Community Foundation

What Community Foundation does

Capital Region Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity established in October 1987 in Lansing, Michigan, that serves as the philanthropic infrastructure for Michigan's capital region, spanning Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. The Foundation manages more than 560 funds totaling over $160 million in assets and has distributed more than $87 million in grants since 1990. It operates three core service lines: Donor Services (donor-advised funds, designated funds, field-of-interest funds, agency endowments, and legacy giving vehicles paired with professional advisor partnerships), Nonprofit Support (competitive grant programs including Impact Grants, Capacity Building Grants, Mini-Grants, Youth Grants, and the $100,000 Beacon of Hope Grant, plus scholarships), and Leadership Initiatives (Rotary Park, Play Michigan! universally accessible playground, Fish Ladder Music Park, the Local Impact Investing program, and LansingRiverfront.org). The Foundation generates revenue through administrative fees on managed funds and investment returns on its endowment portfolio, receiving $8.6 million in new gifts in 2021.

The Foundation employs approximately 12-13 staff led by President & CEO Laurie Strauss Kuerbitz and CFO & VP of Operations Kristin Rogers, supported by a VP of Community Investment, VP of Donor Services, and functional leads in communications, accounting, and riverfront operations. It is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees drawn from regional institutions including Michigan State University, Plante Moran, Foster Swift, Stifel, and PNC Bank. Its go-to-market combines direct donor engagement, professional advisor referrals, community events (the Underground of Good giving circle and Youth Advisory Council), and digital channels including social media, content marketing, and an online grant portal (GOapply). The Foundation is certified by the Michigan Community Foundation Coalition, confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, and rated by Charity Navigator.

Beyond traditional grantmaking, the Foundation has positioned itself as a civic leader in placemaking and community development, with three major riverfront capital projects completed between 2019 and 2025 and a fourth digital platform (LansingRiverfront.org) launched in 2026. It co-created the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) in 2006-2008 and operates the Local Impact Investing program that deploys capital alongside banks, credit unions, and CDFIs for housing and childcare projects. Distribution is regional and concentrated: nearly all beneficiaries, donors, and nonprofit partners are located within the tri-county service area, making the Foundation's model both place-specific and difficult to replicate elsewhere without comparable multi-decade community embeddedness.

Name

Community Foundation

Legal name

Capital Region Community Foundation

Website

https://ourcommunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Capital Region Community Foundation is a Lansing, Michigan-based 501(c)(3) community foundation managing over $160 million across 560+ funds, serving donors, nonprofits, and the tri-county region through grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and community placemaking initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Philanthropic Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Community Development & Affordable Housing Funds (FSANAJAK)

Keywords

• Community foundation
• Donor-advised funds
• Charitable grantmaking
• Endowment management
• Nonprofit philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Endowment Fund Management: The foundation manages over 560 funds totaling over $160 million in assets. Revenue is generated through administrative fees on managed funds and investment returns on endowments. Since 1990, they have distributed more than $87 million in grants.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation receives donations and charitable contributions from donors who establish various types of funds including donor-advised funds, designated funds, field-of-interest funds, and agency endowments to support community causes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Capital Region Community Foundation is a community foundation that manages over 560 charitable funds totaling more than $160 million in assets for individual donors, professional advisors, and nonprofits across Michigan's Capital Region (Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties). Its core offerings include donor-advised funds, competitive grant programs (Impact Grants, Capacity Building Grants, Mini-Grants, Youth Grants, and the Beacon of Hope Grant), scholarships, and signature community leadership initiatives such as placemaking projects on the Lansing riverfront and Local Impact Investing.

Product overview

The Capital Region Community Foundation offers a comprehensive suite of philanthropic services centered around donor services, grantmaking, and community leadership initiatives. The core offerings include Donor-Advised Funds for flexible charitable giving, competitive Grants Programs (Capacity Building, Mini-Grants, Youth Grants, Impact Grants, and the Beacon of Hope Grant), and Scholarships. The Foundation also operates distinctive programs like the Underground of Good giving circle and Youth Advisory Council. Its placemaking initiatives include Rotary Park, Play Michigan! universally accessible playground, and Fish Ladder Music Park. The Foundation provides a GOapply Grant Portal for online applications and Local Impact Investing for community development loans. The organization manages over 560 funds totaling over $160 million in assets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Underground of Good: A giving circle and movement of emerging philanthropists - young professionals who pool donations to make quarterly grants to local charities while investing in an endowment for long-term impact. Members contribute $500 annually.
• Youth Advisory Council (YAC)

Products and services

• Donor-Advised Funds Charitable giving vehicles that allow donors to contribute assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to favorite charities over time. Available to philanthropic individuals, corporations, and professional advisors managing client funds.
• Grants Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• $87 million+ in grants distributed since 1990
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and lead.

