Blog
A Time for Thanks
During this week of Thanksgiving, we especially want to thank YOU. Whether you are a generous donor, an important partner—or both—we couldn’t do the good work that we do in our community without you. It is through our collective generosity and compassionate spirit that we continue to build a strong future for this place that we call home.
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.
Why Do People Donate to Charities at the End of the Year?
Giving Tuesday, an international day created in response to the consumerism that’s taken over the holidays, aims to raise awareness of this need. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are focused on buying material things — Giving Tuesday emphasizes giving back. It kicks off the holiday giving season and inspires people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.
Call for Entries for Facebook Mini-Grants
We’re hosting another round of Facebook mini-grants! We’re giving away three $500 mini-grants — completely on Facebook. Nonprofits submit a photo and 200-word description of how they’d use the money, we post an album of all the entrants on Facebook, then the public votes. The three organizations with the most ‘likes’ win!
Giving & Living in Northwest Ottawa County
Each fall, we publish our report to the community, and our latest edition is now available! Since our last report to the community, we’ve launched a new website, added three new team members and two board members, and our assets passed the $100 million mark!
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.
Grant Focus: The Salvation Army of Grand Haven
In the spring of 2017, the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation awarded The Salvation Army of Grand Haven a $125,000 grant to go towards their Campaign for Area Families & Children capital campaign and building expansion project.
The New Face of Scholarships
Lauren Grevel is now the Education & Youth Initiatives Officer, overseeing scholarships, educations & youth initiatives, and continuing as our YAC advisor.
2017-18 Youth Advisory Council
The school year’s just begun, but the 2017-18 Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is already in full swing. Six new members joined 14 returning members, and they represent Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and West Michigan Christian High Schools. YAC members meet during the school year to discuss and assess youth issues prevalent in the community, as well as to review grant proposals made to benefit youth in the community.