Grand Rapids Community Foundation hopes to spark innovation among local nonprofit organizations by encouraging them to engage the 50+ population in community volunteer efforts. This spring, organizations will have the opportunity to receive grants up to $5,000 by developing volunteer projects designed to tap into the skill set of experienced adults and recruiting Encore Teams.
The Encore initiative, led by Grand Rapids Community Foundation, focuses on inspiring individuals and organizations to establish “encore opportunities” – opportunities for people to use their passion and experience in their second half of life to better the community.
In partnership with the Volunteer Center at the Heart of West Michigan United Way and the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University, the Community Foundation has designed a new opportunity for organizations to find the best way to draw on the success of Encore Teams.
“We want to help link experienced adults with organizations that can use their ideas, expertise and enthusiasm to further their work,” said Kate Luckert Schmid, program director at Grand Rapids Community Foundation. “With this unique opportunity, we hope to inspire organizations to create innovative ways to engage experienced adults in projects that will make a difference in the community.”
Project proposals will be evaluated on their potential to help the organization meet its mission, their creative approach to engaging the 50+ population and their ability to meet the needs of Encore volunteers.
Ideas must be submitted online at www.grfoundation.org/onlinegrants no later than March 11, 2011. Organizations will be notified of grant awards by March 31, 2011 and projects are expected to begin in April 2011.
For more information, contact Kate Luckert Schmid, Program Director, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, 616.454.1751 x117 or kluckert@grfoundation.org.
About: Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Grand Rapids Community Foundation leads Kent County in making positive, sustainable change. With its endowment, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation supports local nonprofits, leads significant social change and helps donors achieve their philanthropic goals. For more information, please visit www.grfoundation.org.
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