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Meeting Challenges of an Uncertain Time

CMF Community Voices features a series of conversations and insights from leaders across our community of philanthropy. This curated collection of blogs and Q&As lifts up inspiring voices from changemakers who lead efforts in the areas of Equity, People, Practice and Policy, with equity at the center. 

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Ric DeVore leads the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

CMF Community Voices

CMF Community Voices features a series of conversations and insights from leaders across our community of philanthropy. This curated collection of blogs and Q&As lifts up inspiring voices from changemakers who lead efforts in the areas of Equity, People, Practice and Policy, with equity at the center. 

Meeting the Challenges of an Uncertain Time

By Ric DeVore, president, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

Some people may have seen 2022 as an ideal time to retire. After leading an organization through a tumultuous decade of increasing polarization and political strife capped by a global pandemic, I don’t think anyone would have questioned me if I’d said, “I’ve done my part,” and called it a day. But when presented with an opportunity to join a storied organization whose mission and values align with my own, I jumped at the chance.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is one of the top 25 community foundations in the country, with assets of $1.4 billion. But more importantly, it’s an organization that has demonstrated itself as the place to affect positive change in the region I love and call home. This, of course, is thanks to the visionary leadership of Mariam Noland, my predecessor and our founding president, and a Board of Trustees who have launched more than 60 major initiatives and established hundreds of endowed funds to create permanent community capital for our region.

What excites me about the next chapter of my career is the chance to meet the challenges of an uncertain time. Together with a great staff and board, we have the opportunity to make a strategic plan to grow our organization so that it can meet the needs of current and future generations of residents. 

We have a lot of work to do in southeast Michigan. I have a passion for improving education; ensuring underserved communities have the resources they need to thrive, grow and nurture our future leaders; and giving more power to leaders who look like the communities they serve. We will honor the past and, at the same time, embrace new opportunities to further improve the lives of residents in southeast Michigan.  

I also believe strongly that partnerships and collaboration are cornerstones of philanthropy. Not only is the community foundation partnering with important local and national organizations like the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation; the Hudson-Webber Foundation; the John S. and James L.  Knight Foundation, the Ford Foundation and others to help address issues in the region, some of southeast Michigan’s most philanthropic donors are working with us to improve the quality of life in the seven counties we serve. 

Every time I meet with the community foundation staff, I get more excited about the opportunities in our region, our state and our country. One of the goals I have is to grow our general endowment so we can do more proactively and in a crisis. The pandemic is a good example of how philanthropy quickly mobilized across so many communities and made a positive impact during a horrific situation. We need to have the flexibility to help organizations and the residents we serve today, with an eye to preparedness for what is around the corner and what will help in the future.   

I am honored and humbled to serve as the new leader of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. I plan to spend the next several weeks listening, learning and embarking on our strategic plan. I look forward to meeting several of you who are making a difference in our state every day. From someone who is personally invested in the success of Michigan, I look forward to partnering with you and thank you for all you do. 

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