Built on Trust & Purpose DECADES OF PARTNERSHIP

Relationships that span decades naturally grow and evolve, shifting shape to include new features over time. Marilyn Lankfer’s 30-plus-year partnership with Grand Rapids Community Foundation reflects those changes. As a Varnum estate planning attorney, Marilyn found many opportunities to interact with the Community Foundation. She volunteered as a Trustee, on the Our LGBTQ Fund Committee and as a member of the Investment Review and Professional Advisory committees. Her family has generously given as donor partners for many years. In all those roles over many topics and years, Marilyn has given honest feedback, shared wise advice and brought trust to the relationship.

PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR, ASSET ACCELERATOR

As a leading estate planning attorney, Marilyn has worked with many West Michigan philanthropists to explore their interests and charitable giving opportunities. She has been instrumental in growing resources available for today and the future. As a member of the Professional Advisor Advisory Committee for many years, she advised the Community Foundation about giving trends, ways to reach donors and more.

“As an estate planning attorney, I enjoyed meeting people on a personal level and talking to them about their charitable interests. Many clients wanted to make a gift to benefit their community and create an enduring legacy,” says Marilyn. “They realized that community needs change over time, and they liked the fact that if they made a lasting gift to the Community Foundation it could address those needs as they changed. I could always count on the Community Foundation to support the people who wished to contribute to its various funds and to be responsible in those relationships.”

After years of professional partnerships, Marilyn brought her expertise to the Board of Trustees beginning in 2000. She stayed on as the Community Foundation completed a successful fundraising campaign to purchase and renovate its building.

Personal Connections And A Vision For The Future

Besides giving time and expertise, Marilyn is a donor partner who has supported many Community Foundation initiatives. As an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and an Our LGTBTQ Fund Committee member for many years, Marilyn helped grow the fund’s financial resources. She and her husband Jeff Schad are members of the fund’s Leadership Circle, a group who pledge their financial support to ensure and advocate for this fund’s sustainability.

Marilyn and her husband are also members of the Metz Legacy Society, which recognizes those who establish an estate gift to the Community Foundation. Their future planned gift will create an unrestricted fund that can be used to meet our community’s greatest future needs. “We dearly love our community,” she says, “We want to leave a legacy, having made a difference so more people feel they belong.”

During the Community Foundation’s 2022 Centennial celebrations, Marilyn provided feedback about her vision for our region’s future. “My vision is that we work together, in an integrated way, to study issues and solve problems. No one group knows all the answers. To forge an inclusive and prosperous community, we all need to work together and always listen to those who may be impacted by our decisions.”

A.H.S.