KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SUMMER 2020
OUR COMMUNITY AND COVID-19 REFLECTING ON RELIEF EFFORTS AND REIMAGINING WHAT RECOVERY LOOKS LIKE
Our community after COVID-19 Like many of you, I have felt a complicated mix of emotions since the pandemic hit our community. This period in time has gifted moments of great inspiration and presented moments of serious pause. As many sectors have unfortunately ground to a halt over the last few months, our work at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation jolted into overdrive as we collaborated with local nonprofits and community partners to respond to individuals and families made more vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic.
Carrie Pickett-Erway President/CEO
Our thinking at KZCF has been inspired and challenged by this pandemic. COVID-19 is calling on us to think differently about our community and how we serve it now and in the future. This pandemic has made it clear that we must actively and urgently dismantle institutional racism in our systems (i.e. health care, education, economy) and individual institutions (i.e. hospitals, schools, jobs). We’ve recognized those on the front lines are often in low-wage jobs and many are people of color. They are not fairly protected from COVID-19 as they pursue a paycheck to support themselves and provide for their family. Their skills are essential to making our society viable and they deserve better. We’ve been thinking strategically about our racial analysis in decision-making, and we have the opportunity to change outcomes for those made vulnerable by our society. We can remove barriers that prevent our community from reaching full potential. When we move out of this period in history, our work will have a greater focus as we ensure communities who have historically been excluded from policies, practices and systems live in a community that repairs these past harms. I am overwhelmed and daunted by this work, but encouraged and excited to do it with you – our donors, fellow nonprofits and community partners.
UPDATE is a newsletter published three times a year by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS TEAM Sarah Lee, Director Jordan Duckens, Communications Officer Tim Smolenski, Marketing & Events Officer Tom Vance, Communications Officer CROSS-FUNCTIONAL EDITORIAL TEAM Sandy Barry-Loken Sue Bos Beth Gregory-Wallis Kururama Masomere Emily Olivares LAYOUT & DESIGN Eric Schmidt, Frogsplash LLC QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Please email Sarah Lee at slee@kalfound.org. Cover: Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com.
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2 KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SUMMER 2020
connect KALFOUND
Supporting community during a crisis The shutdown of schools and businesses due to the
These grants supported nonprofits as they navigated
pandemic presented new challenges for the community,
the unique challenges presented by the pandemic.
especially those already made vulnerable by systemic
Grants provided personal protective equipment (PPE)
racism and inequities.
and cleaning supplies for organizations like shelters and
“Urgent and increased community need, particularly among Black and Brown communities, led us to adapt our approach to traditional grantmaking,” said Sandy Barry-Loken, senior Community Investment officer
senior living centers serving community members facing increased risk. Funds also helped provide nonprofits the remote technology needed to keep their operations running during this critical time.
at KZCF. “The Community Urgent Relief Fund (CURF)
Although KZCF and UWBCKR concluded joint crisis
exists to help respond quickly and efficiently when the
relief grantmaking in mid-June, a minimal balance will
community is facing a crisis and when a crisis inevitably
be maintained in preparation for the next time the
arises in the future.”
community may need a coordinated emergency
In partnership with United Way of the Battle Creek
funding response.
and Kalamazoo Region (UWBCKR), KZCF was able to
If you’re interested in continuing to support your
distribute 95 relief grants totaling more than $2.4 million
community, connect with one of our Donor Relations
to local nonprofits working overtime to meet the needs
officers or consider making a gift to our Love Where
of individuals and families in Kalamazoo County.
You Live Funds.
H.O.P.E. during the pandemic Cancellation of major fundraising events and staff and
transition back into society. Obtaining housing is difficult,
volunteer limitations made it challenging for nonprofits
especially when affordability is added to the equation.
to meet increased demand for services during the
A criminal background that bars you from employment
pandemic. Additionally, many local nonprofits deliver
means you can’t earn the resources to pay rent. The
services to communities made vulnerable because of
pandemic made these existing circumstances worse.
systemic racism and social inequities. The pandemic’s impact was amplified for these groups.
“The CURF funding was so helpful because newly released people didn’t have phones for us to
Emergency grants could not solve every challenge, but
communicate with them or get them connected
the Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s Community
with support,” Hooker said. “People couldn’t afford
Urgent Relief Fund (CURF) made it possible for nonprofits
sanitizer and masks. The grants helped people stay in
to sustain and even ramp up operations. Helping Other
their homes while laid off, furloughed or waiting for
People Exceed (H.O.P.E.) thru Navigation, a CURF grant
unemployment. We were able to place people who had
recipient, helps those with criminal backgrounds and/
recently been released from prison or treatment facilities
or substance abuse disorders navigate services that
into temporary housing when they had nowhere to go.”
promote stable lives.
Hooker believes the CURF grant protected more of our
According to Gwendolyn Hooker, executive director
community from exposure to COVID-19 by providing PPE
of H.O.P.E., structurally racist and inequitable systems
and stable housing so physical distancing was possible
create barriers for newly released individuals to
during the pandemic. SUMMER 2020
KALFOUND.ORG
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Collective power of community coming together When the Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Another donor noted that “so often you want
(KZCF) activated the Community Urgent Relief
to help but aren’t sure what is the best way and
Fund (CURF) on March 13 in response to the
how to have the most impact.” Making a gift to
COVID-19 pandemic, our community and world
CURF was one tangible way to offer support.
were facing uncertainty. There was uncertainty around our collective health, the economy and the well-being of those already made vulnerable by systemic racism and inequities. In the midst of uncertainty, one thing was clear, the residents of Kalamazoo County were ready to help support their community through this crisis. The KZCF Donor Relations team started immediate outreach and was overwhelmed with gifts to the community. “I was very glad to see that KCZF quickly stepped up with a clear way for us to help during this crisis,” a donor told our team during outreach calls.
The advisors of the Richard G. Tomlinson Family Fund even got creative and offered to match donations to the CURF up to $15,000, doubling the impact of each gift made to support individuals and families in Kalamazoo County. “The fact that we met and exceeded the match challenge in less than a week captures the spirit of collective power and compassion in our community,” said Joanna Donnelly Dales, vice president of Donor Relations at KZCF. Learn more about how gifts to the CURF made an impact in Kalamazoo County at kalfound.org.
