When an organization determines their home doesn’t fit their work, it’s time to make a move! The Grand Rapids Chamber (Chamber) realized they needed an office space that could be a hub of activity and services for their members, so they reached out to Kennari Consulting for assistance in fundraising for their new home.
The Chamber exists to be an ally, an advocate, and agent for change to the local business community. Grand Rapids has seen explosive growth in recent years, and the Chamber has also grown to keep up with the business community’s needs. As they looked for successful models in other growing cities and applied them to Grand Rapids, they quickly saw that the office in the Waters Building, which had served them well for many years, no longer was the right fit. In 2017 they developed plans for a new location on Calder Plaza. After outreach and careful planning, the new office was designed based on the needs of their members. Full of light, technology, meeting spaces large and small, and accessible parking, the focus is on who would be coming to the Chamber and what they would want to do there.
Kennari Consulting worked with the Chamber to engage strong volunteer leadership for their campaign. We then identified key stakeholders within their membership and helped develop campaign strategies to secure support for their project. Each campaign is unique, and because the Chamber is a membership organization, we created a unique plan for engaging a large pool of member prospects who gained visibility through multi-year sponsorships in the bustling new space. The campaign provided an opportunity for increased interactions with current and prospective members. The dynamic new office has raised the profile of the Chamber and greatly increased usage by members. It’s an excellent example of the power of place and space.
“When the Grand Rapids Chamber made the decision to transform our office into an open and collaborative epicenter of business activity in West Michigan, we knew that we needed an experienced advisor to guide the procurement of financial support. Kennari Consulting acted as not only as an advisor, but as a partner through a process we were unfamiliar with as an organization.”
~Rick Baker, President & CEO, Grand Rapids Chamber
To learn more about the Grand Rapids Chamber, visit www.grandrapids.org.