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Clarity. Trust. Community.

2025 - 2026 Annual Report

Our Mission

Our North Star

To create a thriving and equitable West Michigan by connecting people, passion and resources today and for generations to come.

The people of West Michigan deserve to thrive. Together, we must ensure everyone has access to opportunity, prosperity and belonging. It is only by embracing our differences and overcoming inequities that we can create a more vibrant community.

Our Core Values Equity Collaboration Trust Adaptability Courage

Pictured: Pa rtn Community ers at Foundation events

Explore the Full Report at GRFoundation.org/AnnualReport

Dear Partners and Friends, This has been a year of tremendous change, locally and nationally. Yet our community has remained deeply generous. It’s truly reaffirming how our partners keep showing up for one another. We’re so grateful that you trust Grand Rapids Community Foundation to let equity and collaboration guide all we do. You helped us exceed our $30 million Centennial Campaign fundraising goal to fuel our work. You helped shape our new strategic framework—including a clarified mission, North Star and core values to guide our work. Your trust helps us continue to connect with and learn alongside our community. Together, we invest in the people and causes that make this community unique. Last year, we invested $20.9 million in grants to nonprofits and student scholarships. We stewarded our total assets to $562,761,434. As you read this annual report, we hope you see that when we work together, progress is possible. We hope you are inspired by the resilience of our community and seek meaningful ways to come together to ensure every individual in West Michigan has the opportunity to thrive. Partners Together,

LaSandra A. Gaddy

Caitlin Townsend Lamb

President and CEO

Board of Trustees Chair

Clarity. Trust. Community. Clarity comes from working together.

Trust is deepened through relationship.

Community is built through our care for one another.

We are grateful for your partnership as we work together to ensure everyone in West Michigan has access to opportunity, prosperity and belonging.

Pictured: Pa

rtners at C ommunity Foun

dation even

Responding to New Challenges Local nonprofits play a key role in helping West Michigan thrive. But today, organizations are stretched thin and face significant funding challenges. One way we respond to pressing needs is through our Fund for Community Good, built by generous gifts made over decades. Grants made from this fund are informed by our staff and dedicated volunteer partners.

$1.74M in new gifts to Fund for Community Good and Field of Interest funds this year Pictured: Staff and volunteer partners at a Fund for Community Good meeting

“Everybody has a unique perspective. To offer that is one of the best, most genuine things that you can do.”

MarcQus Wright, Volunteer Partner

“Immigration systems and processes are difficult to navigate and it’s only getting harder. I wanted to create a different experience: an environment that was safe and where trust would never be broken.”

aquel Balderas, Immigrant Assistance Center R of West Michigan, Nonprofit Partner

Learning and Giving Together When you give through the Community Foundation, you join a community of donor partners making a big impact, together. This past year, we worked with the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy to invite donor partners to join a new Impact Accelerator Cohort. This program helped them reflect on their giving and make personal giving plans.

Pictured: Impact Accelerator Cohort participants

“I like that the coursework began with understanding our own values. Dad and I considered our own biases and how they influence our giving.”

Eugene Lyons and David Lyons, Donor Partners

“When you have spaces to make those connections, you realize community is everywhere. Giving is personal—and it can stay that way—but it doesn’t have to be done alone.”

Angel Mendiola, Philanthropic Services Manager

Coming Together for Collective Impact The Community Foundation has relationships, historical knowledge and financial resources, which uniquely position us to convene partners to improve community outcomes. Recently, we helped bring together public officials, funders and local early childhood experts to introduce Rx Kids in our community. This program prescribes and provides cash support to parents and babies.

122

families enrolled in the first three months of Rx Kids in 49507 neighborhoods Pictured: Rx Kids community launch event with local parent

“During pregnancy and the first year of your child’s life, there are such extreme highs, right? Such excitement to have a new baby or babies in your home. But you can also encounter some stressors.”

Jennifer Headley-Nordman, First Steps Kent, Nonprofit Partner

“Rx Kids cash prescriptions recognize that each family is different. It’s so important to invest in programs that give parents choices. We know parents in our community care deeply for their kids today, and that will have benefits down the road.”

LaSandra Gaddy, President and CEO

A Trusted Steward

Since our founding, the Community Foundation has invested more than $359 million to advance our mission. We are proud to share these highlights of our partnerships and impact in 2025 and 2026.

$20.9M

awarded in grants and scholarships

56% from Donor Advised funds 19% from Designated, Nonprofit Endowment and Special Project funds 18% from Fund for Community Good and Field of Interest funds 7% from Scholarship funds

grant awards to nonprofit organizations awarded by the Fund for Community Good Advisory Committee

449

scholarship recipients

1O2

recipients renewed their scholarship through our fast-track application

$20.29M

raised, including gifts from 247 new donor partners

$5.95M

of those new gifts were to Donor Advised funds

875

funds, each with its own purpose and meaning

$5.95M

new funds established this year

See lists of all funds by type at GRFoundation.org/AnnualReport/Lists

$562,761,434

in assets have been stewarded by Community Foundation staff and the Investment Review Committee

2025-2026 Financial Statements

Full, audited financial statements are available at GRFoundation.org/About.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

LaSandra Gaddy

Caitlin Townsend Lamb

Danielle R. Brown, CPA

Reneé Williams

President and CEO Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Jessica HermannWilmarth, CFRE Vice President, Development

Ashley René Lee

Vice President, Strategic Communications

Kate Luckert Schmid

Vice President, Program STAFF TEAM GRFoundation.org/Staff

Chair

Immediate Past Chair

Mercedes Barragan Kyle Caldwell Karen Dujovny Orli Dujovny Ken Fawcett, MD Lynne Ferrell James Logan Tim Long Laura Radle

ANNUAL REPORT CREATIVE PARTNERS

Well Design Studio

Ducks Films

Pageworks

Rich P Photography

Huyser-Honig Creative Services

Isabel Media Studios Liv Lyszyk Photography

Thank you for your partnership!

Your donation makes a difference today and for generations to come.

GRFoundation.org/ARGiving

Explore More GRFoundation.org/AnnualReport