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Laura Heintzelman
President & CEO
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Learn What is a Community Foundation?
What is a Community Foundation?
If you think a community foundation is a nonprofit organization created by local residents to improve their communities, youre right. But thats just the beginning.
The Manistee County Community Foundation works with donors, grantees, advisors and communities to identify and support the issues that shape our area. By bringing people together around a common mission, and creating links between resources and your vision for the future, were helping ensure that our communities remain vital and strong.
This kind of local focus has helped make community foundations one of the fastest growing vehicles for giving.*
The Council on Foundations, the nations professional association of foundations, has outlined six characteristics of community foundations:
- Flexible, yet permanent collection of funds supported by a wide range of donors
- Relative independence to determine the best use of those funds to meet community needs
- Governing board of volunteers, knowledgeable about their community and recognized for their involvement in civic affairs
- Commitment to provide leadership on pervasive community problems
- Commitment to assist donors to identify and attain their philanthropic goals
- Adherence to a sense of community that overrides individual interests and concerns
Why invest in a community foundation?
There are many reasons to invest in your local community foundation. Community foundations go beyond simply making grants that advance charitable activities. They also identify current and emerging issues, channel resources to address their communities needs, and help their regions prepare for the future.
*Source: Foundation Center report.