All News

Posted on May 03, 2011 – Posted by: Roberta King

Facebook Grant Giveaway: An Experiment in Crowdsourced Grantmaking

During the last week of April we tried a social media experiment—we encouraged our Facebook audience to be grantmakers. We asked the 650 people who ‘liked’ the Community Foundation on Facebook to name their favorite [...]
Posted on April 29, 2011 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

Standing Tall Against Racism!

Today our staff is standing tall against racism. Joining forces with the local and national YWCA and many others, we are making this day an important day for all of us to take a [...]
Posted on April 14, 2011 – Posted by: Roberta King

Community Foundation Awards $375,000 in New Grants

In 1940, Grand Rapids Community Foundation made its first grant to a fledgling art school in Grand Rapids. It was followed by subsequent grants of $100 each in 1941 for the Kendall Memorial School and [...]
Posted on April 08, 2011 – Posted by: Roberta King

(Re-)Engaging Boomers for Community Good

10 Nonprofits Awarded $5,000 Each to Create Encore Teams People 50+ want to make a meaningful difference in the community, but lack the platform to do good work.Nonprofits make a meaningful difference, but lack the manpower [...]
Posted on April 07, 2011 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

Have I got a question for you!

At a recent board meeting a trustee asked me a question that has had me intrigued since then. We were presenting key aspects of our impact measurement system called Novah to demonstrate its ability to [...]
Posted on March 16, 2011 – Posted by: Roberta King

Community Foundation Receives Pillar Award

Women’s Resource Center honored Grand Rapids Community Foundation at its 2011 Pillar Awards luncheon on Wednesday, March 16. The Pillar Award recognizes employers who make significant efforts to empower women in the workplace. The Community Foundation [...]
Posted on March 15, 2011 – Posted by: Roberta King

Community Foundation Wins Wilmer Shields Rich Communication Awards

Grand Rapids Community Foundation is the recipient of one gold award and two bronze awards for excellence in communication from the Council on Foundation’s Wilmer Shields Rich Awards Program. Each year, this program recognizes private [...]
Posted on March 06, 2011 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

Is inclusion dangerous?

Got your attention right? This is a tough topic and some think that talking about inclusion and diversity is dangerous territory. I am convinced that moving this community from great to even greater rests [...]
Posted on March 06, 2011 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

The Sizzle of Stability

A former staff member was opposed to any reference in our printed materials about our staff. She thought it would draw too much attention away from our message and give a negative impression if the [...]
Posted on February 16, 2011 – Posted by: Roberta King

Community Foundation Grants Help Veterans and Chronically Homeless People

The Board of Trustees of Grand Rapids Community Foundation recently approved two grants. The Friends of Michigan Veterans Home, Inc. will receive a grant award for $35,000 to help provide live video feeds into the Grand [...]
Posted on February 15, 2011 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

Impact, grants and the future!

The Philanthropy Roundtable recently asked philanthropic leaders from around the country two questions: "What is the single most daring, audacious and successful grant of the past 100 years?" and "What grant will people be talking [...]
Posted on February 09, 2011 – Posted by: Roberta King

Grant Improves Access to Local Fruits and Vegetables

To address the need for access to fresh produce in underserved urban communities, Grand Rapids Community Foundation has awarded a $150,000 grant to Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks program. The program will encourage [...]