Program areas at Council of Michigan Foundations
As a membership association of Foundations, cmf provides resources to members through its website, seminars, leadership and publications. Cmf is actively involved in advocacy on behalf of Michigan philanthropy regarding legislative & regulatory issues that affect charitable giving & the nonprofit sector.
Launched in 2016 by the w.k. Kellogg foundation, truth, racial healing & transformation (trht) is a comprehensive, national and community-based process to plan for and bring about transformational and sustainable change, and to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism. It seeks to unearth and jettison the deeply held, and often unconscious, beliefs created by racism, the main one being the belief in a hierarchy of human value. Led by cmf, the project in Michigan focuses on the communities of flint, lansing, kalamazoo and battle creek.
Cmf, in partnership with several members, has developed a two-year fellowship program to introduce recent diverse college graduates to the field of philanthropy, with the long term goal of increasing the diversity of foundation staff. Under this program, fellows work approximately four days per week with member Foundations and one day per week with cmf.
Cmf has an office in lansing that works directly with the governor of Michigan. The office of foundation liaison was established in 2003 to manage strategic partnerships between Michigan philanthropy and state government to improve the lives of Michigan citizens. Funded by Foundations, the office of three staff is located in lansing with direct access to the governor and administration.