Big Picture:
Evolving to Meet the Moment 2024 COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT
Kalamazoo County: The Most Equitable Place to Live At Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF), we believe our community cannot thrive until it is a place where all people are safe, valued and have equitable access to opportunities and resources. That is why, after 100 years of serving the residents of our county, we are committed to creating a thriving community where people, resources and expertise are mobilized to advance racial, social and economic justice in Kalamazoo County.
Table of Contents 02 Introduction 05 What Is a Community Foundation? 07 Community Impact Overview 11
Featured Funded Stories
17
By the Numbers
18
Love Where You Live Fund
19
Funded Partners
20 Investment Overview
Introduction
A Note From the CEO Transforming our community means understanding the urgency of now – the need to meet the moment we are in by rising to the occasion and tapping into a newfound creativity and resilience. Right now, countless nonprofit partners, community advocates and education-seekers are facing uphill battles to access the resources they need to help transform our community. Without access to reliable and consistent funding, many of our changemakers will be unable to accomplish the work they are called to do or will miss opportunities to advance themselves and their families. It is during times like these that we stand firm in our promise to be the most trusted philanthropic partner for every resident in Kalamazoo County. To this end, we are excited to outline in the pages of this report exactly how we are reimagining our grantmaking approach, all to strategically steward our donors’ gifts to help meet our community partners where they are. Together, we are developing real-time, tangible solutions that can address their funding needs now. As part of our dedication to remain steadfast and committed to serving the residents of this community, we hope the exciting ideas and stories in this report encourage you to become as passionate and invested as we are in making Kalamazoo County the most equitable place to live. As always, I hope you continue to find new ways to love where you live!
Dr. Grace Lubwama President/CEO Kalamazoo Community Foundation 2
Introduction
A Note From Our 2024 Board Chair Over this past year, I have had the incredible privilege of serving alongside a team of forward-thinking and creative individuals who have consistently sought to maximize the impact of the work we are doing here at KZCF. In 2024, our organization returned to the drawing board to examine each aspect of how we operate and how we can push the bounds of what it means to be our community’s foundation. We know that serving the residents of Kalamazoo County and addressing our community’s most pressing needs, particularly as we navigate challenges due to emerging federal policies, requires all of us to come together to make sure that the problems we solve today clear a pathway to a brighter future for all tomorrow. Under the decisive leadership of Dr. Lubwama and in alignment with her clear vision for our organization, ushering in a promising era where everyone in our community can thrive is a reality we do not simply have to hope for, but one we can all look forward to.
Von Washington, Jr. Board chair Kalamazoo Community Foundation
3
Introduction
2024 Board of Trustees Von Washington, Jr. Chairperson
Artrella Cohn Trustee
Jim Escamilla Trustee
Dr. Jorge Gonzalez Trustee
Xiaoan Li Trustee
Lucas Mansberger Trustee
Kama Mitchell Trustee
Sydney Parfet Trustee
Amy Upjohn Vice Chairperson
Dr. L. Marshall Washington Trustee
2024 Community Impact Committee Amy Upjohn (Chair)
Jim Escamilla
Artrella Cohn
Lissette Mira-Amaya
Angelita Aguilar
Sydney Parfet
Byron Foster
4
What Is a Community Foundation?
Creating Individual & Community Transformation – Together Simply put, a community foundation is a type of charitable organization that pools donations from individuals, families and businesses to support charitable initiatives within a specific geographic area – ours has and always will be Kalamazoo County.
. E . N . ... H . W s We Be e h ri v T lieve Kala y t n mazoo Cou
H ousing
W ealth is attainable and people have resources to meet their needs and invest in their futures.
is affordable, available and safe for every individual and family.
How Does Our Foundation Operate? 1. Get
2. Grow
3. Give
We get funds from individual donors, corporations and other foundations in the form of cash donations, bequests or other types of assets.
We then grow these funds by strategically managing them to generate new income.
Finally, as part of our commitment to invest back into our community, we funnel this new income into the community via grants that we give to nonprofits that are addressing the local needs and priorities of our residents.
What Is a Community Foundation?
E ducation
N eighborhoods
is accessible and learners are supported on their journeys.
are vibrant and community spaces nurture health, safety and strong connections.
4. Gather
5. Support
Beyond grantmaking, KZCF plays a vital role in community development and leadership by working to gather groups of community members together to address systemic issues.
To ensure that we can continue to operate at full capacity, we rely on critical support and collaboration within our internal teams, which allows us to provide necessary support to our developing donor base. 6
Community Impact Overview Impact Investing Overview
Big Community Impact & Bold Evolution An Interview With Chief Community Impact Officer, Alyssa Stewart As KZCF approached its centennial, this moment became a powerful opportunity to reflect, realign and recommit to our mission of advancing racial, social and economic justice across Kalamazoo County. Looking back with Alyssa, 2024 was a year of big impact and bold evolution, full of community milestones and critical feedback that helped shape the foundation’s future.
