20 Stories For 2020

Welcome to 20 Stories for 2020, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation's first-ever Annual Report podcast! This podcast includes audio versions of all the stories from our 2020 Annual Report. Each story is about a 2-4 minute listen, so you can enjoy our annual report on the go! Before we get started, big thanks to everyone who makes our work possible -- we couldn't do this without you. Now, let's jump into 20 Stories for 2020! Enjoy!

Numbers tell an important story. KZCF's Vice President of Finance, Susan Springgate, gives us the key takeaways from our 2020 Financial Statement. 

The KZCF leadership team shares their thoughts the COVID-19 crisis, how KZCF responded, and where they hope to see our community in the future.

2020 was not an endless highlight reel for KZCF. Here's what we learned about building teams virtually.

2020 was not an endless highlight reel for KZCF. Here's what we learned about making statements in 2020.

TRHT is working with local community organizations to get Black and Brown residents access culturally relevant mental health care.

Listen to how TRutH Talks helped our community process the extraordinary events of 2020.

Listen to how the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Kalamazoo team made virtual adaptations to healing work during the pandemic.

In 2020, Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Kalamazoo launched its first Affinity Group Series.

In 2020, KZCF began reimagining how resources are distributed to ensure communities that have historically been excluded can live in a community that repairs these harms. Increasing our spending policy is one powerful step KZCF made toward that change.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation staff led some important conversations at the Council of Michigan Foundations annual conference last fall.

After more than 20 years of equity work, KZCF created the first dedicated position to advance Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Anti-Racism standards and practices within the foundation.

Learn more about how one library assistant's legacy is opening doors for aspiring librarians of color. Make a gift to the Amanda Green Scholarship Fund.

From France to El Salvador, listen to the story of how one donor's emigration story led her to establish a scholarship to support other immigrant students.

Naming is powerful. Learn how former professional football player and philanthropist Duane Young honored his parents' legacy through his scholarship fund.

Hear how community partnership with KZCF led to an unprecedented grantmaking from our Donor Advised Funds.

Creative and collective ways folks raised money for the Community Urgent Relief Fund in the early days of the pandemic.

Learn how the KZCF & TRHT team response to gun violence, an on-going issue in our community. Watch the TRutH Talks on gun violence in Kalamazoo.

Learn how joining the Kalamazoo County Response Consortium helped KZCF best meet nonprofit partner needs as the pandemic unfolded.

Listen to how the KZCF Community Investment team made real-time changes to its grantmaking process to support nonprofit partners during the COVID-19 crisis.

March 2020 marked the second time KZCF and the United Way jointly activated crisis funds. Learn more which urgent relief needs were prioritized and the impact of KZCF's Community Urgent Relief Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic. To read or listen to other stories from our 2020 Annual Report, visit kalfound.org.