Update | Issue 4 2015

U Dual Track Giving [page four]

Update Kalamazoo Community Foundation Issue 4 2015

Coates Impacts Kalamazoo

Scholarship Update [page six]

Leave a Legacy: Sally Grushon [page seven]

KZCF: Then & Now [page eight]

As we welcome winter, here are some reflections on our busy fall season and how our equity work is connected to our donors.

In October, Peter Buffett shared an evening of music and reflections on the power of philanthropy with members of The W.E. Upjohn Society. Peter (who is Warren Buffett’s son) and his wife, Jennifer, focus their philanthropy on women and girls, whom they believe are the “planet’s most under-valued asset.”

Best-selling author Ta-Nehisi Coates spoke on race in America at our 2015 Community Meeting, drawing heavily from his recent Atlantic Montlhly article, “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration.” Thanks to PNC Bank and The Center for the Humanities at Western Michigan University for their support and partnership to bring Ta-Nehisi Coates to Kalamazoo.

We specifically selected these speakers because of their insights into equity and their unique gifts in communicating these important perspectives. Ta-Nehisi and Peter helped us to see our country and our community more clearly, and how policies and systems do not serve all of our community members equitably.

We were able to bring these visionaries to Kalamazoo only because other visionaries from within our community supported our work by making thoughtful and durable gifts. As you read the feature story in this edition about the power of unrestricted giving, please consider joining us in our work with a gift of any size. Our equity work is being fueled by the flexibility of unrestricted gifts and the power of endowment makes your gift last forever.

Joanna Donnelly Dales Vice President, Donor Relations

We’d love to know what you think of this publication. Share your feedback at www.kalfound.org/feedback.

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What we fund We fund 501(c)(3) nonprofits for projects that fit within our community investment priorities and will benefit Kalamazoo County.

Mail a check Kalamazoo Community Foundation 402 East Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3888 Make a planned gift There are many ways for you to plan now for a gift later. To learn more, get in touch with our Donor Relations team at 269.381.4416 or donorrelations@kalfound.org.

2 KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

What we don’t fund We don’t fund for-profit business development projects, private land purchases or private home purchases.

How to apply Start the process at www.kalfound. org/howtoapply.

ISSUE 4 2015

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269.381.4416

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Ta-Nehisi Coates Impacts Kalamazoo Months of planning with dozens of community partners enhanced our 2015 Community Meeting in November when Ta-Nehisi Coates spoke on race in America. People and organizations working on equity in Kalamazoo County shared speaker recommendations, gave

Survey Comments

Paying It Forward

Comments in the survey included

With our focus on equity and education,

praise and increased expectations.

we were thrilled when Coates requested

“The greatest take away is that KZCF

time with student journalists. “It was

would bring in this challenging thinker,”

inspiring to hear Coates speak about his

says one attendee. Another said, “KCZF as

writing, and his advice for young writers

a white institution should not feel a pass by

encouraged me,” says Samantha Macy of

bringing Coates to Kalamazoo. We will see

the Western Herald. “He was incredibly

how dedicated KZCF is, not just bringing

down-to-earth, and had great insight.”

him, but truly live out his work.”

According to Jesselyn Leach from KVCC,

advice on community

Says President/CEO Carrie Pickett-Erway,

“Meeting Ta-Nehisi Coates made me

outreach, and participated

“The response to our Community Meeting

realize that in life we will face many battles

in a post-event review.

and Ta-Nehisi Coates has been amazing.

and the victory doesn’t lie in overcoming

Our community is clearly hungry to engage

those battles, but being able to learn and

around issues of race and the Community

grow through our moments of struggle.”

Coates had a significant impact on the audience that evening. From pre- and postevent surveys we learned understanding of systemic or institutional racism in

Foundation is committed to working with partners to break down barriers that prevent people from reaching their

Kalamazoo Central High School student Kennedy Shelton says Coates has inspired her to apply to Howard University, where

full potential.”

he attended.

Kalamazoo County increased from 33 percent to 44 percent, and understanding the issue

Audience Understanding

on a national level rose from 49 percent to 54 percent.

49%

Understanding of our commitment to equity rose

54%

44%

43%

33%

31%

from 31 percent to 43 percent, and more than 80 percent said Coates’ talk helped them understand the broad issue of equity.

