“Community foundations impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures,” said Colleen Knight. “As we begin our 20^th year of service, the Community Foundation is working to use our own resources more strategically to create a bigger positive impact and to bring our community partners together to find innovative ways to strengthen our communities.”

Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities. In the fiscal year that just ended for the Branch County Community Foundation awarded nearly $47,000 in college scholarships to local students and over $183,000 was given back to the community through grants.

Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state in the United Statesis home to at least one community foundation—large and small, urban and rural—that is advancing solutions to a wide range of social issues. The 2010 Columbus Survey found that despite the recession, giving by the nation’s 100 largest community foundations actually increased slightly in 2010 to $3.7 billion and exceeded prerecession levels seen in 2006 and 2007.

Launched in 1989 through a proclamation by former president George H.W. Bush, the first Community Foundation Week included a congressional briefing about the work of community foundations throughoutAmericaand their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.

The Branch County Community Foundation is a non-profit organization and a nationally accredited and state-certified community grantmaking foundation that serves communities inBranchCountyandColon,Michiganby supporting charitable giving, building permanent endowments, and connecting community resources. 

For more information about the Branch County Community Foundation website at www.BRCOFoundation.org or call 517-278-4517.