What Wasn’t Working This past year challenged KZCF to evolve, not because the work stopped, but because the needs of our community and the people we serve were calling for something more. What are the most urgent or persistent challenges
Choice and access are signs of a truly equitable community, and we know household financial stability affects everything: education, health, where you live, even whether you can buy fresh food. That’s why one of our boldest moves in 2024 was naming wealth attainment as a top priority. Financial stability and upward mobility are absolutely essential to building a vibrant, thriving community.”
people and families in Kalamazoo County are facing, and how do those challenges shape the role KZCF needs
At the same time, what were you hearing from the
to play?
community that signaled KZCF needed to evolve internally and externally?
“Too many families in Kalamazoo County are working one, two, sometimes even three jobs and still can’t afford the basics — rent, “We’re constantly learning from our partners, neighbors and nonprofit leaders — formally through surveys and focus groups, childcare, food, transportation. The cost of living is rising faster than wages, and the tools to reduce debt or build wealth aren’t
and informally just by being in community. One thing came
equally available to everyone. That lack of access creates major
through clearly: we had work to do in being more transparent
disparities and ultimately limits choice. 7
Community Impact Overview
“We distributed hundreds of grants and scholarships across the county, including Emergency Scholarships that helped students stay on track when life threw them curveballs. We also remained nimble and responsive to urgent needs. When tornadoes hit our region, we activated our Community Urgent Relief Fund to deploy support quickly, partnering with incredible local organizations to help families recover. In total, we granted nearly $25 million in 2024, which was on par for the organization. So even while we were taking bold steps and efficient, and explicit about how to access funding.
toward the future, the volume and impact of our work remained
We also heard confusion around multi-year grants. For a long time,
strong. That’s something I’m really proud of.
they didn’t exist. When we test-piloted them, the process still felt
It speaks to our “both/and” approach: holding a long-term vision
mysterious — who got selected and why? There was a sense of
for generations to come while responding to the urgent needs
uncertainty, even among longtime grantees.
right in front of us. Whether it’s COVID, community violence or
In 2025, we launched a much clearer grant guide that outlines our four priority areas and four distinct grant types, including multi-year general operating support. We also shared how much money is available in each category and how we make funding decisions. One of the biggest shifts, significantly increasing multiyear grants, was based directly on partner feedback. It supports
natural disasters, we’re here to serve through it all.” How did shifting from broader areas like equity and education to the more focused WHEN priorities — Wealth, Housing, Education, and Neighborhoods — help you respond more directly to community needs?
their stability, reduces time spent writing grants, and lets all of us stay focused on the work that matters.”
“The WHEN priorities were a major outcome of our strategic reset. They emerged from everything we learned over the past several
Restructuring to Meet the Moment
years — our equity and education work, community data, social determinants of health — all boiled down to something simpler,
In so many ways, 2024 was a transformational year for KZCF. With a new president and CEO, a shift in focus areas and a refreshed brand heading into our centennial, it marked a bold step into the future.
more aspirational. We wanted to move away from equity being treated like a standalone goal. Instead, it’s now embedded across all four priorities. Because the truth is: none of these aspirations
But we want to recognize something just as important: the work never stopped. This wasn’t a year of pause, it was a year of progress. Even as the organization restructured, real impact was happening across the community — What
— financial security, safe housing, strong schools, vibrant neighborhoods — can be achieved for everyone unless equity is at the foundation. Unless barriers are removed, unless systems are made more fair, we won’t truly get there.
milestones from 2024 are you most proud of?
W ealth
H ousing
E ducation
N eighborhoods
KZCFs NEW Impact Priorities 8
Community Impact Overview
WHEN also gives people something to connect with personally.
2024, we changed that. We launched a new reporting process
These are things we all want for our families, no matter where we
that collects both demographic and geographic data from
live in Kalamazoo County. It’s unifying, and it brings clarity for our
grantees and scholarship recipients. That helps us understand
partners, helping them see where their work fits and ladders up
who we’re serving and where, because need exists far beyond city
to a shared vision for the future.
limits. These new tools keep us accountable to the community and to the donors who trust us to steward their resources.
