Grand Angels was founded by former Grand Bank founder and CEO Charles C. Stoddard and serial entrepreneur, Craig T. Hall. They recruited community leaders willing to join them in the vision of making "investments with a difference." In 2005, Jody D. Vanderwel was recruited to serve as president of the organization. Grand Angels now has over thirty active members.
Grand Angels is the only regional investment group that offers mentoring paired with a relatively patient exit strategy, meaning invested funds may not need to be returned as quickly as would be expected by commercial or other investors. |
The organizaiton is funded through membership fees, corporate and collegiate sponsorships, and a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Grand Angels is a member of the Angel Capital Alliance, an organization sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (Kansas City, MO), which continues to provide leadership and resources for angel investors across the country. |
