Our DEI Commitment
Our Diversity Equity Inclusion Statement
Photo: Mash-Up Rock & Roll Musical, one of our DEI Fund grant partners
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation exists to enhance the quality of life in our region for all people. We envision our region becoming a great place to live, work, and play—where we uplift community members as leaders; provide access to healthy food, quality healthcare, and attainable housing; care for our local environment; and have an active arts and culture scene that all community members can enjoy. Simply put, we envision thriving people in thriving places.
As a steward of local community assets, we are indebted to our community and have a responsibility to equitably and responsibly share these assets. We understand that our neighbors across our five-county region have different needs and that we must invest the resources entrusted to us in an equitable way across our entire region, including with communities and partners that have historically been marginalized and impacted by disinvestment.
We recognize the systemic racism and long-standing injustices in the history of the United States and Northwest Michigan and are working to acknowledge the impact of these systems on our communities. We are also working toward creating a future where all people have the ability to achieve what they want for their lives.
We know that to achieve inclusive, healthy, resilient, and thriving communities, all people in our region must have equitable access to the resources they need to reach their full potential. We are committed to using our leadership, resources, and voice to build toward a better future for the diverse people and places of our community.
This is how we can work together to truly enhance the quality of life in our region for all people.
What do we mean by diversity?
We believe diversity encompasses, but is not limited 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.
