PARTNERS in Relationship

Since I’ve been leading the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, the importance of relationships has been paramount. Our work cannot be approached in isolation. This was made very clear to me by my predecessor, Pat Edison, on my first day at the Community Foundation back in 1987. I have approached my work through this collaborative lens ever since.

As this community’s foundation we are charged with growing and managing our region’s permanent endowment. What sets us apart is how we carry out that charge. It’s never been just about raising money, managing investments and making grants for us. While those necessary functions are core to our identity, the work of collaborating, convening and catalyzing collective action throughout Kent County is our secret sauce. Relationships have been the driving force behind the impact we have made together.

Over the years, this has looked like bringing local foundation leaders together regularly to discuss current and emerging issues and how we could pool our resources to support solutions; creating spaces for local philanthropists to come together over shared passions through initiatives like Social Venture Investors, Communities of Color Initiative, One Hundred New Philanthropists, Catalyzing Community Giving and our identity-based Field of Interest funds; funding initiatives birthed out of community networks like Urban Core Collective, the Latino Community Coalition and Black Impact Collaborative; convening community members through efforts like The Perspective 21 Task Force and listening sessions throughout the years; leading community partnerships like Challenge Scholars; and so much more.

The Community Foundation as a whole, and my personal leadership, are stronger because of our approach to partnerships. I have never been one to shy away from sharing my opinion, and I have appreciated how our partners share that mindset. While each relationship looks different, they have all played a significant role in challenging the Community Foundation to grow and adapt, standing alongside and supporting bold risks or new ventures and filling spaces with laughter to complement critical planning.

As I look to the future of Grand Rapids Community Foundation, I am most excited by the new relationships and collaborations being forged. As we continue to grow and deepen our commitment to racial, social and economic justice, critical new partnerships are forming. Our perspective, our foundation and our community will be better because of it.