Displaying items tagged: nonprofit
Equity is a ‘core value’ for incoming Kalamazoo Community Foundation CEO
After serving for nearly a decade as the CEO of YWCA Kalamazoo, Grace Lubwama is leaving the organization in the coming months to take on a new role as president and CEO of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.
Grand Rapids OKs zoning change for 55-unit affordable senior housing project
GRAND RAPIDS — The city of Grand Rapids approved a nonprofit developer’s rezoning request for a retooled affordable housing project at the site of a former funeral home in the West Grand neighborhood.
SE Mich. nonprofit names Hope Network exec as new CEO
Vista Maria, a Dearborn Heights nonprofit serving abused and neglected girls, has named a new CEO following a six-month search.
‘Spare me the outrage and show me reform’: Migrant worker advocates call for system changes in wake of child labor report
Michigan advocates for migrant workers welcome a new federal task force to address child labor violations, but say more policy change is needed to address systemic problems with the migrant labor system across industries, including food and agriculture.
Frey Foundation invests $500K in Grand Rapids capital fund for minority-owned businesses
GRAND RAPIDS — The Frey Foundation has invested $500,000 in the New Community Transformation Fund, a Grand Rapids capital fund that invests in minority-owned businesses.
Diana Sieger’s rebuke to ‘donor knows best’ philanthropy
GRAND RAPIDS — At the beginning of her 35 years leading the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Diana Sieger was often the only woman in the room. But during her tenure, the foundation sought out diverse voices to shape its philanthropic efforts, distancing itself from the “donor knows best” model common in many nonprofit circles.
Grand Rapids Trans Foundation moves into offices with full-time executive director
GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids Trans Foundation plans to grow its programming via new office space and a full-time, paid executive director position for the first time in the nonprofit’s seven-year history after being entirely volunteer-run.
MacKenzie Scott’s $226M to Michigan nonprofits ‘changed the face of philanthropy’
William Coderre received a “cryptic” email last summer saying a private philanthropist wanted to donate $1.1 million to his organization.
$90K Wege Foundation grant to help Northern Initiatives CDFI build out client support systems
A $90,000 grant from the Wege Foundation will back the work of Northern Initiatives, a federally designated community development financial institution (CDFI) that lends to small businesses that may otherwise lack access to credit and capital.
Chicago-based CDFI expands reach into West Michigan to support nonprofits
A Chicago organization that provides capital and other support to nonprofits looks to build momentum and reach across the west side of the state after opening an office in Grand Rapids last spring.
Dwelling Place set to break ground on 42-unit community land trust housing project
GRAND RAPIDS — Nonprofit housing developer Dwelling Place plans to break ground this spring on a years-long project to build 42 homes in Grand Rapids’ Garfield Park Neighborhood.
Pandemic fundraising and new beginnings: The 10 most-read nonprofit stories of 2022
After nearly two years of contending with a pandemic that brought fundraising uncertainty and growing community needs, West Michigan nonprofits spent 2022 finding new ways to serve and capturing much-needed federal relief funding.
‘HONEST CONVERSATIONS’: Report spotlights racial gap in Michigan nonprofit leadership
A major statewide survey of nonprofit organizations highlights significant and persistent racial gaps in the sector as roughly three-quarters of Michigan nonprofits remain white-led.
Longtime West Michigan office furniture exec to lead Hope Network
GRAND RAPIDS — Bob Von Kaenel, a longtime executive at Kentwood Office Furniture and Herman Miller Inc., has been named the new president and CEO of nonprofit health care services provider Hope Network.
Public-private partnership aims to create 1,000 child care slots across Ottawa Co.
Ottawa County officials have signed off on plans to leverage $7.5 million in federal stimulus funds with nearly $25 million from the private sector to create 1,000 new child care slots in the next three years.
More foundations, more giving: Johnson Center report offers 30-year retrospective on philanthropy
Since Grand Valley State University’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy was founded 30 years ago, the nonprofit industry has seen seismic shifts in the amount of charitable giving, nonprofits’ assets, and the overall number of nonprofit organizations.
DEI in the arts is a long but necessary process, local leaders say
Opera Grand Rapids, formed in 1966 to host musical productions that in prior decades had occurred through multiple local community and civic theater companies, is taking measures to help expose the arts to future and more diverse audiences.
Video Q&A: Council of Michigan Foundations leader shares philanthropy sector outlook
Council of Michigan Foundations President and CEO Kyle Caldwell spoke with MiBiz to discuss his outlook for the philanthropy sector heading into 2023.
WMCAT awarded $150K Google grant to launch tech career training program
GRAND RAPIDS — The West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT) recently received a $150,000 grant from Google to support the nonprofit’s new Adult Career Training Program.
Auto manufacturer Gentex creates nonprofit foundation, STEM scholarship for women
ZEELAND — Tier 1 automotive supplier Gentex Corp. has created a nonprofit charitable foundation for its philanthropic efforts as well as a new scholarship program for women pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
Construction nonprofit launches services for underrepresented contractors
GRAND RAPIDS — Construction Allies in Action is launching the first phase of a new program to help underrepresented commercial and residential construction contractors grow their businesses.
15 lakeshore arts organizations begin intensive capacity-building initiative
HOLLAND — Fifteen lakeshore arts organizations are part of the latest capacity-building initiative facilitated by the prestigious University of Maryland-based DeVos Institute of Arts Management (DVIAM).
GR housing nonprofit steps into developer role to address low-income needs
GRAND RAPIDS — Well House is working to construct new housing units in addition to its existing 15 homes that are occupied by renters that were formerly homeless.
Kent Co. senior millage extension to boost nonprofit’s new technology support program
A Grand Rapids nonprofit providing independent living services received a boost last week when Kent County voters extended a senior services millage that will help the organization’s recently launched technology support program.
New report calls for permanent policy changes to improve youth outcomes
Armed with new data on economic security, education and health outcomes, nonprofit officials hope an array of policy changes enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to address children’s and families’ needs are made permanent.
Arts playing ‘huge role’ in shaping downtown Muskegon through pandemic
Arts and cultural organizations are helping to define Muskegon’s downtown resurgence as they innovate out of slumps in attendance and events caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nonprofit support services help companies boost refugee employment
Prince Shema arrived in Michigan from the Democratic Republic of the Congo via Ethiopia in 2013. With help from a local nonprofit organization, he completed an independent living preparation program while going to high school.
Michigan Nonprofit Association to help oversee $50M relief grant program
The Michigan Nonprofit Association is gearing up to help oversee a new $50 million grant program included in the latest state budget to help small nonprofits recover from pandemic-related losses.
The Diatribe acquires West Mich. nonprofit with similar mission to empower youth
GRAND RAPIDS — The Diatribe Inc. is acquiring another Grand Rapids-based nonprofit that shares a similar mission of empowering youth and underrepresented populations through art and creativity.
$110K grant to help Literacy Center expand reach of ESL program for parents
GRAND RAPIDS — A $110,000 grant will help expand the Literacy Center of West Michigan’s Family Literacy Program, which helps equip non-native English speakers whose children attend local schools with literacy and communication skills.