Blog
Announcing Our Final Grants of the Year
We’re excited to announce that our board, together with the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), has awarded seven third-round grant awards, totaling $539,339, to support the Northwest Ottawa County community, including a $40,000 grant to the Land Conservancy of West Michigan (LCWM) for Ottawa Sands, the newest park in Ottawa County.
Youth Are Creative: Arts Showcase
Our Youth Advisory Council seeks to create platforms and various avenues for our youth to express their thoughts, ideas, and opinions in meaningful and engaged ways, and they developed a Youth Arts Showcase to highlight the creative side of many of the high school students in our community.
Community Foundation Week
Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state in the United States is home to at least one community foundation—large and small, urban and rural—working to advance solutions on a wide range of social issues. They build and strengthen communities in a multitude of ways, including providing the means for a wide range of donors to create permanent funds to positively impact lives
Honoring Our Past and Present Trustees
As a nonprofit organization, our Board of Trustees serves as our governing body and provides invaluable guidance and vision for all areas of our work. When they complete their commitment, they are given the title Trustee Emeritus, defined as a past board member. While no longer voting members, our Trustees Emeritus continue to act as ambassadors for the community foundation throughout the region.
FAFSA: More Than Just Financial Aid
FAFSA is the federal form that college students complete to determine their eligibility for federal grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and loans. Living in Northwest Ottawa County, when I talk with families about completing the FAFSA, I often hear, “We won’t get any assistance so we aren’t completing the FAFSA.”
It doesn’t matter what your income is—completing the FAFSA is imperative for many reasons.
Board Feature: Sandy Huber
Sandy Huber has served on the GHACF board since 2013, during which time she has chaired the Grants Committee and served on the Scholarship Committee.
Our Annual Report is Now Available
Our annual report is now available! Download a PDF from our website or view the digital version online. Inside we highlight six grants from the past year, our YAC’s youth empowerment mission, countless new funds, and we even share how each team member at the GHACF gives back to the community.
Introducing Our New President
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Hadley Baas Streng as the next President of the GHACF, effective October 29, 2018.
“I’m excited that the Foundation’s next chapter will be in Hadley’s very capable hands,” said Randy Hansen, GHACF Board of Trustees Chair. “There is no doubt she will lead our new strategy and outstanding team in service to impact our communities.”
Our Grant Priorities
We give back by investing in programs in six priority areas that help our community thrive. By partnering with regional nonprofit organizations, our resources—YOUR resources—enable us to do good things in Northwest Ottawa County.