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Laura
Heintzelman
Executive Director
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Regional Affiliation
If there is one common theme among organizations, communities and businesses it may well involve building partnerships as a way to “do more with less.” And that’s one of the primary goals of a new regional effort announced today by the Manistee County Community Foundation - an affiliation with the Community Foundation for Muskegon County effective January 1, 2009.
Increasingly, organizations are forging regional relationships to provide better and more services and products at a more affordable price. “Study after study, including Envision Manistee County, point to the need and the benefits of forging partnerships among and between organizations with shared goals so that we can accomplish more and spend less,” said Laura Heintzelman, executive director of the Manistee County Community Foundation. “We are excited about how this relationship will enhance services provided by our Community Foundation, while preserving our independence, identity and focus on building endowed funds to support the betterment of Manistee County.”
Heintzelman said that the affiliation was unanimously supported by the Board of Directors of both community foundations. In addition to the efficiencies gained by using the services of the Muskegon organization for bookkeeping and accounting; data systems management; personnel management; purchasing; auditing; donor database management and more, Manistee will leverage significant expertise. Under the affiliation, Manistee will greatly enhance its donor services, endowment building strategies, grantmaking, and communication capabilities.
“The Community Foundation for Muskegon County shares the goals of our Manistee partners to grow endowments and make grants to enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of the communities we represent,” said Chris McGuigan, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. “Manistee joins the community foundations for Oceana and Mason Counties as affiliates to our Foundation and we will all benefit through shared services, shared ideas and shared problem solving.”
The Community Foundation for Muskegon County was founded in 1961 and manages over 840 funds and $125 million in assets. People gave more to the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and its affiliates in 2007 than in its 36-year history of giving.
“We are delighted to ‘walk-the-walk’ and demonstrate the value and benefits of regional partnerships,” said Beth McCarthy, Chair of the Manistee Foundation Board of Directors. “Our friends in Muskegon have tremendous expertise and experience in supporting their communities. That expertise and experience will now become important assets for Manistee County. This is another chapter of good news among all of the great things that are underway to positively move Manistee County forward.”
