08/17/2026
Greetings! I have some pivotal and important news regarding Grand Rapids Trans Foundation (GRTF).
In 2015, some friends and I co-founded Grand Rapids Trans Foundation as a grass-roots nonprofit with the express purpose of nurturing and sustaining Trans futures. We were a scrappy, passionate, volunteer-run group, stepping into a space where tangible resources for our Gender-Expansive community were rare. Back then, it was hard to imagine what we have ultimately become: a regional leader, a culture creator, and a life-changing support system for the Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender-Expansive community in West MI. GRTF is truly an example of what communal effort and mutual aid can look like.
Over the past decade, we have invested over $321,000 of direct assistance back into our community via programs that bolster overall stability, financial mobility, gender euphoria, and safety. We’ve maintained a robust referral directory, advocated for Michigan legislation that protects our community, created countless educational materials, and fostered celebratory social spaces to build supportive networks. We are exceptionally proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in Grand Rapids.
Today, I am announcing my decision to step down as Executive Director. After more than a decade, the moment for a change felt right, not only to take some personal time to recharge and recalibrate but also to allow for fresh leadership, ideas, growth, passion, and communal care to flourish. Leading this organization has been the most demanding and most rewarding experience of my life. I’m grateful for the trust this community has placed in me, for the years of volunteer effort that have kept GRTF growing, and for the countless beautiful Trans souls I’ve had the pleasure of knowing through this role. This was a difficult decision, and one I’ve made with real confidence in what comes next.
I will be remaining on the GRTF team to both facilitate a smooth transition, and also to step into the organization’s new Development Coordinator position. GRTF’s mission is so deeply embedded in my heart, and I look forward to standing behind new Trans leadership while continuing to connect with our amazing supporters in service of that mission. GRTF's next decade calls for fresh ideas and new energy leading it, and I'm excited to support this next chapter in a new role and from a place of renewed personal capacity. Together, we can and will continue to support, celebrate, and uplift Trans lives.
In the coming weeks, we will have more announcements, including a job posting for Interim Executive Director and a funding drive to ensure we’re entering this next chapter of our organization’s history with success.
With continued love, care, and my deepest gratitude,
Ximón Kittok (they/them)
