Robert S. Collier

President & CEO
Council of Michigan Foundations

Rob’s career in philanthropy includes work with the C.S. Mott Foundation, the Gannett Foundation, Rotary Charities of Traverse City and the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. Since 1995 he has been with the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), serving as President of the nation’s largest regional association of grantmakers since 2000. Host to guests from throughout the world, CMF is recognized internationally as a resource on community foundations, youth as grantmakers and the role of support organizations to organized philanthropy.

1. How long have you been involved in nonprofit capacity building?

37 years

2. What roles have you played?

Foundation program officer, city manager, foundation executive director,  and president of an association of grantmakers.

3.  What is your current capacity building work?

As president of the Council of Michigan Foundations assisting 400 private, family, community, and corporate foundations and corporate giving programs in being effective grantmakers through the application of guiding principles required of members and corresponding effective practices.

4.  What is the most exciting possible outcome of your work as a capacity builder? 

Helping philanthropy be an effective partner and collaborator with the nonprofit and public sectors.

5.  What do you find most challenging?

Helping unstaffed foundations with time constraints.

6.  What would you like to see happen in the field?

Stronger coordination between regional associations of grantmakers and statewide nonprofit associations.

7.  If you could offer advice to someone who is young and emerging into the field, what would you offer?

We need your passion, creativity and knowledge of the internet.  But most of all, we need your leadership, stay with us!

 

If your interested and/or would like to suggest someone who should be spotlighted email us at alliance@allianceonline.org.