A message from Diana Sieger, president.
Happy New Year!
This year, Grand Rapids Community Foundation will celebrate our 100th anniversary; a century of responding to the everchanging needs of Greater Grand Rapids. This milestone year also marks the beginning of a new century of service and impact in our community. None of this would be possible without you. On behalf of the entire Community Foundation staff and Board of Trustees, thank you! Thank you for trusting us, walking alongside us, teaching us, challenging us and inspiring us.
As we honor our past and boldly step into our future, 2022 is so much more than a year of celebration. Our centennial is a year to reflect on our history, impact, growth and learning over the last century and to engage with community members like you to shape our future focus.
Our history…
Grand Rapids Community Foundation belongs to this community. Over the last 100 years, partners like you who care about the future of Kent County have built the Community Foundation. Through your gifts of time, financial resources and thought partnership, we have grown to more than 800 funds that have been established by people to do good in our community forever.
Our impact…
Since our founding in 1922, partners like you have made it possible for us to award more than $244 million in grants and $21 million in scholarships to benefit our community. Throughout our history, the Community Foundation has walked alongside community partners championing for social justice and issues like HIV/AIDS, child abuse and neglect, affordable housing, equitable access to education and so much more. We are so grateful to you for consistently trusting us to help bring key issues to the forefront in order to build the community will, investment and collaboration needed to inspire change.
Our growth and learning…
The lessons we’ve learned over the last century are too long to list here, but we wouldn’t be where we are today without them. As a result, we have evolved our approach and sharpened our focus. We are committed to working with partners like you to build a more inclusive philanthropic culture and practice in Kent County. So, we strive for greater transparency, collaboration, accountability and intentional outreach for feedback.
Our future focus…
Together with our partners, the Community Foundation is working toward a renewed West Michigan. One with a deeper, more sustainable commitment to racial, social and economic justice. One where everyone in our community has equitable access to opportunity, prosperity and belonging.
Throughout our centennial year, we will be gathering stories and aspirations to understand our community’s collective vision for the future of Kent County. This will inform our work in our next century of service and impact. Please be on the lookout for opportunities to share with us.
As we embark on a new century of service and impact in Kent County, we hope you will continue to trust us, walk alongside us, teach us, challenge us and inspire us to continue to carry out our mission and North Star.
To learn more about our centennial, please visit GRFoundation.org/Centennial