GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Steelcase Foundation today released findings from the first year of its Investment in Families Initiative, revealing the powerful impact of centering families in the design and delivery of support systems. Launched in 2024 as a ten-year, $10 million participatory research partnership, the Initiative engages 30 family leaders in Kent County with children aged 12 and under to explore how family-driven supports can strengthen well-being, dismantle structural barriers, and inform scalable policy and philanthropic solutions.
“In the first year alone, we’ve seen families purchase houses, level up their careers, and invest in their futures, while also balancing the realities of life in 2025 with increased costs and uncertainty,” said Dr. Daniel Williams, president of the Steelcase Foundation. “Through it all, though, this first year has underscored the immense value in centering families’ voices while navigating structural stressors to foster meaningful changes in their lives.”
Key Year One Findings:
- Family Agency and Well-Being: Families reported increased confidence, reduced stress, and greater ability to navigate life challenges, with 57% noting improvements in their mental and emotional well-being. This finding underscores the importance of programs that prioritize choice, agency, and relational support over rigid outcome measures, trusting families to define what stability and success look like for themselves.
- Financial Assistance as Harm Reduction: While direct cash transfers totaling over $10,000 provided relief for essentials like rent, utilities, transportation and education, the Initiative emphasizes this financial support as a short-term harm reduction strategy, creating “breathing room” so families can fully participate in shaping long-term solutions.
- Community and Connection: Cohort members built a robust network of trust and mutual support, with 95% reporting feeling included and respected. These relationships, referred to as relational infrastructure, proved critical in navigating challenges and building resilience.
- Educational and Career Progress: Families leveraged supports to pursue personal and professional goals, including post-secondary education, career advancement, homeownership and savings for their children’s future.
This Initiative builds on years of progress in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. Organizations such as Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), BoardSource, and the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project have championed centering community voices, equity-focused practices, and authentic partnerships in program design and governance. The Investment in Families Initiative leverages these lessons, testing participatory models at a pivotal moment when families face mounting financial, social and systemic pressures.
Unlike traditional philanthropic models, the Initiative prioritizes long-term, evolving relationships over pre-set outcomes. It pairs short-term financial and material support with leadership development, community-building and systems advocacy, acknowledging that trust, reliability and relational connection are as vital to family well-being as resources. Families are empowered to define success for themselves, ensuring that interventions align with their lived realities rather than externally imposed benchmarks.
As the ten-year research project continues, findings will inform policy, philanthropic practices, and community interventions, providing a model for designing family supports that are trauma-informed, asset-based, and responsive to real-world needs.
To learn more and to read the full Year One Investment in Families Impact Report, visit www.steelcasefoundation.org/
