Court Ruling Strikes Down Evangelical Prison Ministry Program with Connections to the Religious Right in West Michigan

Colson’s Prison Fellowship Ministries is heavily funded by a variety of prominent conservative foundations based in West Michigan. The Holland-based DeWitt Families Conduit Foundation—funded by money from the Bil Mar slaughterhouse operations—contributed to $12,000 to the organization from 2002 to 2004 while the Cook Charitable Foundation, based in Grand Rapids and founded by Peter C. Cook, founder of Great Lakes Mazda, contributed $10,000 in 2003. However, it is two of the area’s wealthiest and most right-leaning families—the Grand Rapids area DeVos family and Holland’s Prince family—that have made the most substantial contributions to the organization. The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation—established by Amway (Alticor) co-founder Richard DeVos—contributed $1,000,000 annually to the organization from 2002-2004. Additionally, the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation—established by Richard “Dick” DeVos, Junior (and Republican candidate for governor this year)—contributed $50,000 in 2002 and 2003 to Prison Fellowship Ministries. Holland’s Prince family—which made money in the auto parts industry—contributed $680,000 from 2001 through two family foundations, the Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation ($30,000 in 2003, $50,000 in 2004, $50,000 in 2005) and the Freiheit Foundation—established by Erik Prince, brother of Betsy DeVos and founder of the security contractor Blackwater.