Developed with the guidance of national experts and leaders in philanthropy, and founded by Distinguished Professor of Philanthropic Studies Joel J. Orosz, Ph.D., The Grantmaking School is the first university-based program for teaching the techniques and ethics of grantmaking specifically to foundation grantmaking professionals. Every member of its faculty is a current or former foundation program officer or CEO, ensuring a practical orientation in the curriculum.

The Grantmaking School began as part of the Johnson Center for Philanthropy's Philanthropic and Nonprofit Knowledge Management (PNKM) Initiative, funded by a five-year, $3.4 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 

In 2003, an Advisory Committee comprised of a diverse group of senior grantmakers, consultants, and foundation leaders from around the country met to advise on the development and strategic direction of The Grantmaking School and its curriculum. The first course, Advanced Proposal Analysis: A Critical Examination of Complex Issues was piloted in 2004 and has subsequently been held in various cities across the country. 

The Grantmaking School is part of the Johnson Center for Philanthropy, an academic center of Grand Valley State University. With a strong focus on community service, the Johnson Center for Philanthropy is dedicated to strengthening organizatios and in turn transformng communities.

Grand Valley State University, is one of the fastest-growing public universities in the United States. Founded in 1960, it now encompasses more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees in more than 75 major areas on three campuses, with enrollment of more than 20,000 students. In 2001, US News and World Report ranked GVSU among America's Best Graduate Schools for Nonprofit Management.