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Historical Perspectives on Collaboration
Grand Rapids Community Foundation has long pursued it goals by participating in local, county, state and national collaborations. Working with individuals, families and organizations enriches our perspective, deepens our understanding of community needs and offers opportunities for advocacy and leadership based on our values.
1921
Lee Hutchins approaches the local Association of Commerce with a bold idea—to create a community foundation. The Association (now the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce) is closely involved in creating what was then called Grand Rapids Foundation. S. George Graves, its president, becomes the new organization’s first donor partner in 1923.
1967
The Community Foundation awards a grant to help fund La Grande Vitesse, the first civic sculpture in American history to be jointly financed by federal, private and philanthropic funds. The artwork by Alexander Calder becomes emblematic of the City of Grand Rapids.
1988
The Community Foundation awards $1 million—its largest grant to date—to the Grand Rapids Public Museum capital campaign, joining many other funders. In the decade to follow, it supported capital campaigns for other regional landmarks, including Van Andel Arena and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
1992
The Community Foundation convenes a community forum to identify community priorities for the 21st century. The 200 attendees identify high child abuse and neglect rates as their biggest concern. The Perspective 21 Task Force forms to hear from more people and organizations. Its process marks a significant step in opening Kent County’s child welfare system to community involvement.
1994
Youth Grant Committee is established to address the needs of young people. It receives support from a W.K. Kellogg Foundation program designed to grow community foundations in Michigan while engaging young people in philanthropy. It also benefits from partnering with United Way’s youth volunteer program.
2000
Social Venture Investors begins. This group of philanthropists pools their charitable dollars to make grants. Each year members contribute to both a grantmaking pool and the endowment, and they work together to make decisions on fund distribution. The program ends in 2009.
2020
The Community Foundation becomes fiscal sponsor of La Lucha Fund, an emergency COVID-19 response to provide financial resources directly to families who are undocumented or have mixed immigration status and are ineligible for government support.
