Grand Rapids Community Foundation 185 Oakes Street SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 360
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WELCOME, DANIELLE!
We are thrilled to introduce Danielle R. Brown, CPA, our new director of finance. In this role, Danielle will be responsible for Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s financial activities, forecasting and analysis. She also has responsibility for managing accounting and investment procedures, compliance, budget and reporting. Danielle has experience working for legal firms and for-profit businesses and worked as a CPA with several foundations in her client portfolio. She is active in the community as a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and serves on the Board and Finance Committee for Gilda’s Club.
WELCOME, PAUL!
Help us welcome Paul Sapp, our new events project manager. In this role, Paul will be responsible for the leadership, project management and execution of highly engaging and inclusive in-person and virtual events, meetings and experiences. He previously worked at ArtPrize as an operations manager, as well as other roles in local businesses and nonprofits.
YOUTH TRUSTEE TRANSITION
The Community Foundation values the perspectives of our Youth Grant Committee volunteers. Each fiscal year, one student serves as youth trustee on our Board of Trustees. Ryleigh Fischer, from Forest Hills Northern, is the outgoing member. Noah Chun, a student at Grand Rapids Christian High School, will serve as youth trustee through June 2022.
CONGRATULATIONS, JENINE!
Jenine Torres recently earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) designation from the American College of Financial Services. The graduate-level coursework required to earn this designation focuses on understanding donor partners’ goals, applying tax strategies and advising partners on gift planning and philanthropic planning. Way to go, Jenine!
CONGRATULATIONS, JONSE! Johngerlyn “Jonse” Young recently graduated from Grand Valley State University earning a master’s degree in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. Well done, Jonse!
AN UPDATE ON GATHERING IN PERSON
Our team enjoys connecting throughout the year with our many partners at events such as our Donor Celebration. To keep proactively protecting the health and well-being of our staff, their families and our community, we do not currently have any plans for in-person events for the rest of 2021. A NEXT STEP IN OUR WORK TOWARD EQUITABLE EDUCATION We recently shared important changes to our education strategy, including our Challenge Scholars program. As we strive toward increased educational opportunities for all, the Community Foundation will grow our investment in grantmaking and advocacy led by community members. To allow this transition of resources, we will enroll the class of 2028 as our final cohort of Challenge Scholars. Our scholarship commitment to current Challenge Scholars remains. For more information visit our blog: grfoundation.org/news.
