Episode Details

On the full program this week, host Phil Tower welcomes Diana Sieger, President of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Over her 36 years serving as president, Diana has grown the Community Foundation’s financial assets from $38 million to $387 million and its staff from three to more than 30 team members. It's important to note as well that The Grand Rapids Community Foundation is the oldest in Michigan. Diana earned a master's of social work degree from Western Michigan University focusing on Policy, Planning, and Administration. She was named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan by Crain’s Detroit in 2016, was inducted into the Michigan Women Forward - Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2021, and honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Western Michigan University in 2021 and recipient of the 2022 Dr. Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy given by the Council of Michigan Foundations and the Michigan Nonprofit Association. In this conversation(* the final interview over my nearly 35 years of interviewing Diana on the radio), we speak with Diana about the recently celebrated 100-year birthday of the GR Community Foundation and what the next 100 years look like.
Diana also talked about her wisdom on “turning away from a 'donor knows best' philanthropy and a focus on seeking out new and diverse voices.” We also talked about her admitted appreciation for “getting immersed in knotty community issues and collaborating with many partners to land on solutions.” Diana also shared her personal feelings on facing retirement and what that means to her. Finally, we covered what she felt was the biggest change in philanthropy she has seen in her 36+ years as president of The Grand Rapids Community Foundation.
Online: The Grand Rapids Community Foundation