Peer Communities
Connect and learn with your peers!
Our peer communities connect CMF members across shared interests, roles, issue areas and identities to network, build relationships, collaborate and learn from one another and together. Explore our full list of peer communities below.
Each of these peer communities hosts online conversations via a listserv – a resource to learn from one another, sharing timely questions, relevant updates and upcoming event information. Peer community leaders also work with the CMF team to develop virtual and in-person programming, as featured on the CMF Events Calendar. To learn more about a peer community or to join, click on their group name below.
Please note that these groups are open only to current CMF members and program partners. You will need to be logged into our website to access the communities you are a part of, interact with the discussion and join a community. To learn more about joining the CMF community of philanthropy, click here, or we invite you to connect with Kia Washington, director of Member Engagement at CMF.
If you need technical support, contact our team.
Connect with our Peer Communities
Click through the expanders below to learn more about the peer communities available and find the links to learn more and join the communities.
Civic Engagement
The Civic Engagement Learning Community focuses on fair and equitable redistricting, amplifying community voice, improving civic infrastructure and strengthening democratic institutions.
This group is open to all CMF members who support civic engagement efforts in their work or are interested in learning more.
Communications
This is a space for CMF members interested in communications to discuss important topics, ask questions, support each other and connect with peers.
Community Foundation CEOs
This group is open to CMF members* who serve in the role of CEO or executive director at a community foundation.
*Please note: This group is private. We invite you to request access to join the group and a CMF staffer will connect with you.
Community Foundation Development Staff
This group is open to CMF members* who serve in the role of a development staff member at a community foundation.
*Please note: This group is private. We invite you to request access to join the group and a CMF staffer will connect with you.
Community Foundation Program Officers
This group is open to CMF members* who serve in the role of a program officer at a community foundation.
*Please note: This group is private. We invite you to request access to join the group and a CMF staffer will connect with you.
Corporate Foundations and Giving Programs
This group is open to all CMF members who have a role at a corporate foundation or a giving program.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This group is open to all CMF members who are exploring or actively advancing efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion.
Finance
This group is open to all CMF members who support efforts at their organization connected to finance and/or accounting.
Green and Blue Network
The Green and Blue Network is an action-oriented affinity group that brings members together to learn from experts and each other about leading environmental issues and how to make more effective and intentional environmental grants, impact environmental policy and leverage grant dollars.
This group is open to all CMF members who support environmental efforts in their work or are interested in learning more.
Health Funders Affinity Network
The Health Funders Affinity Group connects grantmakers throughout the state who fund programs and projects with a health focus.
This group is open to all CMF members who support health-related efforts in their work or are interested in learning more.
Human Resources & Talent
The Human Resources & Talent Affinity Group creates opportunities to learn alongside CMF peers around people-centered policies and practices, such as recruitment, retention, performance management, employee engagement and other HR functions and those seeking to advance policy and practice in areas of equity and employment.
This group is open to all CMF members who support efforts at their organization connected to human resources and/or overall talent support and development.
Latin Affinity Network
The Latinx Affinity Network (LAN) connects Latinx professionals in Michigan philanthropy to build community, support current and potential colleagues in the field and build a stronger Latinx presence in statewide conversations that are priorities for Michigan’s Latinx peoples and cultures.
The LAN is open to all CMF members who identify as Latinx.
Learning & Evaluation
This group is open to all CMF members who support efforts at their organization connected to learning and evaluation or are interested in learning more.
Michigan Forum for African Americans in Philanthropy
The Michigan Forum for African Americans in Philanthropy (MFAAP) Affinity Group is dedicated to encouraging philanthropy leadership with the African American community and supporting an emerging public policy agenda. This affinity group provides opportunities designed to help members grow and learn together through professional development, networking and educational seminars.
MFAAP is open to all CMF members who identify as African American or Black.
P-20 Education
P-20 Education Affinity Group convenes around pressing issues that impact Michigan’s students and educational systems from PreK (Early Childhood) through college (Grade 20). Responses range from taking policy positions to meeting with government officials, to collaboratively funding projects that catalyze positive impact for Michigan communities.
This group is open to all CMF members who support education efforts in their work or are interested in learning more.
Policy
The Policy Online Community is dedicated to sharing policy updates and other information that helps to foster discussion among CMF members who have an interest in public policy, in response to member feedback.
This group is open to all CMF members who support efforts at their organization connected to policy and advocacy or are interested in learning more.
Rural Philanthropy
The Rural Philanthropy Affinity Group connects grantmakers throughout the state who fund programs and projects in rural communities. Through learning opportunities, participants expand the range of strategies and roles that foundations can consider to invest in rural people, places and economies.
This group is open to all CMF members who support rural communities in their work.
Scholarship
The Scholarship Learning Community discusses legal issues related to scholarship programs, ways to increase the effectiveness of the application process and how to increase the impact scholarships make on their communities, among many other relevant topics.
This group is open to all CMF members who support efforts at their organization connected to scholarships.
Technology
This group is open to all CMF members who support efforts at their organization connected to technology. No technical experience or expertise is required.
Technology: AkoyaGo Users
This group is for CMF members who are using AkoyaGo software and want to ask questions, support each other and connect with peers.
Technology: Foundant Community Suite Users
This is a group for CMF members who are using the Foundant Community Suite software.
YAC Advisors
This group is open to all CMF members who serve as advisors through a community foundation to their youth advisory council/committee (YAC).