We also ask something important of our funded partners: a demonstrated commitment to reducing barriers and increasing access. But we don’t position ourselves as the authority on equity. We’re learning too. We’ve benefited so much from the wisdom of our partners, and we’ll always be on that journey with them — imperfect, open and committed.” What changes did you make in 2024 to better align your outward presence with your mission? And how are things like grant cycles, reporting and communication evolving to serve your community more effectively? “We’ve long been committed to centering Black, indigenous, and people of color in our impact work, but in recent years, we weren’t collecting enough data to truly measure whether our dollars were reaching those communities in equitable ways. In
9
We also rolled out our Mobilizing Grants, a major evolution in how we support community change. While most of our grantmaking is responsive, these new grants are proactive. They allow us to identify one transformative, communityrooted project each year and fund it with up to $1 million. It’s about getting big ideas across the finish line, especially ones that could unlock matching funds or catalyze momentum that wouldn’t happen otherwise. Finally, we improved how we communicate. We hosted virtual town halls to share updates and gather real-time feedback, translated our grant guide into Spanish and simplified how people navigate our funding opportunities. Everything we’ve done — from our rebrand to our website to reporting to grantmaking — is about building trust, creating clarity and showing up in ways that truly serve.”
Community Impact Overview
A Just & Joyful Future 2024 wasn’t just a year of restructuring, it was a year of renewed belief in what’s possible. Where are you already seeing signs of transformation, and how are people responding to the shifts you’ve made?
“We’ve made significant changes in 2024, and while some of the ripple effects may take time to fully show up, we’re already seeing 2024 also laid the groundwork for a bold, long-term
the groundwork take root.
strategy. Can you walk us through KZCF’s new five-year
Our team has really rallied behind the WHEN priorities. That
strategic plan?
shared vision has given us clarity and a sense of collective
What does the “Get, Grow, Give, Gather, Support” framework help you focus on, and what initiatives are already underway to bring it to life?
“I love the simplicity of this framework. After 100 years of work, it distills what we do to its essence: We GET resources from donors and community partners. We GROW them through strong investments. We GIVE them out in alignment with our priorities. We GATHER people and ideas to listen, learn, and build shared purpose. And we SUPPORT through relationships, infrastructure, and long-term commitment.
purpose that’s energizing everything we do. We’re hearing a lot of positive feedback, especially around the shift to multi-year funding. That change alone has brought a new level of stability and trust into our relationships with grantees. What excites me most is knowing that the impact will show up in many forms. It might look like a student reaching their educational goals because of a scholarship. Or a family rebuilding after a disaster. Or a neighborhood enriched by policy change or new investment. Some of that transformation will be visible — some will be quiet and deeply personal. Some may never be directly traced back to us, but we have faith in the work and in the community. We’ve been here for 100 years, andnd with every new
It’s not just a plan, it’s a filter. Every strategy we pursue now gets
step forward, we’re showing up differently, more intentionally,
held up to that lens: Does this advance one of our core practices?
and more in tune with the future we all deserve.”
Does it serve our values and vision? The WHEN priorities are deeply woven into this. We see three to four times more demand for grants than we have dollars to give, so part of our long-term plan includes growing endowed funds so we can give more and better match the scale of community needs. The “Gather” piece is especially meaningful. It’s about creating space for real connection and learning. Whether that’s a town hall, a community meeting, or just sharing space and stories, this is how we stay rooted in what people are experiencing: what’s working, what’s not, and whether we’re getting closer to the aspirations behind Wealth, Housing, Education, and Neighborhoods. Ultimately, everything we do comes back to people. Systems matter. Structures matter. But it’s people who feel the outcomes and people who shape the solutions. That’s what this strategy is designed to honor.”
10
Featured Funding Story
Collaboration Becomes a Lifeline Drew Johnson is the executive director of South County Community Services (SCCS), one of Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s many nonprofit partners who mobilized quickly after the devastating May 7 tornadoes in Kalamazoo County this past year. Thanks to the Community Urgent Relief Fund (CURF) and a longtime collaboration with United Way of South Central Michigan, KZCF was able to help move funds within days — getting immediate aid to the partners like SCCS who know their communities best.
When Crisis Hits On the evening of May 7, 2024, a tornado moving at speeds as high as 135 miles per hour cut a devastating swath through Portage, Pavilion Township and Texas Township. Miraculously, there was no loss of life, but trees were uprooted and knocked
needs agency, seeking to connect people with lower incomes to vital resources like food, transportation, medication, programs for seniors and emergency financial assistance. The displaced residents of Pavilion Estates certainly fit the bill.
down, power was lost, and over 500 homes and businesses were
“The biggest thing was housing for people in the immediate
damaged or in some cases, destroyed completely. One area that
aftermath. We started by lining up hotel stays and gave out
was hit particularly hard was Pavilion Estates, a manufactured
two $500 gift cards to most residents immediately, the very
home community. Amidst the terror, some of the homes were
hardest hit ones that didn’t have any place to go that night.
flipped over, carried up into the air and dropped elsewhere or torn to shreds. Once the storm cleared, 173 units had been damaged and 17 were obliterated. With so many residents having lost the roofs above their heads in an instant, they needed a solution — fast.
