About the
Kalamazoo Community Foundation

In 1925, with a gift of $1,000 in his hand and a vision of a better community in his heart, Dr. W. E. Upjohn helped to establish the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. From that first seed, the Community Foundation’s assets have grown to approximately $289 million, enabling it to help people achieve their philanthropic goals, and to play a key role in addressing community needs––now and in the future. 

Founded on the simple idea that it is our responsibility to look after one another, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation is nurtured and sustained by the people of the greater Kalamazoo area. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations have established 778 charitable funds at the Community Foundation.

Over the years, the Community Foundation has provided essential funding to programs that encourage individuals and families to succeed, engage residents and youths in community activities, enrich education and learning, and foster economic and community growth. In 2006 alone, the Community Foundation awarded more than $15.8 million in grants to nonprofit organizations. The Community Foundation’s imprint on the community is both broad and deep. It is nearly impossible to walk or drive but a few blocks without coming across a building, program or person that has been touched by its philanthropy.

The Kalamazoo Community Foundation has an in-depth understanding of the community’s challenges and the groups and individuals addressing them, and is dedicated to preserving what we've come to appreciate most in our community for future generations.

We are here to do good work...forever.