2025 Annual Report
A Message from the
Board Chair & the CEO
This year, our country will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It is a celebration of democracy and the values we hold as a nation, including the notion that every American has pathways to actively participate in civil society through giving and community engagement.
As we approach this milestone, we will need to reconcile with the reality that the early promises of our nation did not deliver equal liberties and justice for all. Long after the Declaration of Independence signing, essential rights have been denied for people of color and women, for rural communities and people with disabilities, for same-sex couples and those of other shared identities.
This history is part of how we can more fully understand our nation’s narrative and our society today. This complexity is also part of our sector’s history. The legacy of our field is not a perfect one, but for generations, there have been bold leaders using their resources – Time, Talent, Treasure, Ties and Testimony – to be changemakers for good.
Philanthropy has positively impacted life in America, helping to advance civil rights alongside courageous community leaders, improving access to quality health care and education, creating opportunities through workforce development, supporting vibrant communities through arts and culture and public green spaces, and so much more.
That is a history to celebrate and a legacy that continues today across the country, and certainly here in Michigan.
As staff, trustees, donors, advisors and partners, you are addressing inequities and unjust systems and helping to create better paths forward in support of your neighbors. You see people who have been left out and left behind for too long and are creating platforms for their voices to be heard. You are listening and learning and then leaning in to help make community solutions possible.
"We see your bold leadership, manifested in so many unique ways, as diverse as the missions you support and the people who make Michigan such a special place to call home."
In this Annual Report, you will find stories of Michigan philanthropy in action that can inform and inspire us all to take the next bold steps to strengthen communities and live into our nation’s aspirations toward a more perfect union.
We are convening to walk alongside you, creating new spaces for you to problem-solve and collaborate with colleagues throughout Michigan. We are convening rapid-response conversations, hosting policy briefings, facilitating opportunities for collective advocacy action, sharing resources to support equitable grantmaking practices and governance, and more. We will continue to be responsive to your needs, provide trusted and effective resources to help you and your organization meet the moment today, and build your capacity for the future.
CMF will also continue to be a champion for the field and engage our members as a united community, equipped to protect philanthropy’s role in civil society and help ensure all people have the right to free speech, to safety, and to donate and invest in values-aligned causes, now and for the next 250 years, to truly be a nation for liberty and justice for all.
Thank you for leading boldly,
Beth Ardisana
CMF Board Chair
Trustee
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Kyle Caldwell
President & CEO
CMF