Convening How Community Voices Shape Our Work

At the heart of Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s work lies a responsibility to the people who make up our community. Over more than a century, our partners have placed their trust in this organization. To honor that trust and ensure our effectiveness, we maintain a deep commitment to listening, learning and acting alongside our community. We are honored to play a convening role—bringing together residents, partners and organizations who share both feedback and insights from their professional, personal and family experiences. We are so grateful for their commitment and generosity; without them, our work would not be possible.

Listening to and centering the voices of community is how we approach our daily work. Below are some key moments when community members have, and will continue to, come together in recent decades to shape the Community Foundation’s strategies and programs.

1992

Perspective 21! Task Force

The Community Foundation convened a task force, Perspective 21, to define community priorities for the 21st century. The 200 people at a community forum identified child abuse and neglect rates as their biggest concern. The Perspective 21 process marked a significant step in opening Kent County’s child welfare system to community involvement.

1999

Grand Rapids Education Reform Initiative

Partnering with the Frey Foundation and Steelcase Foundation, this effort formed in response to a series of regional conversations around quality education and student achievement. Resulting initiatives sought to improve academic performance and develop a worldclass, high-performance work environment. It also supported the development of the Kent School Services Network and Meijer Good Schools program.

2000

Social Venture Investors

A group of up-and-coming philanthropists pooled their charitable dollars to make grants, facilitated by the Community Foundation. Members each contributed $2,000 per year and worked together to decide how to distribute funds.

2004

Creating Community For a Lifetime Initiative

With the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, we assessed older adults’ needs and desires to create a Kent County that is more responsive to the needs of an aging population. This work kicked off a body of work centered around aging, called Encore.

2012-2018

Envisioning and Evaluating Challenge Scholars

In 2012, we worked to connect with parents, school staff, community leaders and business leaders to gather their insights and perspectives, shaping the development of our Challenge Scholars education program. Continued evaluation and direct engagement with additional stakeholders led to the creation of the Dream Fund, a grassroots grantmaking initiative.

2017

Our North Star

To develop the organization’s guiding direction, the Community Foundation undertook a research process with a small group of staff, trustees and community members. The North Star, alongside our values, mission and vision, guides our strategic work.

2018-2019

Shaping Grantmaking and Education work

Following the development of the North Star, we asked “How can a 21st century community foundation help build an inclusive economy and thriving community?” Community members provided the answers by participating in a human-centered design process, which shaped future grantmaking priorities. A specific focus on education led to strategic changes in grantmaking and scholarships

2022

Expanded Community Listening

The Black Legacy, Our LGBTQ and Somos Comunidad funds hosted focus groups with members of their communities. Their goals were to listen deeply, to build relationships and to co-create investment opportunities. Key themes and learnings shaped the funds’ focuses, processes and grantmaking.

2025

Strategic Framework

This year we are embarking on a strategic planning process. Our staff and trustees, working with a team of consultants, will gather input from donor, nonprofit and community partners and residents that will shape our next century of service and impact.

OUR NORTH STAR

For West Michigan to grow and prosper, we must make sure that everyone can apply their talents and creativity to fuel our future. It is only by connecting across perspectives and overcoming inequities that we can build and sustain an inclusive economy and thriving community.