Insights

Posted on November 10, 2017 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Addressing LGBT Youth Homelessness: An Update from Our LGBT Fund

When we think about human rights issues, it’s easy to start with abuses around the world – it can be more challenging to open our eyes to problems right here in West Michigan. Each night, more [...]
Posted on July 20, 2017 – Posted by: Roberta King

Helping Make Grand Rapids Good with Local First

Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees recently approved a grant of $250,000 to Local First Educational Foundation for its “Good for Grand Rapids” campaign. The goal of the grant is to increase the number [...]
Posted on July 11, 2017 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

Let's Talk About Our North Star

Finding the North Star can be challenging. Gazing at the night sky from the front porch of my home, I spot the Big Dipper. I trace an imaginary line from the Big Dipper’s two edge [...]
Posted on June 27, 2017 – Posted by: Roberta King

We're Looking for Youth Grant Committee Members!

The Youth Grant Committee (YGC) of Grand Rapids Community Foundation is seeking members for the upcoming school year. Students from any public, private or homeschool in Kent County are welcome to apply. During the school year [...]
Posted on June 26, 2017 – Posted by: Roberta King

Over $1M in Scholarships for Students

In another record-breaking year for helping students with college, Grand Rapids Community Foundation Trustees approved $1.2 million in scholarships for 2017. The scholarships for high school seniors, college students and grad students went to 67 [...]
Posted on April 14, 2017 – Posted by: Roberta King

Creating Your Will of Wisdom

We've been focusing a lot on planned giving and wills in the last month, but beyond the legal documents, there is another document you might consider completing as part of your estate plan. An ethical will is [...]
Posted on April 06, 2017 – Posted by: Amanda St. Pierre

Fast Track to Success: the Sekayi Bracey Story

Post Written By Jacquelyn Zeman, PR Intern When East Kentwood native Sekayi Bracey was just 8 years old, her elementary gym teacher encouraged her to pursue running. “We had a field day,” Sekayi said. “(My [...]
Posted on April 04, 2017 – Posted by: Roberta King

Staycationing? Plan for Summer Camp Now!

If you're home this week with the kids, you might be getting a little anxious about summer break and how to make those months away from school productive. There's always summer camp! If you've thought about [...]
Posted on April 02, 2017 – Posted by: Amanda St. Pierre

A Planned Gift Mystery Solved

From time to time, we receive unexpected bequests from kind strangers. A few years ago, Grand Rapids Community Foundation was named beneficiary of a life insurance policy held by Joy Brown Baker. It was a [...]
Posted on March 27, 2017 – Posted by: Lisa Rose

It's Not About the Stuff, it's About the People You Love

By Lisa M. Rose January 29, 2017. Sitting at my desk, I look at my calendar and see the reminder to contact my attorney. Correction, my mother's attorney. I assemble a few papers and make [...]
Posted on March 24, 2017 – Posted by: Roberta King

Four Simple Ways to do Good With a Planned Gift

A planned gift is a charitable donation from your will or other portion of your estate, and, for many people, is the largest gift they’ll ever make. But, if the idea of a gift from [...]
Posted on March 10, 2017 – Posted by: Lauretta Murphy

Death + Taxes Here's Advice to Help Understand One of Them

by Lauretta Murphy, attorney, Miller Johnson Benjamin Franklin famously said: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Two types of taxes may apply to your property after you die—state [...]