• City of LansingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on riverfront development projects including Rotary Park, Play Michigan! playground, and Fish Ladder Music Park. Mayor Schor and city staff collaborate on downtown Lansing riverfront initiatives.
• Rotary Club of Lansing FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner and contributor to Rotary Park riverfront development project.
• Wieland ConstructionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partner for Rotary Park development.
• Delta Dental of MichiganmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of plaza in Rotary Park and supporter of riverfront development.
• AF GroupleadStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead sponsor of Play Michigan! universally accessible playground.
• CASE Credit UnionleadStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead sponsor of Play Michigan! universally accessible playground.
• Sparrow Health SystemmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor sponsor of Play Michigan! playground.
• Mary Free BedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor sponsor of Play Michigan! playground.
• Michigan MedicinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor sponsor of Play Michigan! playground.
• PeckhammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor sponsor of Play Michigan! playground.
• Lansing Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on downtown riverfront safety initiatives.
• Local Banks and Credit UnionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners in Local Impact Investing program; help identify investment opportunities and participate in lending partnerships for housing and childcare projects.
• Council of Michigan FoundationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization providing peer network and resources for community foundations.
• Greater Lansing Estate Planning CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional network for estate planning professionals in the Greater Lansing area.
• Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partnership created in collaboration with community businesses, governmental units, and civic institutions.
• Lansing Regional Chamber of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber membership supporting regional business community engagement.
• Michigan Nonprofit AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide association membership supporting Michigan nonprofits.
• Community Development Financial InstitutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners in Local Impact Investing for housing and childcare investment opportunities.
• Old Town LansingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation of Fish Ladder Music Park in Old Town district, supporting local economy and cultural activity.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Council of Michigan Foundations: The statewide membership association of Michigan foundations, of which the Capital Region Community Foundation is a member. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler providing peer network, compliance resources, and advocacy relevant to the foundation's operations.

Direct peers

• Grand Rapids Community Foundation: A Michigan-based community foundation serving Kent County with a comparable mix of donor-advised funds, competitive grant cycles, and community leadership initiatives. Directly comparable as a regional public charity operating under the same National Standards framework.
• Flint Community Foundation: A Michigan community foundation managing donor-advised funds and competitive grants for nonprofits in Genesee County. Comparable as a state-based public charity with similar compliance and operational requirements.
• Kalamazoo Community Foundation: A Michigan community foundation with similar grantmaking, scholarship administration, and donor services for a multi-county region. Comparable in scale, mission, and operating model as a publicly supported community foundation.
• Michigan Gateway Community Foundation: A Michigan community foundation serving a multi-county region with donor services, grantmaking, and scholarship administration. Comparable as a similarly sized regional public charity operating in an adjacent Michigan geography.
• Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation: A Michigan community foundation serving Washtenaw County with donor-advised funds, competitive grants, and youth advisory council programming. Directly comparable in structure, services, and target donor base.
• Battle Creek Community Foundation: A regional Michigan community foundation offering donor-advised funds, grantmaking, and community leadership support in southwest Michigan. Operates a closely analogous model of donor services and nonprofit grants.

Broad incumbents

• Schwab Charitable: A major national donor-advised fund program with broad investment options that competes for philanthropic dollars the Capital Region Community Foundation would otherwise attract. Comparable in offering the DAF product that is the foundation's core donor service.
• The Chicago Community Trust: One of the largest community foundations in the U.S., serving the Chicago region with donor-advised funds, competitive grants, and major civic leadership projects. Comparable as a scaled community foundation offering overlapping products and serving as a benchmark for placemaking leadership.
• Fidelity Charitable: The largest national donor-advised fund sponsor in the U.S., offering a self-serve DAF platform that competes for the same donor dollars as community foundations. Comparable as an alternative vehicle for the foundation's primary donor-advised fund product.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@capitalregioncommunityfoun8776
• Facebookfacebook.com/communityfoundation517
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communityfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/communityfound_

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation