PARTNERS in community
4
“I’m proud to live in a place where people not only give generously of their resources but also devote their time and energy to making our community stronger.”
-Claudia Pohlen
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
LaSandra Gaddy President and CEO
Danielle R. Brown, CPA Interim Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Jessica Hermann-Wilmarth, CFRE Vice President, Development
Ashley René Lee Vice President, Strategic Communications
Kate Luckert Schmid Vice President, Program
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Reneé Williams (Chair)
Caitlin Townsend Lamb (Vice Chair)
Kyle D. Caldwell (Immediate Past Chair)
Mercedes Barragan
Ken Fawcett, M.D.
Elaina Juarez
Thomas Kyros
Emily Loeks
Tim Long
Brandy Lovelady Mitchell, Ed.D.
Kathleen B. Vogelsang
Daniel Williams, Ed.D.
Tel: 616.454.1751
Fax: 616.580.1040
Email: info@GRFoundation.org Website: GRFoundation.org
PARTNERS in community is a publication of Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Contributing writers:
Ashley René Lee, LaSandra Gaddy, Audra Hartges-Stern, Grace L. Swanson and Tammy Danh.
Graphic Design: Michele Keren Design
Photography: Alfield Reeves
Photography, Isabel Media Studios
Copyediting: Joan Huyser-Honig
Grand Rapids Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that connects people, passion and resources. For more than a century, people who care about the future of Kent County have built the Community Foundation through their time, financial resources and thought partnership. Our partners— donors, nonprofits, leaders, doers and more—consistently trust us to help bring key issues to the forefront to build community will, investment and collaboration needed to inspire change.
INVESTING IN SYSTEMS: OUR GRANTMAKING STRATEGY
STUDENTS: REIMAGINING SCHOLARSHIPS
PARTNERS in Action and Impact
At Grand Rapids Community Foundation, we know that lasting impact begins at the community level—with people recognizing a need and stepping forward to address it. Community action is not just a concept—it’s a force that has driven change throughout our history and continues to shape our collective future.
For more than 100 years, we have partnered with individuals and organizations who are committed to improving Kent County. From neighborhood leaders advocating for safer, more connected spaces, to grassroots organizers creating solutions to food insecurity or educational equity, we see the transformative power of local leadership in action every day. Their voices continue to shape our priorities, challenge us to think bigger, and remind us that transformational change is only possible when everyone has a seat at the table.
As we continue to refine our new strategic framework, community input is helping us stay grounded in what matters most: building a more inclusive, equitable Kent County where everyone can thrive.
The Community Foundation is rooted in the belief that the people closest to the issues are also closest to the solutions. This is why we center community voice in everything we do. It’s not enough to respond to community needs—we must also invest in the people driving change, creating room for new leaders, new ideas, and shared power.
Our commitment to impact extends beyond individual efforts. Through collaborative giving, convening, and shared learning, we strive to create opportunities for people from all walks of life to unite around common goals. Whether it’s working alongside local nonprofits, funding resident-led initiatives, or co-creating new systems that address root causes of inequity, the Community Foundation serves as a bridge between aspiration and meaningful action.
In this issue, you’ll see how that action comes to life. We highlight donor partners investing in our next century of service and impact through our Centennial Campaign, a Q+A about our grantmaking approach, feedback from students and recent grant partners who are advancing racial, social and economic justice. You’ll also find a special invitation to join our Centennial Campaign—an opportunity to sustain and grow this impact for the next 100 years and beyond.
As always, we invite you to be part of this journey. Whether through giving, advocacy, storytelling, or service, your involvement fuels progress toward a better tomorrow. Thank you for believing and investing in the power of community action. Thank you for making impact possible.
Partners together,
LaSandra A. Gaddy President and CEO Grand Rapids Community Foundation
CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN NEARS $30 MILLION GOAL
Partners Give More Than $29 Million
Grand Rapids Community Foundation is wrapping up its Centennial Campaign, launched in 2022. Many donor partners have already contributed to support our shared vision of an inclusive economy and thriving community. As the campaign enters its final phase, we’re seeking broader support. Join us in shaping a more equitable city and region.
The Centennial Campaign aims to help us tackle challenges today, tomorrow and for generations to
come. Today’s initiatives include bolstering education and career opportunity, housing and financial prosperity, and community building. Tomorrow’s initiatives will be formed by continuing collaboration with community partners to address inequities—like those that exist in our housing, education, income, employment and healthcare systems. Additionally, our commitment to equity means that our work will be informed by those we support and serve.
