Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Love Where You Live
Since 1925 the Kalamazoo Community Foundation has supported hundreds of organizations and
thousands of people from communities throughout Kalamazoo County. But our community still has
needs. We believe, by working together, we can make Kalamazoo County a community where every
person can reach full potential. A community where we all love to live.
OUR WORK
We envision a community where every person can reach full potential. A community where we all love
to live.
We offer a variety of ways for you to help us make that vision a reality. You can choose to give to an
existing fund or establish a fund of your own; you can do either during your lifetime or through your
estate plan.
Gifts given to the Community Foundation become part of a permanent endowment, which means
they’ll benefit Kalamazoo County forever. We invest your gifts so they grow and maximize the
resources available to address community needs now and in the future.
We support Kalamazoo County nonprofits addressing immediate community needs, as well as those
collaborating with others to create long-term, transformative change. We have a unique team
approach to grantmaking. It enables us to leverage the collective knowledge and experience of our
team to make our community investments as effective as possible. Every grantseeker enters the
process on equal footing — regardless of their history (or lack of history) with us.
Leading through collaboration and partnerships makes it possible for us to achieve more than if we
work in isolation.
YOUR GIVING
Every day you make choices about how you use your money. We are here to help you think about the
choices you make related to your charitable giving and take it to the next level — to make your
philanthropy personal, meaningful and fulfilling.
No matter how much you give, your personal giving strategy will be most meaningful when it aligns
with your values, experiences, interests and desire to make Kalamazoo County a community where
every person can reach full potential.
Give Now
You can support our community now with an outright gift of:

Cash

Securities (stock, bonds and most mutual funds)

Real estate

Life insurance
Give Later
You can give through your estate plan by designating us as the beneficiary of:

A bequest
Your retirement plan
A life insurance policy
Giving through your estate plan enables you to maintain control of your assets during your lifetime,
support our community and possibly give more than you ever thought you could.
MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT
You can maximize the impact your giving makes on our community by giving an unrestricted gift. This
kind of gift ensures there are resources on hand to address immediate community needs and support
efforts to create long-term, transformative change. These gifts also ensure there will be resources to
address future needs we can’t even imagine today.
Establish an Unrestricted Fund
When you establish an Unrestricted Fund, you set no restrictions on the use of your gift. This empowers
and enables us to do what we do best: leverage our knowledge and expertise to ensure the Community
Foundation’s resources make the greatest impact possible.
Give to a Love Where You Live Fund
As an alternative to creating an Unrestricted Fund of your own, you can give to one or more of our Love
Where You Live Funds. The Love Where You Live Fund addresses the community’s greatest needs. If
you’re interested in specific areas of need, our focused Love Where You Live Funds are right for you.

Love Where You Live Fund (greatest needs)

Economic and Community Development Fund

Education and Learning Fund

Environment Fund

Health Fund

Housing Fund

Individuals and Families Fund

Youth Development Fund

Partners in Education Scholarship Fund
MORE OPTIONS
The Community Foundation has hundreds of funds established by individuals, families, businesses and
organizations. Some have very specific purposes. Others are used to support broader fields of interest.
You can give to any of these funds or establish a new one. Whichever option you choose, your gift will
help make Kalamazoo County a community where every person can reach full potential — a community
where we all love to live.
Fund Types

Advised Fund When you establish an Advised Fund, you choose which community needs the
fund supports. These funds are convenient and flexible because you don’t have to choose one
area of focus.

Designated Fund Designated Funds are established for the benefit of the nonprofit,
educational or religious organization of your choice. These funds provide support now and
enhance the resources available to the nonprofit in the future.

Field-of-Interest Fund When you establish a Field-of-Interest Fund, you focus your giving on
the community need you care about most. Your gift remains flexible to address needs in your
interest area, even as they change over time.

Scholarship Fund Scholarship Funds can support undergraduate and graduate education,
professional development and other educational opportunities. Our Scholarship team will help
you determine the criteria students must meet to receive the scholarship you establish.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Here’s what you can expect from us when you make a gift.

Stability We have been helping our donors show their love for our community since 1925 and
we will continue to do so forever.

Knowledge We have an unparalleled base of knowledge built through nearly a century of
community involvement. We use this knowledge to ensure your gift is used the way you want it
to be used, and that the issues, causes and community you care about are supported.

Leadership We lead through collaboration and partnerships. This enables us to better leverage
resources and achieve more than if we work in isolation.

Impact We give grants to Kalamazoo County nonprofits addressing immediate community
needs, as well as those collaborating with others to create long-term, transformative change.
Whether you have a crystal clear concept of what you hope to accomplish with your gift, or only an idea
that is just beginning to take shape, we can help. It only takes a simple phone call or email to set up a
time to talk with a member of our Donor Relations team. We are happy to welcome you to our office in
downtown Kalamazoo or meet you somewhere that is convenient and comfortable for you.
To get in touch with our Donor Relations team, you can:

Call 269.381.4416

Email [email protected]

Visit www.kalfound.org/ourteam
Our Mission
To make life better for all through leadership and stewardship of resources that last forever.
Our Vision
A community where every person can reach full potential.
Our Core Values

Excellence

Integrity

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Kalamazoo Community Foundation
402 East Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3888
269.381.4416
www.kalfound.org
Love Where You Live