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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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
ISSUE 4 2015
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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
4
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.
ISSUE 4 2015
KALFOUND.ORG
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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.