Systemic/Institutional Racism Kalamazoo County

Systemic /Institutional Racism National Level

KZCF Commitment Equity

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Dual Track Giving: Restricted and Unrestricted Imagine what Kalamazoo County will

needs — both today and decades

be like 25 years from now. The year will

from now.

be 2040. What exciting possibilities will its people pursue? What technologies will be driving change? Above all,

care passionately about, something that has touched your own life or the

what will be the community’s biggest

life of someone you love. You may

concerns? Given the pace of change today, it’s almost impossible to imagine what the 2040 landscape will look like.

have very specific interests in certain organizations or efforts for change.

So you want to arrange a gift to

This inability to clearly define

support that cause, but you also

community needs far in the future

understand the need for unrestricted

is the main reason we talk with our

giving. What to do?

donors about unrestricted gifts.

Unrestricted gifts give our board of

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But perhaps you have a cause you

A Multigenerational Legacy

trustees the financial flexibility to

“We don’t see this as either/or,” says

assess and address the community’s

Jeanne Grubb, a member of our Donor

KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

ISSUE 4 2015

If everybody contributes just a little bit...we have a larger pool of resources to serve the community forever.

Our Team

Zac Bauer zbauer@kalfound.org

Our Donor Relations team is ready to help you determine which gift is right for you.

Coby Chalmers cchalmers@kalfound.org

Joanna Donnelly Dales jdales@kalfound.org

Relations team. “We prefer to talk

Then later, that legacy will continue

with our donors about a dual track

indefinitely to support the evolving

approach. For example, one of our

needs in the community.”

donors came to the Community Foundation originally to establish a

Dual Track

Scholarship Fund in memory of her

This donor is not the only one

mother. This was a woman who had

who has made this decision. Many

come from very humble beginnings,

Community Foundation donors like

became a successful business owner

the idea of establishing a fund that

in the community and loved helping

supports their specific charitable

children in need during her lifetime.

interests during their lifetime. But

“When our donor talked with us after her mother passed away,” Grubb continues, “we discussed all of the ways she could make a gift to the community that her mother would have enjoyed. She ultimately decided that she preferred the idea of an Advised Fund, and she’s now been actively involved in supporting

Jeanne Grubb jgrubb@kalfound.org

they also want to leave an additional unrestricted gift or convert their original fund to an unrestricted gift

when she passes, she would like the Advised Fund named for her mother to continue, but be converted to an Unrestricted Fund. So during her lifetime, this donor is actively involved in identifying projects her mother would have wanted to support.

Foundation, he didn’t know how much Kalamazoo County would benefit from a “festival place” at Arcadia Creek. He just knew that financial support was needed for an unpredictable future.

opportunity to address future needs

has proved to be very satisfying to

we can’t even imagine,” says Joanna

donors and ultimately gives our

Donnelly Dales, vice president, Donor

board the flexibility that it needs for

Relations. “We’ve received many gifts

future decisions.

that are now being used to support

name for years.”

generational. She has shared that

gift in 1925 to establish the Community

involved. This dual track approach

most any gift, and an unrestricted gift

giving is dual track as well as multi-

When Dr. W.E. Upjohn made his initial

“Unrestricted gifts give us the

community projects in her mother’s

especially interesting is that her

Needs we can’t imagine

when they are no longer able to be

Dual track giving can be arranged for

Grubb notes, “What makes this

Ann Fergemann afergemann@kalfound.org

can be combined with any existing or new Field-of-Interest, Advised or Designated Fund. “You have an opportunity to create change in the future in ways you can’t

organizations that didn’t exist when the original gift was made. If Dr. Upjohn and other donors had put restrictions on gifts they gave decades ago, those dollars would not be supporting some of today’s most innovative programs and organizations.”

imagine today,” concludes Grubb. “If

Unrestricted gifts continue to be the

everybody contributes a little bit —

most flexible funds we can receive,

perhaps for both a specific purpose

helping us to do what we do best:

and for some unknown future need

pool resources to invest in the

— we have a larger pool of resources

community in a way that serves both

to serve the community forever.”

current needs and the unknown future.

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Spring scholarship applications are due on March 1. Apply online at www.kalfound.org.

348 scholarships awarded in 2015 KALAMAZOO AREA STUDENTS RECEIVE $1 MILLION OF SUPPORT We awarded 348 scholarships totaling just over $1 million

To learn about our scholarships, Timmons suggests

to Kalamazoo area students in 2015.

students use the scholarship search tool on our website, attend a financial aid seminar, fill out the right forms and

“Thanks to our donors, we’re able to have this amazing

not to be afraid to ask questions. “Each of our scholarships

impact on both traditional college students and adults,”

is unique,” she says. “Be sure to read the eligibility criteria

says Nancy Timmons, scholarship manager. “We’re

for each scholarship and if you meet the criteria, apply.

also thankful for the 128 community volunteers who

You have nothing to lose.”

participated on our 25 scholarship committees.”