Community Partners Step Up
- Drew Johnson | Executive Director, SCCS
After a week or two, we were able to scale down to one $500 gift card per household. We ended up distributing about $65,000,” Johnson said. That money made a big difference in the lives of many people, but it’s a lot for a nonprofit to have access to at a moment’s
Drew Johnson, executive director of South County Community
notice. SCCS was able to make it happen as a direct result of
Services, remembers that night well. “I was taking shelter in my
their partnership with Kalamazoo Community Foundation, thanks
unfinished basement, in the laundry room with my kids, watching
to our Community Urgent Relief Fund (CURF), a permanent fund
a movie. I saw the videos of Pavilion Estates online and knew that
established in 2018 that focuses on emergency response and
the next several months were going to be so difficult for so many
resilience. This time, and across CURF history, KZCF partnered
people,” Johnson said.
closely with United Way of South Central Michigan to coordinate
Pavilion Estates is within the service area of South County 11
within southern Kalamazoo County. SCCS functions as a basic
Community Services (SCCS), a nonprofit that serves communities
the granting of dollars out to SCCS staff and volunteers on the ground.
Featured Funding Story
PAVILION ESTATES
SCCS has assisted the residents of Pavilion Estates for years,
wouldn’t cover it, or the person didn’t have insurance. And so
and has built up a good relationship with the management
we have been able to go through there, get consent from the
and many of the people living there, helping them to become
homeowner and do the work with funding from Yes! Communities
a trusted organization within the park. SCCS worked as an
[the owners of Pavilion Estates], United Way, Kalamazoo
overseer of the efforts being made in the wake of the tornado,
Community Foundation and Kalamazoo County. We’ve been able
but other organizations were there too, such as the Red Cross in
to do about $250,000 worth of repairs on homes in that park, with
the immediate aftermath, and groups that provided centralized
few eligibility requirements.”
distribution places for food and household supplies. With these essentials taken care of, KZCF’s CURF gift cards helped to cover additional costs that would have otherwise fallen between the cracks.
In the time that Drew has spent in Pavilion Estates, immediately after the tornado and through to today, one of the things that has impressed him has been how close-knit the community really is and how much they truly look out for one another. “During the
Hope & Healing
tornado, everybody warned each other because there wasn’t a
More than a year later, the rebuilding efforts continue. “I’m in Pavilion Estates a lot lately for the repair work that we’re doing,” Johnson added. “We’re doing repairs on homes that are owner occupied where there was some kind of reason why insurance
siren nearby or at least a lot of people didn’t hear a siren. Once everybody knew what was happening, they went to a McDonald’s that let them in the basement. That’s how everybody was safe during the storm, that’s why nobody died.”
CURF’s 2024 Impact at a Glance
$445,391.71
Grants Dollars Awarded to Four Grantees
509
Individuals Served
72
298
Households Provided With Longterm Case Management Support
Emergency Gift Cards Distributed
GIFT CARD
12
Featured Funding Story
Mobilizing Voters: How Teamwork Transformed Civic Engagement in Kalamazoo Wendy Fields is the president at Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch MKB NAACP, a leading voice at the forefront of the battle against discrimination in the workplace, education and housing in our region. In 2024, MKB NAACP was a key partner in Kalamazoo County’s Mobilizing Michigan: Get Out the Vote Grants — a strategic funding process that distributed nearly $2 million statewide to activate voters across the county and support a broader statewide push for equitable access to the ballot. Thanks to the support of aligned donor funding, responsive infrastructure and a key partnership with Michigan Voices, KZCF was able to proactively identify and move resources quickly to organizations like MKB NAACP, who knew how to activate trust, momentum and meaningful turnout where it mattered most.
Democracy at Risk
Strategic Activation & Resourcing
In the high-stakes 2024 election year, removing barriers to voting
Wendy said that she knew Get Out the Vote efforts needed to
seemed more urgent than ever, especially for Black voters, young
be big. MKB NAACP felt they couldn’t do it alone, so they didn’t.
voters and other groups historically underrepresented at the polls
Instead, they joined forces with Kalamazoo groups ISAAC and El
in Kalamazoo County. According to Wendy, misinformation, low
Concilio to create The Michigan Voter Coalition. Together, they
literacy, lack of transportation and a deep erosion of trust in
pioneered an innovative approach to voter mobilization and
democratic systems were all keeping far too many people from
spread efforts and grant funding equally among their teams to
casting their ballots.
make it all happen.
