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 have different needs and that these needs can change over time.
We are committed to using our leadership, resources, and voice to build toward a better future where every person in our region feels connected, supported, and empowered and where our communities have resources and opportunities for everyone.
Funding organizations and equity and inclusion efforts across the region through our Diversity Equity Inclusion grants.
Coordinating with our Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund Advisory Committee, a voluntary group of local community members with diverse lived experiences who come together to evaluate and make decisions about our diversity, equity, inclusion grant applications.
Growing our new Endowment for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to provide sustainable support to organizations advancing equity and inclusion across our region, now and forever.
Building relationships with diverse local communities, including with Tribal citizens of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and migrant community members through the Northwest Michigan Migrant Resource Council. These relationships allow us to foster trust and understanding and support funding priorities of historically marginalized communities.
Implementing internal improvements based on recent recommendations from our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Audit conducted by Morgain MacDonald and our Compensation and Performance Management Study conducted by Yeo & Yeo.
Continuing to align our organizational practices with the Disability Inclusion Pledge, which we signed in 2021. We were the first community foundation in Michigan to do so. We encourage other funders to join us in signing onto the pledge.
A love of Michigan’s lighthouses brought Kathy Tuckerman to the Grand Traverse region—but her passion for community is what inspired her to stay and give back. As an active volunteer, Community Foundation monthly donor, and legacy supporter, Kathy champions local causes that foster inclusiveness, protect natural spaces, and create opportunities for all.
For four decades, the Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association (GTDA) has helped students with dyslexia regain confidence and rediscover the joy of learning. Through individualized tutoring, strong family support, and vital community partnerships, GTDA transforms academic struggles into success stories—like Audra’s, whose journey from early reading challenges to college graduate shows the life‑changing impact of their work.
Damian Lockhart has dedicated his career—and his heart—to strengthening the region he calls home. From his work in finance to his leadership with the Community Foundation, Damian is committed to uplifting people of all backgrounds and helping build a more welcoming, thriving future for the five-county area he loves.