Campaign Supporters Share Why They Give
MERCEDES BARRAGAN
“Historically, philanthropic institutions have not been racially or ethnically diverse, and they were not designed to empower communities of color . I am excited that this Centennial Campaign has raised funds to support a vision of our community that includes bringing more voices to the table.”
DERETHER GREER
“The vision of my life is that it isn’t all about me. If I can help and impact the life of someone, all of us will have been blessed. I’m invested because I’ve seen where my community invested in others. When I think about those individual entities I feel blessed. It has shaped me into the person that I am today, because I see the importance of giving back.”
Pictured this page (left to right): Mercedes Barragan, Derether Greer
CLAUDIA, JOE AND JACKSON POHLEN
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside incredibly committed volunteers on the Community Foundation’s Centennial Campaign. Each time I connect with one of them, I’m reminded of the deep dedication that runs through this community. I’m proud to live in a place where people not only give generously of their resources but also devote their time and energy to making our community stronger.”
CHRISTINA AND ANDY KELLER
The Kellers are engaged community leaders and longtime Community Foundation partners. They made a multi-year pledge to support the Centennial Campaign, showing their belief in the importance of consistent investment to create a brighter future.
KEN BETZ AND PAT BREWER
“I’ve gone through my life knowing there are people who want to succeed and don’t necessarily have the means to. If we can be of some kind of aid to those people, that’s what we intend to be.” - Ken Betz, Donor Partner (Remembered)
“I’m proud to live in a place where people not only give generously of their resources but also devote their time and energy to making our community stronger.”
—Claudia Pohlen
Thank you for your commitment and contributions to the Community Foundation. We invite all our donor partners to join by making a gift with the enclosed envelope or by visiting GRFoundation.org/CentennialGiving.
If you have questions or would like to talk with our team about making a gift, please contact Claudia Pohlen, Campaign Coordinator, at 616.454.1751.
A.H.S.
Pictured this page (top to bottom): The Pohlen family, Ken Betz, Christina and Andy Keller
Alfield Reeves Photography
INVESTING IN SYSTEMS Our Grantmaking Strategy
Members of our community experience oppression through individual and systemic forms of injustice.
Acknowledging this reality, we consider how we might influence the systems that create harm in addition to supporting programs that operate within the constraints of systems. At Grand Rapids Community Foundation, we see an opportunity to support both grassroots and systems-level work.
Through our Fund for Community Good (unrestricted) and field of interest resources, we invest in racial, social and economic justice. These grants are designed to help create access, develop networks and address the conditions that create inequities in Kent County. Our strategy is to disrupt power structures, recognizing that only select voices were included in the design of systems we all experience. We do this by investing in systems-level work that addresses the root causes of injustice.
Grace L. Swanson, strategic communications specialist, recently connected with Kate Luckert Schmid, vice president of program, to discuss the practice of systems-level grantmaking.
GRACE L. SWANSON: What is systems-level work? How does it show up in grantmaking?
KATE LUCKERT SCHMID: Systems-level work shifts the focus from helping one individual at a time to focusing on the root causes of problems. In philanthropy, it means supporting strategies that disrupt the conditions in which organizations and communities operate, rather than only funding isolated projects. Our grantmaking from the Fund for Community Good is focused on lasting change and often takes the form of multi-year operating support.
GLS: Why is it important to engage in grantmaking that addresses root causes, in addition to grantmaking that impacts individuals?
KLS: Meeting today’s needs while simultaneously transforming the social conditions that perpetuate the issue will ensure that future generations will not face the same challenge—and reduces the resources required to manage the problem in the long term.
GLS: How has the Community Foundation invested in systems-level change?
KLS: The Community Foundation has long been an advocate for aligning resources across systems and bridging networks to reach ambitious goals for lasting change. We became much more explicit in our focus on systems change in the 1990s with a focus on the child welfare system. We continue to prioritize system change in all our funding areas with an emphasis in recent decades on education and housing systems.
GLS: What are grantmaking challenges for systems-level work?
KLS: It is much simpler to demonstrate the immediate impact of a single program or activity than to bring attention to the root cause of an issue. Systems change demands persistent action toward a shared vision and it requires all of us—including the Community Foundation—to reflect on how we contribute resources and distribute power to center a purpose beyond our organization’s mission. It requires collaboration, will and stamina to create a new future.