What we found engaging in conversation was that a lot of
There was flexibility and grace and trust given through the
people didn’t think their voice mattered, and a lot of people
grant process. When we asked if we could request funding
were fearful.”
as a coalition with other partners, there was no hesitation
- Wendy Fields | President, MKB NAACP
even though it seemed like kind of a new concept.” - Wendy Fields | President, MKB NAACP
13
Featured Funding Story
Creating Impact & Momentum
didn’t know how early voting worked or that they didn’t have to go
KZCF’s flexible funding was transformative. The grant fueled a multifaceted strategy which included: bilingual voter education
to their regular polling site to vote. Just taking the time to have that conversation was all it took.”
events, digital billboard campaigns, multiple aerial advertisements
The result? A successful campaign that not only increased
(an epic first for all three groups), voter registration parties, door-
voter turnout but also rebuilt trust in the electoral process and
to-door canvassing, and partnerships with the County Clerk’s
engaged multiple generations of voters across diverse Kalamazoo
office, local churches and schools. Wendy and her partners
communities. Wendy told us that their events were more than
were able to hire paid canvassers (many young and first-timers),
information tables and handouts. She saw daughters encouraging
provide transportation to polling sites, create innovative outreach
mothers to vote for the first time and families showing up
materials in multiple languages and host engaging community
together. “We had DJs at different locations, and people were
events on a scale they’d never achieved.
dancing and eating and making sure they were bringing people
Particularly powerful moments included connecting with youth and adults where canvassers transformed potential
along. It was a beautiful display of people coming together,” Wendy said.
disengagement into active civic participation. Wendy admitted
When it comes to the work ahead, Wendy says she’s inspired
that starting conversations was difficult sometimes. People were
by what they achieved in 2024 and everything that came out
guarded, even claiming that they didn’t believe in voting, but if she
of it, but she knows there’s more to do. The MKB NAACP is
was patient and kept talking and listening, magic would happen.
continuing to push voter registration boards and staying tapped
“Sometimes it turned out that a person had a felony on their record, and they thought it meant they couldn’t vote. Sometimes they struggled with reading and were incredibly anxious about the voting experience or needing help to make sure they filled bubbles the way they meant to.” Wendy said that educating folks around the nine days of voting, alternate early voting locations and assistance available at the polls was critical. “A lot of people
into emerging shifts in voting rights and processes to remain a knowledge source for Kalamazoo County. The coalition is already preparing materials and planning for the next election season, and Wendy has set a goal to focus more on teen, soon-to-be voters who deserve to enter into civic engagement with strength and confidence. “It was just really a good venture, and I would have to say that we not only met our goals, we surpassed them,” Wendy said. 53M
53M
Actual Impressions Achieved
1,023,949 Doors Knocked
209,142
Actual People Who Committed to Voting
$1.9M
Dollars Moved
14
Featured Funding Story
Fully Funded Dreams: A Student’s Scholarship Journey Recently we had the honor to speak with Chris Cummins, a fresh graduate at Spring Arbor University whose educational path was almost entirely funded thanks to the power of scholarships — including the Wade & Clio Van Valkenburg Scholarship and Earl Haas Scholarship awarded through Kalamazoo Community Foundation in 2023 as well as the Clarence L. Remynse Scholarship in 2024. Chris’s story reminds us what’s possible when a community believes in education and builds infrastructure to help students succeed.
Barriers Before Breakthroughs
Hope, Determination & a Community of Support
Chris Cummins’ educational journey has been one filled with
That’s when Chris discovered the all-in-one scholarship
challenges. From overcoming addiction, a battle that started far
application that Kalamazoo Community Foundation developed to
too young, to navigating the effects of time spent in jail, Chris
guide students to 60+ different funds, many in specialized areas
tapped into a steely perseverance and desire to help others in
that can offer unique incentives to people in situations like Chris.
similar situations, leading him to launch a career in social work.
He was pleasantly surprised to receive financial awards such as
I picked social work specifically because of my long history
the Wade and Clio Van Valkenberg Scholarship, which is named
of substance abuse. I was very appreciative of the people that were there for me when I got clean.” - Chris Cummins | Mulit-scholarship Recipient
for a former Kalamazoo circuit court judge, the Honorable Wade Van Valkenberg, and helps students with past legal issues. In the same year, Chris qualified for the Earl Haas Scholarship, which was established by the estate of Earl Haas to honor his legacy
“I didn’t have any money at all. So I was required to take out student
and is awarded to Kalamazoo County high school graduates,
loans. I started seeing my debt go up … the interest on student
GED recipients and alternative school graduates like Chris. The
loans is ridiculous. I was honestly thinking about dropping out,”
following year, he applied again and got the Clarence L. Remynse
Cummins said.
Scholarship, established by a local resident and business owner and designed to help students attain a bachelor’s degree.
15
Featured Funding Story
Being given money for college from local families with a desire to see other residents succeed made a difference that was more than monetary. “That really hit home. Not many people have believed in me because of the way I chose to live my life for such a long time. It is nice to know there are people in our community that are supportive and understanding of how people move through life differently,” Cummins said.
