Council of Michigan Foundations

Last week, our CMF community of philanthropy gathered in Traverse City for compelling main stage events, courageous conversations, local immersive experiences, interactive workshops, philanthropy award celebrations, a robust learning lineup of breakout sessions, networking opportunities, arts and cultural experiences, live musical performances and more! Thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors and to all attendees for your engagement throughout CMF’s 52nd Annual Conference: Common Humanity, Common Ground, Uncommon Solutions. #MIphilanthropy

Honored to give the keynote today at the Council of Michigan Foundations annual conference! And to run into long-time friends in this work! ❤️ Shannon Polk, JD, DMin Dana Linnane Caroline Altman Smith and Michael Bailey Shaw ❤️ I’m so proud of us.

What a wonderful annual conference put on by the Council of Michigan Foundations! I had the opportunity to join the Blue and Green Network for a sailing adventure on Grand Traverse Bay, where I even got to hoist the sails on a Tall Ship. Representatives from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians shared important insights on the state of the Great Lakes. I also spent an evening with friends at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Alaina Jackson from Global Detroit (sis is dope), who shared a wealth of knowledge about the many reasons immigration is great for Michigan. Speakers James Vukelich Kaageggaabaw and Edgar Villanueva grounded us with Native wisdom, and I may have even squeezed in some time for dancing, trash talk, and learning more about tax law. The highlight for me was cheering on fellow Flintstone, Tryphena Clarke as she received the Emerging Practitioner in Philanthropy award. Huge kudos to Kyle Caldwell and his team at Council of Michigan Foundations for such an inspiring and engaging conference! #CMF2024 #Philanthropy #FlintProud

Members of the KZCF team were in Traverse City, MI earlier this week to attend the Council of Michigan Foundations' 52nd Annual Conference: Common Humanity, Common Ground, Uncommon Solutions. While there, they were able to engage in a variety of sessions and build and strengthen connections with peers who are working hard across our state to create more equitable communities. Joanna Dales Meredith Bradford Demetrias Wolverton Dr. Grace Lubwama Brianna Mulnix Andrew Grayson Alyssa Stewart Stanley Steppes

Was an amazing conference, well done Council of Michigan Foundations! Here is to 2025, in southwest Michigan, Kalmazoo. #forgoodforeverforall #bccf

I had an incredible experience at the Council of Michigan Foundations 52nd Annual Conference in Traverse City! Serving on the program committee was an honor, and I had the opportunity to host a few sessions that sparked meaningful conversations. One of the most memorable moments for me was introducing the final keynote, One Small Step: Connecting with Our Common Humanity, presented by StoryCorps. The keynote, delivered by Founder and President Dave I. and CEO Sandra Clark, MBA, was incredibly powerful. It reminded me of the transformative impact of genuine conversation and how finding common ground can truly bridge divides. The conference theme of finding common ground resonated deeply with me as we explored how philanthropy in Michigan can bridge divides across race, gender, socioeconomics, and more. It was truly inspiring to witness the collective commitment to building a more equitable future for all in Michigan. A big thank you to the CMF team and everyone who participated in making this event a success!

Very much appreciated the perspectives of Edgar Villanueva today at the Council of Michigan Foundations conference in Traverse City Michigan. Edgar wrote 'Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance'. #MIphilanthropy #traversecity #puremichigan #DecolonizingWealth Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

Today I was honored to receive wisdom from James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw in a keynote address and to learn about the wisdom and mysteries inherent in the Ojibwe language. I’m rushing to buy your new book to dig in deeper to the 7 Grandfather Teachings. Thank you to Council of Michigan Foundations for a brilliant and inspiring agenda this 52nd Annual Philanthropy Conference! My biggest AHH-HA!! moment from James and the conference today is to endeavor that my actions and my personal philanthropic direction be for the benefit of 7 generations from now. CMF you are shining a light on how to do that strategically and informed by research and sound policy. Kudos for a great conference! #Philanthropy #MIGives #MICares

We are excited to share that our Community Engagement Officer, Tryphena Clarke, has received the 2024 Emerging Leader in Philanthropy Award! Thank you, Council of Michigan Foundations, for recognizing her for her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and advocacy for social justice. Racial equity, diversity, and inclusion are inherently woven into Tryphena's work, and she is deeply committed to advancing this work in her hometown of Flint. Congratulations, Tryphena, and to all the 2024 Philanthropy Awards honorees! #MIphilanthropy

We kicked off the conference yesterday with engaging off-site immersive experiences, interactive workshops and networking opportunities throughout Traverse City! Conference attendees partcipated in a sailing adventure on Grand Traverse Bay, a bus tour around the region highlighting innovative partnerships that are addressing the housing challenge in rural communities, an evening at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and more! #MIphilanthropy Photo Credit: Tiberius Images