“Systems-level work shifts the focus from helping one individual at a time to focusing on the root causes of problems.”
—Kate Luckert Schmid
GLS: How can an individual learn more about systemslevel philanthropy?
KLS: A systems-level approach provides an opportunity for us all to step back and take a look at the complexity of the challenge and recognize disparate outcomes. I would encourage people to start with the nonprofit organization(s) they care about and already support! Ask them about the role they play in disrupting the systems that continue to make their services necessary. It is a great way to learn about systems change in action.
Learn more about the grants made from our Fund for Community Good at GRFoundation.org/CommunityGood
Pictured: Kate Luckert Schmid
CENTERING STUDENTS
Reimagining Scholarships
In 1945, Grand Rapids Community Foundation awarded its first scholarships as a response to the post World War II nursing shortage. Today, our scholarship work continues to respond to community needs by awarding nearly $2 million in scholarship awards to over 350 students. To account for historic and present inequities, we strive for an education system that advances equitable educational attainment and we invest in reparative educational systems.
To make post-secondary education more affordable and accessible for students, we recently reimagined our scholarship process. With the help of local experts and practitioners, and informed by student feedback, we transformed our application, scoring, selection and awarding process. This new approach allows us to prioritize students with significant financial need and strong potential to complete a degree or credential.
STUDENTS SPEAK OUT
Hear from four 2025 scholarship recipients who are on their way to reaching their academic goals.
JENNIFER
pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting
“After high school during the pandemic, my parents told me I would not be able to go to college because they could not afford it. I worked hard while doing school part time hoping to be able to save enough, while also struggling in class. This scholarship isn’t just monetary; its months of working and years of thinking I may not be able to attain the dream of a bachelor’s degree. I am so grateful for this opportunity not just once, but twice from all the individuals from the Foundation.”
JEASY
pursuing an associate’s degree in radiologic technology
“To me, this scholarship means more than simply financial assistance; it means that someone believes in my abilities and the goals I’m working hard to reach. Knowing that there are people who care about kids like me, who are aiming to create a better future, gives me more inspiration to keep pushing forward. Thank you for helping me get one step closer to reaching my dream.”
ALANNA
pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
“Thank you—not just for the financial help, but for believing that people like me are worth investing in. This scholarship isn’t just money, it’s a springboard. It means I get to keep pushing forward, diving in, showing up, and proving that hard work and second chances can lead to something incredible. Your support is part of the reason I get to chase this dream with everything I’ve got.”
DAHAI
pursuing a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience
“To those who made this scholarship possible: thank you. Your generosity makes it easier for students like me to keep pushing toward our dreams. It’s more than financial help— it’s recognition, encouragement, and belief in our potential. I carry this gift with pride and gratitude, and I promise to honor it by giving back, uplifting others, and continuing my journey toward making healthcare better and more just for all.”
“This scholarship isn’t just money, it’s a springboard.”
—Alanna
To learn more about how we support students, visit GRFoundation.org/Education.
G.L.S.
Pictured above Jennifer
WELCOME
Jessica
We are excited to introduce Jessica Hermann-Wilmarth, CFRE as our new vice president, development. In this role she will serve on the Community Foundation’s senior leadership team and manage the Development department leading fund development and philanthropic service strategies.
“Grand Rapids has a rich tradition of generosity and a deep commitment to community,” said Jessica. “I’m honored to join Grand Rapids Community Foundation and excited to build on that community legacy—connecting people and ideas to create lasting impact through philanthropy.”
Jessica joins us as a veteran executive with 25 years of fundraising experience in West Michigan. Most recently, she served as the assistant vice president for university advancement at Western Michigan University. While there, she played a key role in launching a $1.25 billion comprehensive campaign and, together with her team, raised a record-breaking $53.3 million in a single year. Prior to that, Jessica spent 12 years as the director of development for West Michigan Cancer Center and honed her fundraising experience as a consultant to universities, corporations and hospitals.
“Jessica has a proven track record of cultivating meaningful relationships with donor partners and advancing mission-driven fundraising initiatives,” said LaSandra Gaddy, president and CEO. “Her collaborative and equity-focused leadership style resonates with the Community Foundation’s values and make her a tremendous addition to our team.”
PARTNERS in Progress
Grand Rapids Community Foundation recently awarded grants from our Fund for Community Good and Field of Interest funds. Learn more about our grant application, funding priorities and recent grant partners at GRFoundation.org/Grants.
