Grand Rapids

Sagamore opened a Grand Rapids office in 2011 to drive enterprise solutions to some of the region’s biggest challenges. Led by Laurel Vanden Berg, Sagamore’s network of thought leaders and innovators has strengthened West Michigan’s civil society and served purpose-driven leaders advancing consequential change.

RUSH Comes to Grand Rapids

Noble Story Co. and Sagamore Senior Fellow Dr. Joseph Loconte recently brought the story of Benjamin Rush to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, hosting a screening of RUSH: The American Revolution’s Indispensable Doctor. The event was held in partnership with the Rivendell Center, GR A250, and Continuum Ventures, inviting guests to rediscover one of America’s often-overlooked Founding Fathers, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, physician, social reformer, abolitionist, and man of deep faith. Following the screening, Dr. Loconte joined the film’s producers, Andrew Teravskis and Adam Gregory, for a conversation and Q&A, creating an opportunity to consider how Rush’s convictions shaped his understanding of liberty, equality, service, and the American experiment. The evening demonstrated Noble Story and Dr. Loconte’s commitment to telling stories that connect history, faith, and civic life while helping a new generation encounter the people and principles that shaped the nation.

Faith in Action in West Michigan

Sagamore’s Laurel Vanden Berg and Senior Fellow Amy Sherman offer compelling examples of faith in action, equipping people to see their everyday work, relationships, and gifts as opportunities to participate in God’s work in the world.

Through Mission Increase, Laurel helps nonprofit leaders move beyond transactional fundraising toward genuine relationships, generosity, and shared purpose, equipping ministries with practical tools while reminding them that fundraising itself can be an expression of ministry. Through inVocation Fellows, based at Hope College, Amy helps emerging adults discover that spiritual formation and leadership development are inseparable, encouraging them to discern how their gifts and vocations can serve their congregations and contribute to the flourishing of others. Together, their work demonstrates that faith is not confined to Sunday or church programs. Rather, it is lived out through our work, stewardship, leadership, generosity, and service to others.

Rep. Peter Meijer & Midwest Defense

Former Michigan U.S. Congressman Peter Meijer, a Michigan native who represented Grand Rapids in the House and served in the Army as an intelligence officer, brought his experience and insight to the inaugural Midwest Defense Summit, where he led a team in a war game scenario of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Athlete Impact with Jaylon Moore

Jaylon Moore, a Detroit native, Western Michigan University graduate, and Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle, celebrated the launch of the Moore Hope Foundation in Detroit under Sagamore’s Athlete Impact portfolio. The gathering brought together community leaders and supporters to mark the beginning of Moore’s philanthropic efforts to give back to his hometown and create greater opportunities for Detroit families and youth. The event included a football camp for kids, an Evening of Hope dinner, and a breakout session for parents, highlighting Moore’s commitment to using his platform and personal success to invest in the community that helped shape him

WKKF Collaboration

Former WK Kellogg Foundation director of public policy Pat Babcock was a founding member of Sagamore’s Board of Trustees. More recently, Sagamore has received $1M in grants to advance solutions to the Midwest economic development challenges, especially for underserved populations.