The City of Grand Rapids accepted $12,000 from a left-leaning political entity Tuesday, while claiming the gifting organization is actually nonpartisan. 

City Clerk Joel Hondorp said the funds will go toward radio advertising encouraging residents to vote. The clerk said that he would be allowed to review the advertisements and give final approval before they go public.

“Voters Not Politicians offered a grant for communications about elections and we’re going to use this grant for radio ads talking about early voting, same-day registration and the importance of getting out to vote,” Hondorp said during the meeting.

Awarding the grant was Voters Not Politicians (VNP), a political nonprofit that claims to have ended gerrymandering in Michigan. The group self-identifies as “nonpartisan” and focuses on creating “a family of organizations that empowers regular citizens to strengthen democracy against increasing threats.

“In recent years, because of work done by Voters Not Politicians and our pro-democracy allies, Michigan has become a national model of democracy reform,” the group’s website reads. “Now we are preparing to continue this fight and do what’s necessary to protect our state’s democracy so that political power remains with the people of Michigan.”

VNP was responsible for Proposal 2 on the 2018 ballot, a measure which sought to transfer the power to redraw districts from the state Legislature to an independent redistricting commission. That measure passed with over 60% of the vote.

That proposal received overwhelming support and funding from left-leaning political groups. Among them was SEIU UHW-West, a California-based chapter of the Service Employees International Union labor union.

Also backing the proposal was the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which is part of the Arabella Advisors network. That network was founded by an alum of the Clinton administration and raises billions of dollars for Democratic groups and causes.

The Sixteen Thirty Fund also funnels money into Grand Rapids’ network of anti-ICE activists.

VNP is affiliated with another 501(c)(3) sister organization “Count MI Vote Education Fund,” which has received over $1 million in funding from the left-of-center MacArthur Foundation. Also funding VNP is the National Redistricting Foundation, which was founded by Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder and supported by President Obama himself.

“Critics of VNP’s claimed nonpartisan nature also pointed out that VNP hired pollsters and consultants with longstanding ties to Democratic candidates and left-of-center organizations,” government watchdog group Influence Watch wrote of VNP.

Voters Not Politicians is also listed as a partner group of the No Kings demonstrations, which drive criticism of the Trump administration. Several such demonstrations have taken place in downtown Grand Rapids this year, and also have ties to left-wing money.

During Tuesday’s meeting of the City of Grand Rapids Fiscal Committee, a resolution to accept VNP’s grant passed unceremoniously. Cheering the move was Commissioner Marshall Kilgore, who recalled the group’s advocacy on Proposal 2 during his comments.

“I know Voters Not Politicians… was involved in creating this sort of nonpartisan commission to make our lines more fair, redistricting,” Kilgore said. “I’m hoping the public can see that we’re engaging in civic engagement and voter outreach, that it’s nonpartisan and simply uplifting their right to vote.”

Write to jackson@grherald.com