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Is there ever a good day to be homeless?
April 1st, 2010
I'm sure it was the warm sunny weather or a pre-April Fool's Day idea of a joke but a tweet on Twitter caught my attention yesterday. Actually it wasn't from someone I know or follow - it was in the parlance of Twitter a "retweet" or a post that someone reposts. Nonetheless it read: "Today would be a great day to be homeless."It was retweeted by more than one person so I can only assume it was found to be humorous. Now for those who know me even slightly know that I have a good sense of humor and I can say that unabashedly. I find humor in many things and situations. I find that many times humor helps to soften the harshness of a message, break the ice in a tense situation and may allow people to just simply laugh.
However, I find no humor in this tweet whatsoever. Even with the sun shining and warm temperatures thawing our winter weary souls, there is never a great day to be homeless.
The Foundation has for many years been steeped in efforts addressing the problems surrounding homelessness, affordable housing and all things relating to providing needed services to those most in need. Laurie Craft, a program director at the Foundation, is currently chairing the Coalition to End Homelessness which is led by Janay Brower who is steadfast in her "vision" to create the community conditions to eliminate or at least reduce the incidence of homelessness.
Now I have to confess that when the Vision to End Homelessness was initiated many years ago, the predecessor effort to the Coalition, I thought that ending homelessness was a pipe dream rather like "alleviating poverty" as the issue is so very complex. The GRCF staff boldly ignored my nay saying and become quite involved in this and we funded much of the planning that went into the Vision which has now morphed into the Coalition.
I'm pleased to say that the GRCF staff were right and I was just plain wrong. They were exercising excellent community leadership skills! Janay will be announcing some impressive statistics soon. Suffice it to say the Coalition along with the timely infusion of funding through the Essential Needs Task Force Fund created by a group of 17 foundations last year has made some significant inroads in addressing the complex issue of homelessness.
As an example in calendar year 2009, 5,118 persons experienced homelessness in Kent County. This represents a 15% decrease from the 6,022 persons reported in 2008. Not a trend quite yet but frankly I'll take it! And there is much more strong impact news on the horizon.
My message is simply this - regardless of the weather, there is never a good day to be homeless.
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What is this thing called Leadership?
March 15th, 2010
Here's a "sneak preview" of my article in our newsletter Current "hitting stands" this week:I often muse that writing about what Grand Rapids Community Foundation does would be easier if we only funded solutions for problems that experts already know how to fix!
But we follow the advice Warren Buffett gave in 2006 during his massive infusion of money to the Gates Foundation. He said, "Don't just go for safe projects. You can bat a thousand in this game if you want to by doing nothing important. Or you'll bat something less than that if you take on the really tough problems."
Warren Buffett's wise counsel serves the Gates Foundation well. They just announced the largest gift ever given to a single cause - $10 billion over 10 years to research vaccines and bring them to the world's poorest countries. Buffett's advice works as well for Grand Rapids Community Foundation, though on a much smaller scale!
The big thing for the Community Foundation isn't so much the amount of our grants as our leadership in the community. We are trying to explain and highlight this leadership clearly and succinctly. It's hard. We brainstorm with staff and emerge with statements that assume everyone has the same understanding of certain phrases and concepts (such as "systemic change") and agrees on how to address key community issues.
Bold adaptive leadership
Leadership experts talk about applying "bold leadership" or "adaptive leadership" to problems for which there are no easy answers, problems whose solutions may push people outside their comfort zones. My challenge is to define the "it" of this type of leadership without people's eyes glazing over.
I met recently with a long-time donor who asked good questions about the financial statement in our annual report. After explaining the facts, I gave a behind-the-scenes example of how the Community Foundation takes on what Buffett called "the really tough problems."
I detailed how we have been addressing the problem of child abuse and neglect for 15 years by providing ongoing funding for prevention programs. We've also been advocating with the Michigan Department of Human Services so their policies and practices will help, not hamper, how services are provided in Kent County through a strong network of nonprofits. Doing this work takes staff time and requires gumption.
Next I launched into the story of how 17 area foundations came together in November 2008 and agreed to pool their resources to better respond to growing needs for emergency food, clothing and shelter because of job losses and foreclosures. The new fund is housed at the Community Foundation and linked to the already-existing Essential Needs Task Force, which guides funding decisions. Now all community housing emergencies go through a central point at the Salvation Army called the Housing Assistance Program. This is a change in how the "system operates" and seems to be providing positive results for many families in our community.
The very helpful donor said, "Why don't you describe that in your publications?" Why indeed! We do try and we will be doing a better job of that. Our donor said he'd be happy to review whatever we write to see if it is clear and compelling!
What is the "it?"
Like the Gates Foundation, we choose strong partners, risk new approaches and take the long view on problems others won't tackle. Community Foundation staff members have led the way in many community efforts, such as
* preventing foreclosures
* providing funding through Program Related Investments to rehab houses in target urban areas of Grand Rapids
* working with "experienced adults" as they transition into a productive and satisfying "retirement"
* diligently addressing the academic achievement gap in area schools
* and so much more!
We do not shy away from the knotty issues. It takes resources to do this (yet-to-be-clearly-defined) work. I hope we can do this in future issues of Current!
