News & Event
We've made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 Annual Luncheon, previously scheduled for Thursday, May 21. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve, and it's our responsibility to keep public health at the forefront of our decisions. Until we can gather together again, we'll be sharing digital updates on our work in the community.
For any additional questions about this event cancellation, please contact Jessica Lynch at jlynch@cfhz.org
REGISTER ONLINE NOW
Join us to hear from President/CEO Mike Goorhouse and Vice President of Community Impact Elizabeth Kidd. This event features highlights of our recent grant impact and other community improvement efforts happening in the local nonprofit sector.
Please RSVP by
May 9th!
This event has historically filled to capacity so please register ASAP to secure your spot.
You will hear from President/CEO, Mike Goorhouse, and Vice President of Community Impact, Elizabeth Kidd, with highlights of our recent grant impact.
Patrick Cisler, Executive Director of the Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance, will also join us to talk about our efforts to strengthen the local nonprofit sector.
Please RSVP by May 15!
Don't want to pay online with a credit card? You can also register by contacting Lina at rsvp@cfhz.org with names as you'd like them to appear on nametags, organization name if applicable, and any special dietary concerns you or your guests may have. You can then mail in a check, or you can pay over the phone with a credit card at 616-994-8854.
Please click here to watch our investment update!
The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area is the steward of more than $80 million in philanthropic assets. We are host to more than 650 philanthropic funds including our Community’s Endowment and donor service funds. During this time of financial uncertainty and deep crises, the stewardship of our community’s philanthropic capital entrusted to us is paramount. In a recent webinar, Jim Wiersma, chair of the CFHZ Investment Committee discussed CFHZ’s investment policy and governance process. CFHZ’s investment consultant, NEPC, provided a brief market update and detailed profile and performance update of our main investment portfolio which houses our Community’s Endowment assets and the majority of our donor service funds.
Our thanks to the following contributors:
James Wiersma President Family Investment and Resource Management LLC CFHZ Trustee and Chair of Investment Committee Catherine Konicki, CFA, CAIA Partner NEPC Michael Valchine, CAIA, CIPM Principal, Senior Consultant NEPC
Listen Here
Topics covered in this webinar included:
CFHZ was founded in 1951 because our founders believed there would always be challenges and opportunities in our community, and that it would be wise, and important, to build a permanent flexible endowment to ensure we had the resources to respond. It is thanks to our founders, and the trust of thousands of individuals, families and companies who have partnered with CFHZ and contributed to our Community’s Endowment over the past 70 years, that CFHZ had the infrastructure, leadership, resources, and relationships to respond swiftly and meaningfully to the challenges of 2020.
In our community update, we discussed what we are hearing from our nonprofit partners in the community, how local philanthropy found its niche to complement state and federal resources, and how funders, nonprofit and government agencies collaborated to develop strategy to achieve the greatest impact.
Dear Friends of the Foundation,
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to a great year ahead.
I write to you today filled with gratitude and excitement. Over the last few years, you have heard me talk extensively about how the Community Foundation’s work is divided into two parts: building our Community’s Endowment and providing Donor Services.
From 2015–2017, we prioritized the Community’s Endowment side of our work as we engaged in our Today. Tomorrow. Forever. Campaign for our Community’s Endowment. With the momentum of some very generous matching donations, we spent a significant amount of time and energy elevating the important role that our Community’s Endowment plays in the long-term vitality of the Holland/Zeeland area. You all responded in amazingly generous ways that grew our Community’s Endowment by $5 million “Today” and our pipeline of “Tomorrow” estate gift commitments by more than $30 million.
With the campaign wrapped up and with the new Federal income tax law changes taking effect, in 2018 we prioritized the Donor Service side of our work. We spent time with companies, families and professional advisors highlighting the various tools we have to make giving as efficient and effective as possible. We were astounded and humbled by the deep generosity of many in our community as we received close to $20 million in contributions to Donor Service funds here at CFHZ. These gifts ranged in size from $25 to $7 million, and combined with nearly $1 million in gifts to our Community’s Endowment, led to CFHZ’s 2018 contributions totaling close to $21 million. That is more than double our previous high of $9.7 million!
These resources will impact many individuals and nonprofits in the Holland/Zeeland area, and we are honored that many of you chose to partner with CFHZ to help you best achieve your charitable goals.
For me, this record year says two things: 1. Our community is deeply generous and is committed to making a difference in the lives of others and 2. The hard work of so many staff and board members over the last 65 years has made the Community Foundation a trusted partner for many local families and companies.
Nothing inspires me more than having witnessed and felt these two things in profound ways over the last few months. It is a privilege to serve this organization and work with you all!
Strategic Planning:
Community Impact:
Events:
Publications:
There was much more that happened during the year, but the above list aggregates some of the highlights from my perspective.
It was an inspiring year here at CFHZ and I want to thank each of you for all that you have done, and continue to do, to partner with the Community Foundation to ensure that the Holland/Zeeland area thrives Today, Tomorrow and Forever.
With deep gratitude,
Mike
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