Future in Motion Chris is nearly done with an accelerated bachelor’s degree program at Spring Arbor University and has his eyes on a master’s. Spared from much of the strain of crippling college debt, he has been able to find fulfilling employment, rebuild his credit, buy a house and forge new relationships. In just a few short years, his life has turned around considerably and he is excited to pass the goodwill on to others thanks to a deepened perspective that aids his chosen vocation. Sometimes you just need to be treated like a human being, to know you’re worth something, that you still have value.” - Chris Cummins | Multi-scholarship Recipient
$11,993
Total Value of Chris’ Scholarships
100%
Tuition Covered by KZCF Scholarships After Financial Aid Was Applied
3
Scholarships Chris Received 16
By the Numbers
$24,071,031.78 Grant Dollars Given* *Across all grant types
314 Grants Awarded
to Local Agencies
587 Scholarships Awarded to Area Students
$2,212,440 Scholarship Dollars Given to Advance Education
17
40
Community Events Sponsored Countywide
Love Where You Live Fund
Join Us in Building a Stronger, More Equitable Kalamazoo County
One Piece at a Time
At KZCF, we believe in the power of collective impact to bring bold ideas to life and respond to real-time needs. Whether you’re passionate about education, housing, health, the environment, the arts or you care most about meeting the greatest needs as they arise, when you support a Love Where You Live fund, you become part of something bigger.
ppppppppp
Give today
Give Tomorrow
Give together
Make an Impact Today
Create a Legacy That Lasts
Be Part of a Collective Force for Good!
Your gift today supports nonprofit
When you include a Love Where You
Our Love Where You Live funds
organizations and programs that
Live fund in your estate or planned
are powered by people like you –
are addressing Kalamazoo County’s
giving, you help ensure Kalamazoo
neighbors pooling their resources to
greatest needs right now.
County can respond to evolving
build a better future for all!
community needs for generations to come.
Ready to Give? Call Jenna Today! To learn more about the Love Where You Live funds and
Call 269.585.7271
become an enduring supporter, contact Jenna Maxwell
via phone or email.
jmaxwell@kzcf.org 18
Kalamazoo County Funded Partners
AACORN
Comstock Public Schools
Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation
Action Matters
Confident S.O.L.E.
Gull Lake United Methodist Church
African Community Kalamazoo
Congregation of Moses
Hackett Catholic Prep
Air Zoo
Council on Foundations, Inc.
Haven House
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
Counterpunch Academy
Haven Reformed Church
Alternatives of Kalamazoo Crisis Pregnancy Center
Crescendo Academy of Music
Healthy House
Day Bible Church
Helen L. Fox Gospel Music Center
Diocese of Kalamazoo
Helping Other People Exceed (HOPE) thru Navigation
Alzheimers Association American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan Animal Rescue Project Animal’s Best Friend Fund, Inc. Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo ASK Family Services Association of Fundraising Professionals- W MI Chapter B U Foundation
Disability Network Southwest Michigan Douglass Community Association Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation Drive for Life East Main Church of Christ Eastside Neighborhood Association Eastside Youth Strong
Bangtown Studio On The Go
Eastwood Little League, Inc.
Barn Theatre School for Advanced Theatre Training
Ecumenical Senior Center Edison Chapel
Bent Not Broken
Edison Neighborhood Association, Inc.
Bethany Reformed Church
El Concilio
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan
ERAC/CE
Bike Friendly Kalamazoo
Face Off Theatre Company
Black Arts & Cultural Center
Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan
Black Wall Street Kalamazoo
Family & Children Services
Borgess Foundation
Family Division, 9th Circuit Court
Boy Scouts of America - Michigan Crossroads Council
Family Health Center
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo Bread & Roses Alternative Child Care Center Bronco Campus Ministries Bronson Health Foundation Brookside Care Foundation Inc. Building Blocks of Kalamazoo Can-Do Kalamazoo Care Collective of Southwest Michigan Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo Centrica Care Navigators Challenger Little League District 2 Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center Chinese American Association of Greater Kalamazoo Christian Life Center Christian Neighbors City of Kalamazoo - Community Planning & Development
Farmers Alley Theatre Fire Historical & Cultural Arts Collaborative First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo First Day Shoe Fund First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo First Presbyterian Church of Richland First United Methodist Church Fontana Chamber Arts Friends of the Kalamazoo River Valley Trailway Friends of the Portage Senior Center Friends of Vicksburg Youth Inc Friends with Disabilities Friendship Village Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation Galilee Baptist Church Gathering Harvest Food Pantry Genevieve & Donald S. Gilmore Foundation
City of Kalamazoo - Parks & Recreation
Gilmore International Piano Festival
City of Portage
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
Climax-Scotts Community Schools
Girls Build Kalamazoo
Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo
Girls on the Run of Greater Kalamazoo
Community Advocates for Parents & Students
Glass Art Kalamazoo
Community AIDS Resource & Education Services
Goodwill Industries of SW Michigan
Community Healing Centers
Gottagetit
Community Homeworks
Greatness Unleashed
Community Living Options, Inc.
