Community Foundation Awards More Than $540,000 to Local Organizations
[Photo credit: Glen Arbor Arts Center // Image description: A young girl with blondish brown hair is painting outdoors during a Glen Arbor Arts Center program.]
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation recently awarded $541,377 in grants to 88 organizations across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties. These grant awards come from the Community Foundation’s designated endowments and provide support across each of the Foundation’s five focus areas, including arts and culture, education, environment, health and human services, and youth.
“These grant awards are a perfect example of matching passion with purpose as both our donor and nonprofit partners are brought together to benefit the people and places across our five-county region,” said David Mengebier, Community Foundation President and CEO.
Designated endowments at the Community Foundation are established and supported by one or more donor partners and provide funding to a specific nonprofit organization in the five-county region. Grants from designated endowments are awarded once a year to support a nonprofit’s operations and programs.
Nonprofit partners who received designated grants this season include Arts for All of Northern Michigan, Benzie Area Christian Neighbors, Central Lake District Library, Cherryland Humane Society, Friends of Betsie Valley Trail, Glen Arbor Arts Center, Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan, Kaliseum Recreation Complex, Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources, Peninsula Community Library, ShareCare of Leelanau, Torch Lake Protection Alliance, Traverse Symphony Orchestra, and United Way of Northwest Michigan, among others. A full list of designated grant partners is available at www.gtrcf.org/grants/grant-awards.
Nonprofit partners who serve communities across the five-county region have shared the impact that their designated endowments have had on their organizations with the Community Foundation:
Photo credit: Benzie Area Christian Neighbors
"The designated endowment funding helps us serve in a variety of ways. Knowing the funds will come in each year improves our annual budget-planning ability and [supports] the organization in achieving a stable presence in the community,” said Gerri VanAntwerp, Executive Director, Benzie Area Christian Neighbors.
Photo credit: Glen Arbor Arts Center
“The endowment fund at the Community Foundation is vital for sustaining our mission of enriching community life through the arts," said Sarah Kime, Executive Director, Glen Arbor Arts Center. "Because it supports our operating budget, the fund connects donors to our mission to ensure that we will have the ability to provide year-round creative programming for the Glen Arbor community for generations to come.”
Photo credit: Kaliseum Recreation Complex
"With the generosity and assistance from the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation we at the Kaliseum were able to provide roller-skates, ice skates, safety helmets, and training aids for individuals looking for a fun activity and do so safely. We appreciate the Community Foundation's involvement and look forward to the future,” said John Starr, Director, Kaliseum Recreation Complex.
Photo credit: Peninsula Community Library
“As a community center in a rural area, Peninsula Community Library's endowment fund with the Community Foundation offers supporters a means of long-term impact on PCL's programs and collections. Funding is used for special projects outside the regular budget. These projects enhance what we as a small library can offer our patrons. Endowment funding makes a big difference at the ground level!" said Victoria Shurly, Library Director, Peninsula Community Library.