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Rough waters ---> great leadership!
February 24th, 2010
I've been struggling with a variety of situations and issues relating to community politics and GRCF strategies. How to convey this in this blog presents a challenge.The original intent behind this blog initiated in January 2006 (4 years!) was to accomplish two things. #1: Offer a glimpse into the inner workings of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation - being transparent beyond the facts and figures bringing to life the background on issues staff and board believe are critical. #2: Provide a perspective on philanthropy from a local view - or as is the buzzword these days with many foundation pros - a more "placed-based" perspective!
I am one that harps endlessly about collaboration and I don't mean forcing this on the social sector but how the GRCF behaves in the community. Initiatives and programs just seem to be on more solid and sustainable ground if there is a real partnership between and among funders and programs. Leveling the playing field and letting the best just do their best.
That hasn't been happening on a number of fronts and I don't know if it's because people are just plain sick of the long winter or what. Lately I've experienced as the song from 1974 goes "Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes they don't tell the truth" sung by the Undisputed Truth.
It is all about our community leadership - that "secret" ingredient we are trying to describe more clearly. Advice that Warren Buffett gave in 2006 along with his massive infusion of money to the Gates Foundation was: "Don't just go for safe projects. You can bat a thousand in this game if you want to by doing nothing important. Or you'll bat something less than that if you take on the really tough problems."
We have been taking on the tough problems that is for sure and it's been a leadership challenge. So I just have to say - here's to our lower batting average!
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On my mind
February 16th, 2009
I have commented previously on this recession and its impact on people in our community as well as the response from the area foundations in creating a fund that is connected to a long time collaborative effort known as the Essential Needs Task Force. This effort helps all the funders to join together yet continue to address our respective priorities. Bold community leadership and philanthropy are both so critical at this time!Real accounts from around the country abound on the impact of the economic downturn on real people - real lives. I read an excellent but distressing investigative reporting piece from the February 9 & 16 edition of The New Yorker entitled "The Ponzi State" by George Packer. Daily local news reports chronicle the devastating impact on people in our community and the changing face of those affected by job loss and the need for the basics of food, clothing, shelter.
In today's edition of The Grand Rapids Press there is an article about the Grand Rapids Area to End Homelessness which is announcing a new model of prevention and rapid placement into homes with the lofty goal of ending homelessness by 2014. While this goal is challenging particularly in these times, I applaud this heartily and the Coalition members under the guidance of coordinator Janay Brower should be commended for their compassion and tenacity. The Foundation has played an active role in this coalition as well.
It is important to be connected with the "face" of what is happening given the recession. While reports abound re: the federal stimulus package, compensation packages of the Wall Street crowd, and the scrambling of all governmental entities trying to string together some semblance of a budget to keep things going, it is the impact on people that is critical to feel and understand.
I don't know the answer to all of this and frankly no one else does either in truth. President Obama announced this morning that he is appointing a Panel to respond to the auto industry crisis versus creating a "car czar" and further announcing an effort later this week to address the foreclosure crisis. Locally, many efforts are underway to address this crisis through the Home Repair Services (HRS), a coordinated effort creating a Community Foreclosure Coordinator through the Fair Housing Center (FHC) of West Michigan, the ICCF and other programs. The GRCF has funded HRS and the FHC and will keep working on this!
I hear from some who blame the greed of Wall Street or people who have lived off the value of their houses in better times - leaning on credit. Continuing to focus on "whodunit" has some value so we don't repeat our mistakes but we will. BUT playing the blame game distracts us from what we should be doing to move forward to counter all the devastation that is occurring.
Stemming the tide of foreclosures, meeting immediate needs of real people, job loss, and all things related to the impact of the economic times, is extremely difficult to resolve. It is proving to challenge all of us. It is definitely top of mind for me and this Foundation.
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Philanthropy and the Year in Review!
December 29th, 2008
Yes this has been quite a YEAR! I didn't realize how the strain of these past few months affected me until I started to relax as I take a few days off to regroup and revitalize my soul! Falling on the ice on Christmas Day only made me feel more vulnerable and it has taken 4 days to get my sore body back to some sense of normalcy. As I said to my sister and brother-in-law who were with me on this ill-fated walking trek, if this was 20 years from now, likely I'd be on my way to the hospital with a broken hip! I think better shoes with deep treads may help and I certainly need to get in much better shape which of course means hard work and some hope that it can be done!That is my message as this year comes to a close. We all need hope - not the delusional kind but the kind that shines a light on the path so you can see a way to get to your goal! I do have hope for a better year than the one we experienced in 2008. Philanthropy is strong in our community and we need to continue to keep it growing, effective and compassionate! I do have many things for which to be grateful when it comes to leading this Foundation:
* We did it! In spite of the odds against us we did purchase the Icehouse - did have it wonderfully renovated - did raise the resources to complete the job - well almost. We still need more donations to finish it up - not much but the last dollars are always the hardest to come by! We were so very fortunate to be just ahead of the financial/credit crisis or likely we would not have ventured into this territory at this time. Truth be told, we did have detractors and probably still do. Puzzling why some of the detractors were so sour on the Foundation finding a home. My sense of it was that it wasn't in the lineup for some of our community's leaders who are at the helm of many other projects.
