East Grand Rapids — The East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation means the world to Amy Stuursma, who just wrapped up a 17-year stint as its executive director.
Seated in her office at the district’s James E. Morse Administration Center just weeks before the end of her time with the foundation, Stuursma spoke to SNN about how she ended up there, what she’s helped accomplish and where she’s headed next.
An East alum, Stuursma has been leading the foundation since 2008. She’s been involved with the organization — a nonprofit dedicated to supporting EGR schools — since 1993, when she started teaching special education at Wealthy Elementary.
Stuursma was a teacher representative on the foundation’s board of directors, and she became “very involved in the foundation’s work.” Even when she transitioned to a teacher consultant role with the district, Stuursma continued to volunteer, helping the foundation with fundraisers, public relations and events.
She took to the work so much that when the executive director position opened up, she decided to apply.
“I’d been trained to be a teacher … but I really enjoyed being able to support the district on a broader scope, and being able to impact every child,” Stuursma said.
Doing the Work
When Stuursma started as executive director, one of her main goals was to spread awareness of the foundation itself.
“I quickly realized … that so many community members didn’t even know the foundation existed, and that it had been in existence since 1983,” she said. “We had to grow awareness and supporters, because many of our supporters were those founding folks from back in 1983.”
She said the East community was ready and willing to support the cause.
“People who live here are very focused on great education, so anything they can do to support a great education in our schools, they’re willing to (do) and step in and help,” Stuursma said.
Another goal for Stuursma was to augment the foundation’s financial reach. When she started, the foundation often had to “grapple” with “not having enough funds to cover all the amazing innovation and ideas that were coming our way,” she said.
During her tenure, the foundation pursued two major campaigns to boost its endowment — a $1 million campaign in 2012, and an $8 million campaign in 2021. The 2021 campaign, in particular, helped the fund become self-sustaining. Grants and programs are supported by endowment fund interest and earnings, while annual events like the HURRAH! fundraiser “keep the mission work going” by supporting staff and operations “so that we can continue growing and supporting more and more,” Stuursma said.
The influx in funding allowed the organization to shift away from “reactionary” fundraising.
“That campaign has set the foundation up for success for generations,” Stuursma said, noting that it’s one of the achievements she’s most proud of.
“When I was first on the board, we were giving away about $48,000 a year, and now we’re going to be giving over $700,000 every year going forward.”
The foundation’s endowment now totals $17 million. The majority of the funding is for grants and program support, but there are also designated funds for STEM, students in need, excellence in teaching awards and more.
“That strength of endowment is really allowing us to make programmatic and curricular impact at every single level,” she said.
‘I really enjoyed being able to support the district on a broader scope, and being able to impact every child.’
— Amy Stuursma, EGR Schools Foundation executive director
East Superintendent Dr. Heidi Kattula said Stuursma’s work has certainly been felt in all corners of the district.
“Throughout her career, first as an elementary teacher and then as the foundation executive director, Amy has tirelessly supported EGRPS,” Kattula said. “Though she will be deeply missed, her dedication to this district and her work building a sustainable, long-lasting endowment, which has become the largest public school endowment in Michigan, will be felt for generations to come.”
Stuursma called school foundations, PTOs, boosters, parent groups and other organizations “critical” to public schools, and said she hopes to see more of them.
“Whatever we can do to enhance the education of our students in Michigan is definitely valuable, and we have parents all over the state who want what’s best for kids. Why not capitalize on that if we can and support our teachers and support our kids?”
What’s Next
Stuursma calls herself a “volunteer at heart,” and just as volunteerism led to her employment with the foundation, it’s also taking her to her next posting. After volunteering and serving as board president of the Mary Free Bed Guild, Stuursma is now stepping into the Guild’s executive director role.
While she’s excited about what’s ahead, the thought of leaving the foundation is bittersweet.
“I’m so grateful for not only the staff and the administration and the kids that go here, but all the people all over the country who support,” Stuursma said. “It’s pretty amazing to see how people continue to give back to a place that made an impact on them, and helped them grow as individuals.”
But, as an East grad whose father, husband and kids were also Pioneers, Stuursma plans to remain involved with the district.
“I will forever be connected, for sure,” she said.
Read more from East Grand Rapids:
• Students put problem-solving skills to the test at FutureSolve
• Painful condition can’t dampen grad’s ‘high hopes’ for the future