Gryphon Place
Community Outreach Prevention & Education Network
Guardian Finance & Advocacy Services Gull Lake Community Schools
Heritage Community of Kalamazoo Heritage Community of Kalamazoo Foundation Holy Cross Services Hospital Hospitality House of S.W. MI, Inc. Housing Resources, Inc. Immigration Law & Justice Michigan Inner City Youth For Change Institute of Public Scholarship Integrated Services of Kalamazoo Interfaith Homes of Kalamazoo International Campus Ministry ISAAC Jewish Federation of Kalamazoo & Southwest Michigan Junior League of Kalamazoo, Inc. Kairos Dwelling Kalamazoo Abraham Lincoln Institute Kalamazoo Animal Rescue Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center Kalamazoo Area Parkinson’s Support Group Kalamazoo Bee Club Kalamazoo Book Arts Center Kalamazoo Central High School Kalamazoo Chinese Academy Kalamazoo Choral Arts Kalamazoo Christian School Association Kalamazoo Christian School Foundation Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo Concert Band Kalamazoo Country Day School Kalamazoo County Defender Kalamazoo County Government Kalamazoo County Public Housing Commission Kalamazoo County Ready 4s Kalamazoo Cultural Center Kalamazoo Deacons Conference Kalamazoo Drop-In Child Care Center Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center Kalamazoo Friends of Recreation Kalamazoo Gospel Mission Kalamazoo Housing Advocates Kalamazoo Humane Society Kalamazoo In Bloom Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Kalamazoo Junior Academy Kalamazoo Junior Girls Organization
Kalamazoo County Funded Partners
Kalamazoo Junior Golf Association
Open Doors Kalamazoo
The South County News
Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra
Open Roads Bike Program
Kalamazoo Justice Hub
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Tides Center for Michigan Transformation Collective
Kalamazoo Literacy Council
OutFront Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes
Parchment Schools Foundation
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Parents for Transition
Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
Park Club Historic Foundation
Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition
Parks Foundation of Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo Poetry Festival
Planned Parenthood of Michigan
Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital
Playworks Education Energized
Kalamazoo Public Library
Portage Central High School
Kalamazoo Public Schools
Portage Community Center
Kalamazoo Refugee Resource Collaborative Inc.
Portage District Library
Kalamazoo Regional Catholic Schools Foundation
Portage Education Foundation
Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency
Portage Lake Center PTO
Vicksburg Community Schools
Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency Foundation
Portage Northern Baseball Boosters
Vicksburg Community Schools Foundation
Kalamazoo Rotary Club Charities Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation Kalamazoo Valley Gleaners Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity Kalamazoo Youth Development Network Kazoo School Kids Moving & Thriving King-Westwood PTO King-Westwood Elementary School Kzoo Cat Rescue Latitude Recovery Services Leader Dogs for the Blind League of Women Voters of Kalamazoo Lending Hands of Michigan, Inc. Lifecycles Bike 4 Life Local Initiatives Support Corporation Local Journalism Foundation Inc. Men of Purpose Incorporated Merze Tate Explorers
Portage Northern High School Portage Parks Foundation Portage Public Schools
Tillers International, Inc. Township of Alamo Tree of Life School Twelve Baskets Food Pantry Unitarian Universalist Community Church of SWMI United Campus Ministry United for the Unsheltered of Kalamazoo United Way of South Central Michigan Unity of Kalamazoo Urban Alliance Urban Apostolic Network
Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center Vicksburg District Library
Portage Rotary Club Charities
Vicksburg Historical Society, Inc.
Portage United Church of Christ
Village of Vicksburg
Premier Athletics for Youth Development Pretty Lake Camp Prevention Works, Inc.
Vine Neighborhood Association Warm Kids Project, Inc
Progressive Deliverance Ministries
Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers
Public Media Network
West Michigan Cancer Center
Queer Theatre Kalamazoo Reach Sober Living Read & Write Kalamazoo Red Arrow Riders Residential Opportunities, Inc. Richland Area Community Center
West Portage Little League Western Michigan University Western Michigan University - Department of Theatre Western Michigan University Archives & Regional
Richland Community Library
History
Rootead Enrichment Center
Western Michigan University Foundation
Shepherd’s Center of Greater Kalamazoo
Westwood United Methodist Church
Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center SLD Read
WGVU/WGVK
Smile Savers
WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Society for History & Racial Equity (SHARE)
WMUK-FM
Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of SWMI
YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
South County Community Services
Young Kings & Queens Inc
Milestone Senior Services
Southwest Michigan First Corp.