Once students identify which scholarships they are eligible

The Community Foundation has awarded more than

for, they apply using our online scholarship application.

$26 million in scholarships since 1925. A total of 53

Paper applications are available for those without

scholarship funds cover a variety of student needs,

computer access. Students also may use a computer

with awards ranging from $250 to $7,500. Many of the

here at the Community Foundation to complete the

scholarships are renewable.

online application.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation Investment Performance THIRD QUARTER 2015 Qtr 3

YTD

3 Yrs

5 Yrs

7 Yrs

10 Yrs

Actual

-7.0%

-5.3%

7.6%

8.3%

8.6%

6.1%

Benchmark

-6.2%

-4.9%

6.5%

7.5%

7.4%

5.4%

Actual

-2.9%

-1.9%

7.3%

8.4%

8.8%

6.8%

Benchmark

-2.6%

-2.0%

7.1%

8.3%

7.6%

6.0%

Core Assets Moderate Growth Performance

Income and Growth Performance

Investment performance is net of manager fees and derived from core Kalamazoo Community Foundation assets allocated into its two investment strategies. Historic performance for each is then derived from linkages to prior quarterly returns.

Performance reflects prior changes in asset allocations while benchmarks assume current allocations. For more information about our investment performance, please contact Susan Springgate at 269.381.4416 or sspringgate@kalfound.org.

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ISSUE 4 2015

Sally Grushon died in 2006.

Today she’s helping Kalamazoo area kids get ready for Kindergarten.

Sally loved Kalamazoo and was a champion for its children.

In 1978 she helped start Hilltop Preschool at Zion Lutheran Church, which has been helping Kalamazoo area kids get ready for kindergarten ever since. When she died, her family created The Sally E. Grushon Endowment for Hilltop Preschool. It honors her legacy and provides scholarships

Our Team Zac Bauer 269.585.7236 / zbauer@kalfound.org Coby Chalmers 269.585.7249 / cchalmers@kalfound.org

education for their children.

Joanna Donnelly Dales 269.585.7260 / jdales@kalfound.org

We can help you show your love for Kalamazoo

Ann Fergemann 269.585.7238 / afergemann@kalfound.org

to help families cover the cost of a quality pre-kindergarten

and leave a legacy too. Contact a member of our Donor Relations team or visit www.kalfound.org

Jeanne Grubb 269.585.7248 / jgrubb@kalfound.org

to learn how.

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Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage paid Kalamazoo, MI Permit Number 66

402 East Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3888 269.381.4416 www.kalfound.org

On the Cover Before the 2015 Community Meeting at Miller Auditorium, Ta-Nehisi Coates spent time talking with student journalists from local universities and high schools. Pictured with Ta-Nehisi Coates (far right in blue jacket) are (from left to right) Jesselyn Leach, KVCC; Samantha Macy, Western Michigan University; Katie Schmitz, Kalamazoo College; and Justin Danzy, Kalamazoo College.

Adam Schwallie, Western Michigan University; Kennedy Shelton, Kalamazoo Central High School; and Mallika Mitra, Kalamazoo College, also participated in the session.

Photo by Robert Neumann

KZCF: Then and Now A few things have changed since the Community Foundation was born in 1925.

Then Our first Community Meeting was held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in the spring of 2000. About 750 people came to hear keynote speaker Robert D. Putnam, who had just published Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Dr. Putnam’s talk helped kick off our BetterTogether/Kalamazoo social capital initiative, which emerged from a dialogue about civic engagement that was sparked by our participation in a national social capital survey. The initiative started discussions, motivated individuals to action, encouraged collaboration, and invested in our neighborhoods, to make the connections that would make Kalamazoo stronger than ever.

then now

Now Our 2015 Community Meeting was held at Miller Auditorium on November 3.

Our keynote speaker was Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of The Beautiful Struggle and Between the World and Me, who spoke to more than 2,500 attendees on race in America. Today our vision goes beyond merely a community with strong connections. We envision a community where every person can reach full potential and our top strategic priorities are education and equity. We are committed to helping Kalamazoo County students achieve more and to removing the barriers — including racism and discrimination — that keep people from living positive lives.