Our Board Chair, Paul Doyle and I chose the path of moving forward in spite of the detractors knowing full well that we could do this and that our project would set an example on how to actively be inclusive and how to broaden the appeal through many donors who are so very supportive of the Foundation's work and proven impact. This is the community foundation's home - the place where community leadership prospers and grows to help shape the future of our area in a positive and productive way. AND we did it with a proven record of including minority contractors and a diverse work force on the building project so noted in my last two blog entries.
* We had the most successful fund raising year ever in the history of the Foundation. Our fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Marilyn Zack and her team raised close to $20M in our 2007-08 fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. We didn't make a big deal out of it using our grant making results and impact as the focus which is why we are in business! Our fund raising success was somewhat countered by losses in our asset value due to the crumbling and disastrous financial decline of the market. Nonetheless, I am proud of the Development Team and the tenacity they have along with unwavering optimism and HOPE!
In the midst of all of this, Marilyn, with the great guidance of fund raising counsel Keith Hopkins, led the way with securing key leadership to head up our "not so public" capital campaign. (I was committed to NOT be in competition with other capital fund raising efforts.) Cecile Fehsenfeld, Wayman Britt and Bob Roth were our co-chairs of the capital effort and they were steadfast in their support and enthusiasm! Thank you to our Campaign Cabinet and our Building Endorsement Council. All did a superior job!
* I am very grateful to the GRCF Board of Trustees and sad to say goodbye to Marilyn Lankfer who served on our board for 9 years (we added a year to her terms for a variety of reasons) and Mark Meijer who served his two - four year terms. Marilyn led the Foundation as chair and was instrumental in shining the light on our path to secure our building and finding ways for us to see this come to fruition. Mark contributed ideas and energy along with his support to the Foundation. I thank them both so much and remind them that they never do really "leave" the Foundation!
Our trustees are simply the best! They engage in great discussions, are never quiet with their opinions, and have the community's best interests at heart first and foremost in their deliberations. And we all get along! So many books have been written, articles compiled and presentations made on the relationship between board and staff. Sigh - - - it is a relationship and it needs to be one of respect and candor. I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you to Paul Doyle, Cecile Fehsenfeld, Bonnie Miller, Eva Aguirre Cooper, Carol Karr, Tom Hilliker, Mike Hoffman, Mark Meijer, Marilyn Lankfer, Michelle Van Dyke and Torie Brewton.
* Marcia Rapp, our VP for Program, and her team worked extremely hard this past year and have generated success with our various initiatives including Encore and Good Schools for Grand Rapids. The latter effort involves four key strategies that states for every child to be academically successful, they need:
Good social supports
Good schools and good classrooms
Good growth and learning opportunities
Good opportunities to attend college
While this seems to be pretty self-evident, you have no idea how controversial it is to work in the area of education reform. That phrase itself elicits some negative connotations and our education community and other funders in the area certainly have their strong ideas on how to move forward to assure that all students are successful. This is where it gets quite challenging to work in a collaborative way but we continue to try.
This year also saw greater emphasis on economic development with a $500,000 grant to the Right Place, Inc's InnovationWorks as we try to build a brighter future through invention, innovation and ultimately job creation. Also, we have taken a strong leadership stance to assure that there are helpful resources for people facing possible foreclosure. We made a $50,000 investment in Home Repair Services foreclosure counseling program and the creation of a Community Foreclosure Coordinator position through another $50,000 grant at the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan. Also, we are working with many organizations and funders to assure that there are needed supports to help many people who are suffering in our community.
There are many other efforts that we have invested in and helped to spur on this past year that can be accessed on this website under the heading of Grants and Scholarships. Last December I lauded the Kent School Services Network - in my blog and I still do! The work has been nothing short of remarkable and our $1.5M investment is paying off. The collaboration among the many partners in our area has been a critical factor in its success!
* Of course none of this could be done if it weren't for the financial acumen of Lynne Black our VP for Finance and Administration and her staff. Lynne successfully completed the process, with help from Denny Sturtevant and George Larimore and a huge cast of people, of applying for New Markets Tax Credits. Wow! What a process! And she did this along with actively managing our assets with our Investment Counsel, Colonial Consulting and our Investment Review Committee. Plus she hired a Controller to help in managing the financial complexity of running this Foundation.
* Then there is our award winning team of Roberta King our VP for PR & Marketing and her associate Amanda St. Pierre who continue to do a stupendous job in communicating who we are as a Foundation and they are critical to our success. Also hats off to Brian Kelly for his beautiful photography in this year's annual report. Nothing conveys an emotion or a message better than a photograph. Yolanda Gonzalez also contributes wonderful illustrations for our various publications to augment our messages to the community. Thank you all!
As corny as it sounds, hope helps us in our daily lives and I am optimistic about our future. I have to be as there is no other choice for me. While I am a grounded leader and have data, information and the "facts" to help guide me, it is this optimism that keeps me on a more positive path. I wish all of us a better 2009 and some sense of stability and recovery in our critical global financial situation! Happy New Year!
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