Youth for Christ
MILO Coding Academy
Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
Milwood Little League
Sparrow & Nest Designs
YWCA of Kalamazoo
Ministry with Community
SPCA of Southwest Michigan
Mothers of Hope
Speak It Forward, Inc.
MRC Industries, Inc.
St. Ambrose Church
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
St. Luke’s - Partners in Housing Transition
MTS Ministries, Inc.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
New Vic Theatricals, Inc.
St. Thomas More Parish
New Year’s Fest of Kalamazoo, Inc.
Stulberg International String Competition
Northside Assoc. for Educational Advancement
Sunnyside United Methodist Church
Northside Association for Community Development
Texas Township Friends of Parks & Trails
Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch NAACP Michigan AfterSchool Association
Northside Ministerial Alliance
Zion Lutheran Church
The Arc Community Advocates The Salvation Army Kalamazoo
20
Financial Report
Combined Financial Statements Balance Sheet as of December 31
2024
2023
Assets
Cash & Investments
691,785,485
633,564,576
Interest in Charitable Trusts
13,011,916
12,224,449
Property, Equipment, and Other Assets
5,474,823
4,854,247
Pledged Contributions
1,201,116
1,266,255
711,473,340
651,909,527
Funds Held as Agency Endowments
39,003,165
34,664,268
Payables and Other Liabilities
2,686,784
4,121,009
Total Liabilities
41,689,949
38,785,277
Without Donor Restrictions
48,716,382
42,553,184
With Donor Restrictions
621,067,009
570,571,066
Total Net Assets
669,783,391
613,124,250
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
711,473,340
651,909,527
2024
2023
Gifts and Public Support
19,001,404
17,542,001
Gain (Loss) from Investment
52,242,818
67,740,482
Dividends and Interest
17,202,499
14,417,340
Other Income (Loss)
1,589,981
1,566,677
Total Support Gains (Loss)
90,036,702
101,266,500
Grants
23,927,470
23,702,026
Fundraising and Administrative Expenses
7,666,247
5,580,261
Program Expenses
1,783,844
2,423,971
Total Expenses
33,377,561
31,706,258
Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets
56,659,141
69,560,242
Net Assets, Beginning of the Year
613,124,250
543,564,008
Net Assets, End of the Year
669,783,391
613,124,250
Total Assets
Liabilities & Net Assets
Liabilities
Net Assets
Statement of Activities
Revenue
Expenses
21
Investment Performance Snapshot
A Message from Our Team: Reflecting on 2024 In 2024, KZCF experienced a second consecutive
In 2025, we’re focusing on continued growth in our
year of growth, impact and financial sustainability. Our
assets and, ultimately, our impact. We’re committed to
investment portfolios yielded double-digit growth,
maintaining a disciplined and intentional approach to
resulting in a 9.2% increase in our net assets, which will
investing and building a strong financial backbone for
contribute to long-term stability and increased future
KZCF’s work in the community. Our team is evaluating
giving. At the same time, we granted over $23 million
our fees, policies and investment strategy to ensure
to nonprofits and individual students in Kalamazoo, a
KZCF funds remain healthy and contribute to our vision
slight increase over the prior year. We also made key
of an equitable and thriving Kalamazoo County.
operational investments to prepare KZCF for the future.
Joshua Sledge Chief Finance & Investment Officer
Investment Performance*
Moderate Growth
Income & Growth
Socially Responsible Investment
Q4
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
7 Years
10 Years
Actual
-1.7
11.4
4.1
7.9
7.4
7.5
Benchmark
-2.2
10.6
2.5
6.8
6.7
7.1
Actual
-0.3
12.6
3.5
7.5
7.6
7.4
Benchmark
-0.3
12.7
3.3
7.2
7.5
7.4
Actual
-0.5
13.4
3.0
7.7
n/a
n/a
Benchmark
-0.8
14.0
4.4
8.1
n/a
n/a
Benchmark Compositions *Investment data as of 2024 Moderate Growth Benchmark is a staged Index composite benchmark that has the current composition of the Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (15 percent); Barclays US Treasury 5-10 Yr TR USD (10 percent); DJ US Select REIT Index (2.5 percent); MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index (10 percent); MSCI Emerging Markets Value Index (10 percent); Russell 1000 Value Index (5 percent); Russell 2000 Value Index (10 percent); Russell Micro Cap Index (5 percent); S&P 500 Index (30 percent); and the NCREIF Fund Index ODCE (2.5 percent). Income & Growth Benchmark consists of the S&P 500 Index (50 percent) and the Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (50 percent). SRI Benchmark is 70 percent equity benchmark and 30 percent fixed income benchmark. The equity benchmark is 75 percent Standard & Poor’s 1500 Index, 15 percent MSCI EAFE Index, and 10 percent MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The fixed income benchmark is the Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Government/Credit Index.
22
402 E Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3888 269.381.4416 | kzcf.org