Our New Philanthropists Pledge to:

• Volunteer. Members are engaged in the community, getting involved with a committee or through hands-on volunteering.
• Give Now. New Philanthropists show their support the Community Foundation with an annual gift to the Fund for Community Good at a minimum level of $500 a year, or by establishing a Donor Advised fund or Named Field of Interest fund.
• Give Later. By including a provision in their will or estate plan for the benefit of the Community Foundation, New Philanthropists support our community's future.
• Share Their Story. New Philanthropists share why they give to the Community Foundation, telling us about the causes closest to their hearts, and encouraging others to give.

"With One Hundred New Philanthropists, the Community Foundation set the ground for new philanthropists to come into the community and build confidence in giving. It's like a training program or on-ramp for philanthropy," Christian said.

"The community Foundation saves us time, because they're looking at community causes and needs, and they know how to partner with different organizations to create synergy of the dollar," Mandy said.

“What we get from giving is being a part of a community where the needs of the people are met. To us, it’s almost an act of citizenship, a responsibility to the community. The Community Foundation is an unsung hero in our community. Few things happen in Grand Rapids apart from them. Back in 1996, Brent benefited from the Community Foundation’s work as a scholarship recipient and, in part due to many other contributors, we’re now able to become philanthropists."

“We would like Kent County to be a place where people would be treated with respect regardless of their race, age, ability, status or gender. We want Kent County to be a city on a hill where everyone has access to affordable housing and receives fair wages for their work.”

“I have increasingly felt that I should be doing more to support the community. I give to organizations that attempt to give children, often with heavy odds working against them, a better chance at having control over their future. I was drawn to the Community Foundation’s Challenge Scholars program. A part of me cringes every time I hear complaints about the quality of our city’s public schools. How cool would it be if, one day, people insisted on living downtown specifically for the high quality of its public schools? Challenge Scholars encourages students to think critically about the long-term impact a college-equivalent education can have on their lives. It incentivizes them to prepare by achieving higher academic goals today."