Kalamazoo Community Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The Kalamazoo Community Foundation supports equity and education in the Kalamazoo region of Michigan.

IP TAKE: This community foundation is all about equity, so make sure to focus any letter of inquiry about how a particular program or organization is working to make Kalamazoo a more equitable place. Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the year.

PROFILE: Established in 1925, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation is a community foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. W.E. and Carrie Upjohn initially established this foundation with a $1,000 gift and a vision for a better community. The foundation aims to "remove barriers through building relationships and connecting resources so people can reach full potential.” KCF funds local efforts for equity and education.

The Kalamazoo Community Foundation conducts all grantmaking through an equity lens, supporting organizations that work to break cycles of poverty, expand opportunities and improve access to resources. KCF invests in education, healthcare, social services, economic development and the arts. Given Kalamazoo County’s diversity, the foundation works to help disadvantaged and low-income communities improve quality of the life and economic opportunity. The foundation also has an LGBTQ Equality Fund, which works in the areas of health, human rights and social justice. Another fund, the Love Where You Live Environment Fund, supports environmental justice causes and addresses issues of clean water, air pollution, food systems, climate change, waste and lead.

Grants range between about $5,000 and $500,000. Grantmaking focuses exclusively on Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Past local grantees include Can-Do Kitchen, Disability Network Southwest Michigan, and Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Learn more about this funder’s local giving in the grants awarded section of the funder’s website.

This foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry from nonprofits at any time of the year. Requests of more than $25,000 should be submitted by the first of March or the end of August. KCF uses an online application system and makes recommendations when selected nonprofits should move forward with full grant proposals. Direct general questions to the staff at info@kalfound.org or 269-381-4416.

PEOPLE:

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