What Is a Community Foundation?
At The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, we often get questions about what exactly a community foundation is and does. We’ll provide some insight on that below, as well as some information about why and how you may wish to get involved with our foundation.
What Is a Community Foundation?
A community foundation is a public charity that focuses on supporting a geographic area by facilitating and pooling donations used to address community needs and support local for-impact partners (like local nonprofit organizations and municipalities). Community foundations offer grant-making programs to improve and enhance the community and are funded by donations from various parties, including:
- Individuals
- Families
- Businesses
- Organizations
- Government entities
About The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation
Now, let’s zone in more specifically on ourselves, and what our purpose is as your local community foundation.
The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation and our affiliate organizations, the Allendale Community Foundation and the Coopersville Area Community Foundation, serve our area to enhance the quality of life for all by working together to collectively address challenges and opportunities.
How to Get Involved With Our Community Foundation
Thinking about getting involved or supporting The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation? The first best step is to take a second and think about what you love most about our community.
Is it the parks and nature? The arts and culture? The educational opportunities? How we help and support each other? The list goes on!
Many of the aspects you love about our community are often a result of individuals, organizations, and businesses that start funds, or contribute to existing funds within the Foundation. We then go and invest those funds, using the revenue for community impact projects.
If you have a specific passion within our community, there’s no better way to expand that impact than getting involved in or donating to the Foundation. You’ll be able to see the results of your generosity directly, each and every day, as it plays out in the community.
At The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, Impact Is at the Heart of Our Mission!
Our Community Foundation Impact Grant Program supports for-impact organizations with strategic and purposeful programming, and has most likely worked to help start or enhance something you love about the area. Community members also volunteer to work with our staff to make these important decisions.
Our name speaks for itself; we want to be your first thought if you are interested in supporting the community. Involvement could mean leaving a legacy gift, serving as a committee or board member, giving to an established fund, or opening a new one. We offer a variety of opportunities to make a philanthropic difference and would enjoy talking with you. To learn more, give us a call at 616-842-6378 or contact us online.