Insights

  • Posted on April 01, 2016 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

    Lead and the Work of Inequality

    The recent water crisis in Flint has highlighted the enormous challenges faced by marginalized populations, especially in cities still trying to recover from our changing economy. Basic life opportunities escape the grasp of those with [...]

  • Posted on March 01, 2016 – Posted by: Timothy White

    What are You Waiting For?

    October 22, 2015. The sun was shining, the fall colors were in full effect and I was driving along a two-lane highway south of Traverse City coming back from an unscheduled afternoon trip and on [...]

  • Posted on February 16, 2016 – Posted by: Pamela Cross

    A Plan to Manage your Digital Assets

    Regardless of age, our lives are integrated with digital technology. Whether you use a smart phone and text, or maintain multiple email and social media accounts; conduct online banking, shopping or pay bills—we are connected [...]

  • Posted on February 08, 2016 – Posted by: Roberta King

    Being Organized for the Time After Life

    When my father died in September, 2014 I was certain that his affairs were in order—he had an estate plan and since the death of my mother nearly 20 years prior we’d updated his plan [...]

  • Posted on February 04, 2016 – Posted by: Marilyn Zack

    Four Easy Ways to Make a Planned Gift

    Planned giving—those two words conjure up images of lawyers, accountants and stacks of legal documents. What many of us don’t realize is just how simple it can be to designate a portion of our estates [...]

  • Posted on January 20, 2016 – Posted by: Roberta King

    Helping in Flint

    Philanthropy is about finding long-term solutions to a community's problems, but it is also how we respond in a crisis. We urge you to consider doing something for the people of Flint. Beyond donating water--which [...]

  • Posted on January 04, 2016 – Posted by: Laurie Craft

    New Ideas for a New Year!

    Last month, the Community Foundation hosted a Knotty Cocktails event on the housing affordability challenges facing Grand Rapids and many other communities across the country (you can view the 45 minute panel discussion here). The event [...]

  • Posted on December 23, 2015 – Posted by: Marilyn Zack

    IRA Rollover News for Community Foundation Donors!

    The IRA Charitable Rollover has been permanently extended! Here's what it means for you: If you're age 70½ or older, you may be able to take advantage of an important incentive for charitable giving.  Congress recently [...]

  • Posted on December 07, 2015 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

    Change for the Better

    Adaptability is a great trait in people and organizations. We expect leaders to be willing to change the status quo and move forward. Sometimes, though, we hold onto our past and do things like we’ve [...]

  • Posted on September 24, 2015 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

    Toward a Racism-Free Grand Rapids

    In July I was on a panel hosted by Partners for a Racism-Free Community. The organization’s vision is a community where racial and ethnic disparities are eliminated so all people are accepted and included as [...]