75 years in the making: How the Holland/Zeeland Community Foundation is shaping the future

HOLLAND — The Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland is celebrating its 75th anniversary by highlighting moments from its history and looking toward a future of continued contributions.

The Holland-based organization works to grow the community’s endowment, which pools donor resources to fund local charitable projects and partner in community-level initiatives. According to the foundation’s website, the CFHZ unites two communities to invest in today and forge a more dynamic and connected tomorrow.

Rooted in history, regional unity

The Holland Community Foundation was started in 1951 by former Holland Mayor Harry Harrington, alongside the city’s council members and attorney. In its early years, it acted as a fiscal sponsor for city projects, including the Kollen Park Band Shell and the relocation of the De Zwaan Windmill to Holland from the Netherlands.

“Those early projects reflected a simple but enduring belief: when generous people work together, a community becomes stronger,” said CFHZ Communications Officer Ellie Davis.

Since then, the foundation has grown beyond supporting city projects to become a steward of charitable resources by investing in donor-advised funds, scholarships, nonprofits and the community’s endowment.

In 1996, the Holland Community Foundation joined forces with the Zeeland Community Foundation after acting separately for more than two decades. A $2 million challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation helped seal this decision.

Balancing stewardship with innovation

Davis explained that the CFHZ exists to respond to challenges and opportunities within the community. She noted that as a community foundation, the CFHZ can adapt to residents’ changing needs over time by monitoring local data and remaining in close contact with regional partners.

“We grew beyond our original purpose as a fiscal sponsor and gained a reputation as a trusted partner for individuals, families and businesses to achieve their charitable goals,” Davis said.

According to Davis, innovation is a vital part of the foundation’s strategy. The CFHZ aims to have both the resources and the nimbleness to adjust as the community grows and changes, while remaining true to its mission and vision.

“Innovation doesn’t require abandoning tradition,” Davis said. “It requires remaining faithful to our mission while continually finding better ways to accomplish it. That balance between stewardship and innovation has allowed the CFHZ to remain relevant for 75 years, and we believe it will continue to guide us well into the future.”

Collaborating to address evolving needs

Davis pointed toward the foundation’s recent efforts to amplify local access to mental health care as a way the CFHZ’s work continues to shape the community. Through proactive grants, the foundation has helped nonprofit partners develop culturally appropriate counseling, place counselors directly in schools and reduce waiting lists.

“Rather than providing services ourselves, we help bring people and resources together so that organizations already doing outstanding work can expand their impact,” Davis said.

By working with donors, nonprofits, businesses, schools, health care providers and local governments, the foundation can interact with the community from multiple perspectives and assist in developing shared solutions.

Rapid support during crises

Patrick Cisler, CFHZ president and CEO, reflected on what he deems one of his most memorable moments with the foundation.

Cisler said he will “never forget” how the community came together during the COVID-19 pandemic to support families facing unanticipated challenges.

“What stood out to me was how quickly the Community Foundation was able to respond,” Cisler explained. “It wasn’t just about making grants — it was about bringing people together and responding to an unprecedented crisis in real time.”

He added that while the CFHZ cannot predict the next recession or challenges that future generations will face, it aims to build trusted relationships and charitable resources that allow for a quick and thoughtful response when those moments arrive.

Honoring the past, building a lasting legacy

This fall, the foundation will host its annual Celebration of Philanthropy. The Sept. 10 event will spotlight community members who have helped shape the path of the CFHZ and the next generation that will carry it forward.

“Our 75 years of history is really a story about relationships, values and acts of generosity,” Davis stated.

To commemorate the anniversary, the CFHZ also produced a short documentary tracing its history and highlighting years of community support.

The foundation hopes that decades from now, local residents will not simply remember the CFHZ, but experience the result of decisions made in years past.

Davis added that the foundation endeavors for community members to recognize the CFHZ not by the work alone, but by bringing together generous donors and partners around the opportunities that matter most.

“If, 75 years from now, people can point to meaningful changes throughout Holland and Zeeland and say the Community Foundation helped make those possible, that will be a legacy worth celebrating,” Davis said.

“Innovation doesn’t require abandoning tradition,” said Davis. “It requires remaining faithful to our mission while continually finding better ways to accomplish it. That balance between stewardship and innovation has allowed the CFHZ to remain relevant for 75 years, and we believe it will continue to guide us well into the future.”

Davis pointed toward the foundation’s recent efforts to amplify local access to mental health care as a way in which the CFHZ’s work continues to shape the community. Through proactive grants, the foundation has helped nonprofit partners develop culturally appropriate counseling, place counselors directly in schools and reduce waiting lists.

“Rather than providing services ourselves, we help bring people and resources together so that organizations already doing outstanding work can expand their impact,” said Davis. 

By working with donors, nonprofits, businesses, schools, healthcare providers and local governments, the foundation is able to interact with the community from multiple different perspectives and assist in developing shared solutions. 

Cisler reflected on what he deems one of his most memorable moments with the foundation. Cisler said he will “never forget” how the community came together during the COVID-19 pandemic to support families that were facing unanticipated challenges.

“What stood out to me was how quickly the Community Foundation was able to respond,” explained Cisler. “It wasn’t just about making grants — it was about bringing people together and responding to an unprecedented crisis in real time.”

He added that while the CFHZ can’t predict the next recession or challenges that future generations will face, it aims to build trusted relationships and charitable resources that allow for a quick and thoughtful response when those moments arrive.

This fall, the foundation will be hosting its annual Celebration of Philanthropy. The Sept. 10 event will spotlight community members who have helped shape the path of the CFHZ and the next generation that will carry it forward. 

“Our seventy-five years of history is really a story about relationships, values and acts of generosity,” Davis stated.

To commemorate the anniversary, the CFHZ also produced a short documentary that traces its history and highlights years of community support.

The foundation hopes that decades from now, local residents won’t simply remember the CFHZ, but experience the result of decisions made in years past. 

Davis added that the foundation endeavors for community members to recognize the CFHZ not by the work alone, but through bringing together generous donors and partners around the opportunities that matter most.

“If, 75 years from now, people can point to meaningful changes throughout Holland and Zeeland and say the Community Foundation helped make those possible, that will be a legacy worth celebrating,” said Davis.

— Contact ONN reporter Hailey Hentz at hhentz@ottawanewsnetwork.org.