Since its founding in 1925, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation has invested more than $240 million in essential funding to programs that encourage individuals and families to succeed, engage adults and youths in community activities, ensure that children are ready for school, and foster economic and community growth.
The Community Foundation seeks to be a responsive and proactive community partner that works strategically to address existing and emerging community issues in its community investment priority areas:
• Individuals and Families • Community Engagement and Youth Development • Early Childhood Learning and School Readiness • Economic and Community Development
One of the ways in which we address these areas of need is through grantmaking initiatives, which we believe are a tremendously effective way to address significant community challenges over the long-term. Current initiatives of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation include:
Community Experience Partnership An initiative dedicated to exploring and promoting the potential of the greater Kalamazoo area's older adults to enhance the quality of life for the entire community.
Education Reconnection An initiative designed to positively impact the high school graduation rate of Kalamazoo area youths and expose them to education opportunities beyond high school. Education Reconnection is a joint effort of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Greater Kalamazoo United Way and the Multipurpose Collaborative.
Youth Violence Prevention This initiative supports local nonprofits and schools in their efforts to reduce youth violence, teasing and bullying and create communities of acceptance, accountability and forgiveness.
Community Outreach Grants A grantmaking initiative that provides nonprofit organizations with smaller grants to address community priorities outside of the standard responsive grantmaking process.
