MEET THE OFL STAFF |
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| Karen Aldridge-Eason, a loaned executive from the C.S. Mott Foundation, serves as Foundation Liaison. She previously worked as a budget director in both local and state government, and a legislative assistant in the Michigan State Senate. |
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| Maura Dewan serves as program associate for OFL. Previously, she worked with the Michigan Nonprofit Association, Public Sector Consultants, and the Executive Office. |
CONTACT THE OFLOffice of Foundation Liaison |
Office of the Foundation Liaison
Purpose & Impact
Michigan's non-partisan Office of Foundation Liaison (OFL) was created in 2003 at the suggestion of foundation leaders and with support from newly elected Governor Jennifer Granholm. This cabinet level position - unique in the nation - helps to identify and broker strategic partnerships between the state and foundations likely to result in policy reforms that would improve the lives of children and families in Michigan.
The OFL is funded by foundations. It does not serve as a fundraiser for state government.
OFL's Objectives
- Educate state officials about foundations
- Forge relationships and support the development of partnerships between the state and foundations
- Attract new national grant dollars to Michigan
- Respond to opportunities for new local and regional public/private partnerships to serve people and the implementation of government programs
Accomplishments
Since its inception, the OFL has brokered over $80 million in foundation investment in initiatives designed to help increase Michigan's economic competitiveness through reforms in
- K-16 Education
- Economic Development, including Workforce Development
- Health
- Early Childhood
- Land Use
Michigan’s OFL has also inspired similar liaison positions around the U.S. in Newark, NJ and in New Mexico.
Governance
The OFL is governed by an Advisory Committee of contributing funders; the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), its fiscal agent; and a member of the governor’s executive staff.
In This Area
Background & Supporting Materials
- OFL: Findings from the 2010 Assessment [PDF]
This is the third assessment of OFL conducted by the Community Research Institute (CRI) at Grand Valley State University. The purposes of this assessments, is based on a logic model grounded in OFL’s goals and provides a snapshot of OFL, at given points in time. - Michigan's Foundation Liaison Forging New Partnerships for a Better Tomorrow [PDF]
A comprehensive portrait of Michigan's Office of the Foundation Liaison - past successes and future initiatives - on the occasion of its five-year anniversary. - OFL Fact Sheet [PDF]
Background information, accomplishments and contact information for Michigan's Office of Foundation Liaison (OFL), a unique partnership between CMF and the State of Michigan. - OFL: Findings from the 2006-2007 Assessment [PDF]
Research undertaken to determine the extent to which key stakeholders working within state government and philanthropic arenas are currently utilizing OFL.