COMMUNITY MEDIA CENTER, $10,000
To support the Rapidian, a hyperlocal news platform for citizen journalists to share stories and report on local issues in the Grand Rapids area.
GRAND RAPIDS PRIDE CENTER, $450,000
To advance 2-SLGBTQ+ equity in West Michigan by sustaining the Grand Rapids Pride Center’s development and operational capacities.
Grow, $300,000
This grant supports Grow’s work to expand access to capital and bilingual technical assistance for small business owners through a more equitable lending model that removes traditional barriers.
HOUSING KENT, $500,000
To implement a county-wide collective impact initiative to advance housing equity by aligning crosssector partners, centering lived experience and driving systems and policy change rooted in racial justice. This grant was made possible through the Martin and Eileen Shedleski Family Fund and the Homeless Prevention Endowment Fund.
KCONNECT, $375,000
General operating support to advance systems-level equity work in Kent County through data innovation, policy advocacy and community-led strategies that strengthen opportunity for children and families.
REALISM IS LOYALTY, $300,000
To expand its Each One Teach One program, a 36week therapeutic mentoring initiative led by formerly incarcerated mentors, to support high-risk youth through trauma-informed care, family engagement and culturally responsive behavioral health services. This grant was made possible by the William H. and Inetta P. Martindill Fund.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE, $200,000
To support critical cancer research in West Michigan to better understand how and why cancers—including leukemia—develop and progress. Their work aims to uncover new strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Using state-of-the-art technologies, Van Andel Institute researchers investigate the similarities between and within cancer types, building knowledge that could lead to more precise and effective therapies. This grant was made possible by the William S. Folz Fund for Cancer Research.
Pictured (above): Jessica Hermann-Wilmarth
Pictured next page: (top) Realism Is Loyalty, (bottom left) Housing Kent, (bottom right) Community Media Center.
CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
29.9 Million
The generosity of our partners has resulted in more than $29 million to support current and future priorities. We are so grateful!
To see a list of the donor partners whose gifts have supported this effort, visit GRFoundation.org/CampaignDonors.
3,700
TOTAL NUMBER OF GIFTS: MORE THAN 3,700 UNIQUE GIFTS
400 MORE THAN 400 of these gifts were made by INDIVIDUALS who were PREVIOUSLY NOT A DONOR
60%
60% OF GIFTS in support of the Centennial Campaign HAVE BEEN UNDER $1,000
32 32 DONOR PARTNERS CREATED NEW RECURRING GIFTS to support this campaign
Recurring gifts create a steady stream of support and allow donor partners to easily budget their giving.
As Grand Rapids Community Foundation embarks on a new century of service and impact, partners have invested in the future of Kent County through gifts to the Centennial Campaign. The resources entrusted to us will increase our grantmaking capacity and grow our endowment for the future.
Thank you for your generosity! To support this effort by making a gift, visit GRFoundation.org/CentennialGiving.
92 % of donations came FROM THOSE LIVING IN KENT COUNTY
We’re proud and grateful that people who live around Michigan and the country, but who love West Michigan, choose to invest in Kent County’s future, too.
DID
YOU KNOW?
Many donor partners established a new planned gift in support of the Centennial Campaign.
Creating an impactful gift is simple! And, those who create a legacy gift are recognized as a member of our Metz Legacy Society.
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
THIS & THAT
NEW YOUTH TRUSTEE
Grand Rapids Community Foundation and our Board of Trustees are deeply enriched by the involvement of Youth Trustees who share fresh perspectives and valuable insights during their one-year terms. In July we welcomed Elaina Juarez of Godwin Heights High School as the new Youth Trustee who will serve on the Board with full voting rights. We are extremely grateful for our outgoing Youth Trustee, Isabel Landero of Godfrey Lee High School. Learn more about Elaina at GRFoundation.org/News.
FAREWELL, JONSE
We share our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Johngerlyn “Jonse” Young, who has transitioned from her role as director of philanthropic services. We are grateful for Jonse’s leadership, vision and the many contributions she made in more than 20 years at the Community Foundation. Her impact will continue to be felt throughout our work and culture, and we wish her success and fulfillment in her next chapter.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
Thank you to all the partners who took the time to share their thoughts through our online survey and focus groups. Your contributions will help us identify our future focus as we build our new strategic framework. For more information and updates, please visit GRFoundation.org/Strategy.
WHAT’S NEW?!
A lot of great things are always happening at Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Stay up to date by visiting GRFoundation.org/News
