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CATALYZING COMMUNITY GIVING: LEARNING TOGETHER
Participating in W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Catalyzing Community Giving program has helped Grand Rapids Community Foundation reimagine and redefine philanthropy through powerful insights from community volunteers. Through the CCG program, the Community Foundation joined a cohort of community foundations, nonprofits and emerging networks across North America working to collaborate more equitably and effectively with communities of color. The Community Foundation’s focus has been to invest more time and energy into building trust and accountability with Black and Latinx communities in Kent County, while growing funds created by and for these communities.
Philanthropy has taken a variety of forms in Black and Latinx communities throughout Kent County, including mutual aid, community organizing, grassroots movements, community care and so much more. The CCG program has allowed the Community Foundation to intentionally leverage resources to support communityled philanthropy. This approach helps us continue to shift away from the ways philanthropy has historically been harmful to communities it has intended to help, while supporting and uplifting the positive and impactful work being led by communities.
While the three-year CCG partnership is ending in August 2022, we remain committed to honor our commitment to community-led philanthropy in partnership with Black and Latinx communities by putting to practice what we’ve learned. The Community Foundation created a permanent community giving officer staff position to honor our community’s collective wisdom while inspiring and driving the work.
Building this role into the Community Foundation’s operations focuses attention and resources for the Latinx Advisory Committee and our Black Legacy Fund. The community giving officer will work with both funding groups to address their direction, implementation, financial sustainability, operations and execution.
We interviewed Danah Montgomery, our recently hired community giving officer, to learn how she’ll work with Community Foundation staff, stakeholders and volunteer committees.
WHAT ASPECT OF THE COMMUNITY GIVING OFFICER ROLE IS MOST COMPELLING FOR YOU?
DM: I am a community organizer, so I am very passionate about the ways the community can hold powerful institutions accountable. The community giving officer position has the capacity to shift power and resources into the hands of the communities who deserve it. The role also demands trust and accountability to the community.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THE BLACK LEGACY FUND AND LATINX ADVISORY COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS?
DM: Our Black Legacy Fund and Latinx Advisory Committee volunteers model the beauty of community through their collaborative decision making, mutual respect, intentionality, patience and generosity. They have encouraged me to think creatively and boldly about the ways we show up for the community.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2022?
DM: We are entering an exciting chapter in our Black Legacy Fund and Latinx Advisory Committee stories. I am looking forward to walking the talk and putting some action behind the words and commitments we have made to the community.
