Content excerpted and adapted from a Grand Rapids Community Foundation press release.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) has kicked off recognition and celebration of its 100th anniversary, marking the beginning of a new century of service and impact. Since 1922, the community foundation has granted more than $244 million in grants and $21 million in scholarships to benefit Kent County residents. 

With support from partners who give time, expertise and financial contributions, the community foundation is pursuing its mission—to build and manage our community’s permanent endowment and lead the community to strengthen the lives of its people. Thousands of people have contributed to this mission as donor, nonprofit, volunteer and community partners. 

“We couldn’t have imagined that a global pandemic and racial reckoning would influence our centennial year,” Diana Sieger, president of GRCF said. “But—with our eyes on the future—we continue our work, reflecting on our history and all we’ve learned over the last century. The time is now to build upon our strengths and lean further into our role as stewards of change in our community.” 

Over its century of service, the community foundation has adapted its operations, approaches and philanthropic strategies. Originally established for the betterment of Grand Rapids, the foundation expanded its scope to encompass all of Kent County in the 1930s. Throughout its history, the community foundation has partnered with donors, nonprofits and community leaders to champion social justice and issues like HIV/AIDS, child abuse and neglect, affordable housing and equitable access to education. 

“The community foundation’s trustees and staff are grateful to the donors, volunteers, nonprofits, partners and all in our community who have given of their time, financial resources and thought partnership to our mission. The work of generations of champions has made the community foundation’s century of community impact and bold change possible,” Kyle Caldwell, board chair and president & CEO of CMF said. 

Throughout the year, the community foundation, the first in Michigan, will invite community members to share their aspirations for the future of Kent County. The stories and perspectives shared will inform the organization’s next century of service and impact. 

Highlights from GRCF’s previous fiscal year include:

• Total grants and scholarships of nearly $19 million. 

• Twenty-seven new funds were established to address our community's current and future needs. The community foundation manages more than 800 funds created by people to do good in our community forever. 

• Grand Rapids Community Foundation was a founding investor in a woman-owned index fund, opening the door for other institutional investors to participate. 

CMF will celebrate you – our community of philanthropy – as we kick off our 50th anniversary celebration at Annual Conference taking place in Grand Rapids November 14-16. We look forward to honoring the local community and GRCF’s major milestone.

Want more?

Learn more about GRCF’s centennial.