney failure. It was decided to humanely euthanize Buddy at that time. Even with a discount the bill was $276 which BestPals paid without a second thought. <br />After hearing of this sad story I thought it would be a great opportunity to use the donations received from my Dad's tribute which is now up to $200 to help cover the cost. BestPals is now going to have a "Buddy Fund" donation once a year to help out a member of the community that has been hit with hard times and needs help with vet care or to help their pet cross the rainbow bridge. I couldn't think of a better way to help the community.

It's wonderful to have the Holland Junior Welfare League supporting children and youth initiatives in Holland. CASA greatly values all the work and goodwill that they put into making our community even better. We appreciate their personal touch through their phone calls and site visits as they make us feel special. Thanks for all your support!

THE HOLLAND ALANO ASSOCIATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A MEETING PLACE FOR HOLLAND/ZEELAND/ALLEGAN AREA TWELVE STEP GROUPS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE,STRENGTH AND HOPE WITH EACH OTHER;TOWARD OUR COMMON <br>CONCERN FOR PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN A LIFE FREE FROM ADDICTIONS. <br>

The Rotary Club of Holland, Michigan serves both local and global humanitarian projects. 100% of donated funds go directly to the project. Currently the Club has active global projects in Honduras, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

We actually first visited the Outdoor Discovery Center to find a Geocache. During our 2 1/2 mile walk around the ODC we were so impressed with what had been done with the grounds that we returned later in the summer with our small group from church. This is a wonderful way to get families and children away from video games and TV to learning about nature and get some exercise at the same time. We recommend this place to all our friends. Keep up the good work!

Ken&rsquo;s passion for improving the health care delivery systems in the most needy countries across the world is very evident when you hear him talk about his project in Pitesti, Romania and how that fueled his vision for HDI. HDI&rsquo;s focus goes beyond treating the symptoms of poor health as many non-profits do so well already. They improve the system. HDI drives at improving quality and effectiveness of the local clinics and hospitals that can directly impact poor health in their area. Instead of treating symptoms, HDI gets at the root of the issue and instills best practices in the system. And the key is making each clinic and hospital sustainable in its approach for the long term positive impact on the community it is in. Because HDI does not handout medicine to treat diseases in health troubled countries, it is harder for supporters to see the impact they are making. But by improving the system that locally delivers the treatments, HDI is leveraging their efforts and effectiveness 100-fold over a &lsquo;handout&rsquo; approach. They don&rsquo;t give a man a fish, they are teaching many men how to fish effectively for their own long term provision.

This organization is a one-stop shop for philanthropy - from accepting charitable gifts to making grants that make a difference in the community - they do it all. I love the personalized, flexible service I received from a professional staff that care about and understand the community. Before moving to Holland 12 years ago I had never heard of a community foundation. Now I know they cover every county in Michigan and the impact is huge on the nonprofit programs they fund that serve the greatest needs. I am also very impressed after checking into the history - The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area has been around since 1951. They have always played a quiet role not only as a grantmaker, but also as a fiscal agent that has helped fund some of the largest and longest lasting projects that define this community. For instance, the Kollen Park Bandshell, the Centennial Park fencing and historid district signs, the original Street Melt, Windmill Island development, the Jim Kaat Baseball Park in Zeeland, capital projects such as Evergreen Commons, Boys and Girls Club, Center for Women in Transition, River Avenue Bridge (temporary bridge and final landscaping) and Zeeland Community Hospital. I am proud to be associated with this great organization not only as an annual donor, but also as a fund representative (donor advised family fund). Oh, and I should mention I also work there...CFHZ is a large part of my life and I love it!