Beverly Grant, the interim executive director of the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University, was recently appointed a board member of the Community Service Commission for the state of Michigan by Gov. Rick Snyder. She will serve in this position for three years.

The Michigan Community Service Commission was founded in 1991. It utilizes service as a strategy to address the state’s most pressing issues and empowers volunteers to strengthen communities, according to its mission statement. The commission achieves that mission by securing and granting funds, selecting and training grantees, overseeing and monitoring results, developing and sharing resources, conducting research and evaluation, creating networks among volunteer organizations and serving as a bridge between the public and nonprofit sectors.

“This actually came about because someone in the community recommended me,” Grant said of her appointment to the board. “I went through a nominating process and had an interview with the governor, and then he was the one to appoint me.”

Grant said she wouldn’t know more on her job duties or responsibilities until she becomes an active member of the board. The commission’s first meeting with her on the board will be held in April.

At GVSU, Grant began as the associate director of the Johnson Center for Philanthropy in July of 2013 and became the interim executive director in September of 2014. The center has over 30 staff members and 15 student workers.

Grant and her staff members work in the community with foundations, organizations and the government.

“I help to lead the Johnson Center for Philanthropy and, as the interim executive, I’m the bridge until the national search for a full-time, permanent executive director is completed,” she said. “Once there is one, I’ll go back to being the associate director.”

Right now, Grant’s job is to provide leadership and vision for sustainable growth of the center, to manage day to day operations and other executive responsibilities for the center, such as hiring and retaining staff.

The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy is a university-based center leading a systems-based comprehensive approach to serving nonprofits, foundations and others seeking to transform their communities for the public good. Its aim is to expand knowledge and resources to advance the public good and transform communities, according to its website.

The Johnson Center for Philanthropy recently launched a website called Our State of Generosity, which Grant was very excited about.

“It’s an interactive, online platform which covers about 40 years of Michigan philanthropy,” she said. “Michigan has a very rich philanthropic history.”

For those wanting to get involved, the Johnson Center for Philanthropy can be found at
www.johnsoncenter.org.

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