The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.
This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.
Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.
Since 1992, we've received more than $133 million in gifts from generous community members like you and awarded over $80 million in grants and scholarships.
We believe our best work happens as individuals, as an organization, and as a community when we are creative, innovative, and continuously learning.
We listen to diverse voices, build collaborative partnerships, and foster a spirit of teamwork and interdependence.
We seek to ensure all people in our community have equitable access to opportunities for a healthy, thriving life and will ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in all facets of our work.
We cultivate a culture of generosity by celebrating giving of all kinds and by nurturing authentic relationships that are built on empathy, kindness, and trust.
We build trust and confidence through honesty, transparency, open communication, and fairness; and engage in best practices through National Standards certification.
We are responsible stewards of the human, financial, and natural resources entrusted to our care and committed to those resources contributing to a sustainable society, environment, and economy.
Our Strategic Plan, created in partnership with our staff and Board of Directors, is guiding our work from 2026 to 2030. Our core pillars include stewardship and trust, organizational strength, and bold and caring leadership.
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation invests in the people and places of our region and stewards community assets for lasting impact. We are beholden to our community and envision a region of healthy, resilient, thriving communities for all—where everyone has access to quality healthcare, housing, food, arts and cultural experiences, and educational opportunities and where we care for our land, air, and water so that it can flourish for generations to come.
We believe diversity encompasses, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, economic circumstances, zip code, age, health and ability status (including physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, and chronic illness), neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, resident or immigration status, national origin, veteran status, and religion.
We understand that our neighbors across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the sovereign nation of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians—including disabled people, their care networks, and others impacted by chronic inequity—have different needs and that these needs can change over time. and tha
As a steward of community assets, we have a responsibility to share these resources in an equitable way across our region, including with communities and partners that have been historically marginalized and impacted by disinvestment.
We recognize that systemic racism, ableism, and other long-standing injustices are embedded in the histories of the United States, the state of Michigan, and our region, and we are working to acknowledge and address the impact that these systems of oppression continue to have on our communities.
We are doing so by continuing to listen, learn, and adapt in partnership with the people most impacted by injustice, including Black, Indigenous, disabled, LGBTQ+, and low-income communities, so that our work reflects their leadership, lived experience, and priorities.
We are also committed to ensuring accessibility in all our operations, including physical spaces, digital tools, communications, and grantmaking processes, so that everyone can fully participate in and benefit from our work.
We remain committed to using our leadership, resources, and voice to build toward a better future where all people across our region have equitable access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. This is how we can work together to support a region where every person feels connected, supported, and empowered and where our communities have resources and opportunities for everyone.
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation is committed to creating and maintaining a healthy, safe, and stigma-free work environment through out participation in the Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) initiative. RFW encourages environments where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by the disease of substance use disorder. In order to achieve a high level of employee health, safety, and productivity, The Community Foundation has completed series of trainings to be equipped to provide resources and support.
Employment
The Foundation follows an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, ethnicity, economic circumstances, zip code, age, health and ability status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, resident or immigration status, national origin, veteran status, or religion. This policy applies to hiring, internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, and terminations.
Grantmaking
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity (as defined in paragraph 249(c)(4) of title 18, United States Code), sexual orientation, marital or parental status, political affiliation, military service, physical or mental ability, or any other improper criterion be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds made available by the Foundation, and any other program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds appropriated for grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance administered by the Foundation.
Other
This policy applies throughout the organization and includes, but is not limited to donors, Board Directors, Youth Advisory Council members, other volunteers, and vendors and suppliers. This policy applies to all Foundation operations.
Policy established: August 18, 2022 | Modified: January 30, 2020 | Due for Review: 2025
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation is located on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabek, the Three Fires Confederacy—who are the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodawatomi—and all their relations. We acknowledge that this region has been home to the Anishinaabek, now known as the sovereign nation of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, since time immemorial.
We understand that the historic Treaties intended to reserve land for the local Anishinaabeg were not honored and that this land was unjustly taken from our Indigenous neighbors. The Community Foundation is committed to building deeper relationships with the Tribe and to supporting their priorities.